Sybase IQ architecture differs from most relational databases. Sybase IQ focuses on readers, not writers, which provides a fast query response for many users.
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 occurs at the table level
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.
For details about setting up Sybase IQ for optimal performance, see System Administration Guide: Volume 1, System Administration Guide: Volume 2 and Performance and Tuning Guide.