A Sybase IQ database is fundamentally different from a conventional relational database because it focuses on readers, not writers. In a conventional database, it is most important to let many users update the database instantly and accurately, without interfering with one another. By contrast, in a Sybase IQ database, fast query response for many users is most important.
This reader-oriented approach drives the design of Sybase IQ architecture and features. The Sybase IQ way means:
Data is stored in columns, not rows.
Placing indexes on all columns provides a performance advantage.
A large page size provides a performance advantage.
A large temporary cache provides a performance advantage for most operations.
Access to data is controlled at the table level, using table-level locks rather than row locks, and a technique called table-level versioning.
Most query results focus on data at the table level.
Most insertions and deletions write data for an entire table, not for a single row.
To get the best performance from your Sybase IQ database, keep these fundamental differences in mind. For details on setting up Sybase IQ for optimal performance, see System Administration Guide: Volume 1, System Administration Guide: Volume 2, and Performance and Tuning Guide.
