Abstract: A database appliance in which two or more internetworked data storage units are used to coordinate the storage and retrieval of database records. One or more central database processing units are also associated with the data storage units. A network infrastructure provides the ability for the central database processors and storage processors to communicate as network nodes, with the network infrastructure using a communication protocol. A software application for executing database operations executes in a distributed fashion with portions of the database application executing on at least one central database processor and other portions executing on the data storage processors. At least a portion of the database application is implemented within and/or coordinated by a communication process that is executing the communication protocol.

Abstract: A database appliance having multiple internetworked data storage units and central database processing units. The central database processors and storage units communicate as network nodes. Execution of a distributed database application is coordinated by a communication process such that data blocks are passed by using data block reference information. Operations executing within the same context as the communication process may include join, sort, aggregate, restrict, reject, expression evaluation, statistical analysis or other database operations.