Abstract: An information storage facility with multiple level processors for relieving one or more external host computers or intelligent terminals from conventional time consuming record searching functions, such as record formatting, indexing, buffering and the like. Three processor levels are provided: a communications level for handling external communications, a DBMS level for performing syntax scanning, hashing and coding/decoding routines, and data access functions e.g. indexing, searching, buffering, blocking, deblocking, storage management, and error recovery functions; and a storage level for performing data storage and retrieval, error recovery and storage device management.A direct memory access bus is also provided which enables high speed data transfer among the several processors included within the storage facility and also external host computers or intelligent terminals.