Version 7.4.4
 —  Concepts and Facilities  —

Adabas Is . . .

Adabas, the adaptable data base, is a high-performance, multithreaded, database management system for mainframe platforms where database performance is a critical factor. It is interoperable, scalable, and portable across multiple, heterogeneous platforms including mainframe, midrange, and PC.

This document covers the following topics:


Operational Highlights

High Availability

Adabas is designed for operation 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. Space is managed dynamically (see Adabas Space Management ), files can be loaded and unloaded, backed up and restored, and system performance can be analyzed without interrupting the active database.

Storage Space Optimization

Adabas stores data in compressed form to reduce space requirements. Since modern databases are measured in gigabytes (1000 megabytes) or even terabytes (1000 gigabytes), the savings in disk space can be considerable. Reduced space requirements also mean that the input/output (I/O) system is more efficient.

Performance

Performance is the key factor of Adabas, which includes a number of features to enhance it. For instance, a number of set-up parameters are available for fine-tuning the database operating environment, and many of these can be modified while the database is active.

Fault Tolerance

Adabas recovers automatically after an abnormal database or system termination. Each time an Adabas database is started, an automatic check is initiated to determine whether the database previously terminated "cleanly" or an active transaction was interrupted. If a transaction was interrupted, Adabas automatically resets all changes of the uncompleted transaction so that the database is consistent.

Top of page

Operating Environments

Adabas 7.4 for mainframes supports the following operating environments:

Mainframe Adabas can be used in distributed environments with Adabas on

As the telecommunication interface, mainframe Adabas supports TP monitors such as Software AG's Com-plete; and other popular monitors such as TSO, CICS, IMS/DC, AITM/DC, TIAM, UTM, and Shadow.

Software AG's multisystem processing tool Entire Net-Work provides the benefits of distributed processing by allowing you to communicate across a network with Adabas and other service tasks.

Support for network access methods is implemented in the form of line drivers. Mainframe Entire Net-Work provides drivers for VTAM, IUCV, DCAM, CTCA (channel-to-channel adapter), TCP/IP, and XCF.

Top of page

Supported Data Models

Adabas is a "relational-like" database in that

Adabas differs from true relational databases in that it

Adabas separates data relationships, management, and retrieval from the actual physical data and stores the physical data independently. It provides flexible access techniques and performs both simple and complex searches quickly and efficiently. The independence of the data from the program minimizes the need to reprogram when the database structure changes.

Logical data relationships can be created as needed. Adabas can accommodate any representational and access requirements dictated by the user environment. Each individual corporate user can decide how to view data in the system, and can alter data relationships dynamically-without altering the database or existing programs.

In contrast to systems that require a single model for all data, Adabas allows you to choose any structure your application requires. You can access the same data using your choice of data-model perspective:

These data models can be combined within a single business solution; multiple solutions can view Adabas data using different data models.

As new requirements develop, Adabas evolves in both scope and complexity without redesign of the database or reprogramming of application systems. For example, field and access keys may be added to an Adabas file at any time without reloading or reorganizing the file.

Top of page

Operating Structure

The following figure shows the operating structure of the Adabas system.

graphics/system.png

Nucleus, I/O Buffer, and Threads

The Adabas nucleus and input/output (I/O) buffer are loaded into main memory at startup. The "nucleus" is a set of programs that drives Adabas, coordinates all work, and translates user program statements into Adabas commands. All programs access Adabas files through the nucleus. All database activities such as data access and update are managed by the Adabas nucleus. In most cases, a single nucleus is used to manage a single physical database.

Note:
For information about running multiple nuclei against a single physical database under a single operating system image (Adabas Parallel Services), see Adabas Parallel Services; or under multiple OS/390 or z/OS images, see Adabas Cluster Services.

The Adabas "I/O" buffer area, which can be resized for each Adabas session, contains the most frequently used data and data relationships; it helps to minimize physical input/output (I/O) activity and thus saves computer time. It contains blocks read from the database and blocks to be written to the database:

Adabas provides multithreaded processing to maximize throughput. If I/O activity suspends command processing in an active thread, Adabas automatically switches to another thread. The user may set the number of 8-kilobyte threads to be used for an Adabas session up to a maximum of 250.

graphics/multi_thread.png

Data Storage, Associator, and Work

The Data Storage, Associator, and Work components are physical disk areas:

See Adabas Design for more information about these database components.

Utilities, User Programs, and TP Monitors

Utilities

Database services such as loading or deleting files are handled by an integrated set of online and batch-mode "utility" programs. Most utilities can be run in parallel with normal database activity to preclude interruption of daily production.

Adabas utilities provide initial design and load operations, backup/restore/recovery routines, database modification routines, and audit/control/tuning procedures. See Adabas Utilities for a brief explanation of each utility.

User Programs

The nucleus is called using a batch or online "user program" written in

Note:
See Adabas Native SQL for information about Adabas Native SQL, a precompiler for Ada, COBOL, FORTRAN, and PL/I programs; and Adabas SQL Gateway for information about Adabas SQL Gateway, an SQL interface to Adabas.

Data from VSAM, DL/I, IMS/DB, SESAM, or TOTAL database structures can be transferred to and stored in Adabas using Adabas "bridge" products. The original, unmodified programs continue operating with their original data access commands while the bridge products intercept the data access commands and translate them to Adabas direct calls. See Adabas Bridges for more information about Adabas bridges.

Special User Programs: Triggers and Stored Procedures

The Adabas triggers and stored procedures facility, an integral part of Adabas, can be used with Natural (see Natural Application Development Environment) to write and manage triggers and stored procedures in the Adabas server environment. "Triggers" are systematically used programs that are started automatically based on an event; they can be used to ensure referential integrity, for instance. "Stored procedures" are programs used by a number of different clients that are executed by Adabas as a result of a special user call. Storing these programs in an Adabas file on the server reduces the amount of data traffic to and from the server. See Using Triggers and Stored Procedures for more information about Adabas triggers and stored procedures.

TP Monitors, Adalinks, and the Adabas API

Since most systems do not allow a standard call to Adabas, Software AG provides an application program interface (API) to translate calls issued by an application program into a form that can be handled by Adabas. The Adabas API is available across all supported mainframe platforms for both batch and online operations.

Online operations are controlled by teleprocessing (TP) monitors, which serve as telecommunication interfaces to Adabas. Supported TP monitors are listed in Operating Environments. Software AG provides versions of the Adabas API that are specific to particular TP monitors. "Adalink" is a generic term that refers to the portion of the API that is specific to a particular TP monitor.

Batch applications are supported in both single-user and multiuser mode (see Modes of Operation for a discussion of these modes). The Adabas batch API uses a standard calling convention that is supported by all major programming languages through their CALL mechanisms. Most mainframe operating systems allow batch application modules to be linked either with the batch API or with ADAUSER.

Software AG strongly recommends linking batch application programs with the Adabas version-independent module ADAUSER. The ADAUSER module can optionally be linked with the Adabas API. ADAUSER provides upward compatibility with Adabas releases and a degree of isolation from future changes to the API or to mechanisms that handle interregion communication between the user and the nucleus (see Modes of Operation.

A client running under IBM's OpenEdition can access Adabas. An OpenEdition application containing calls to Adabas can be linked with either the batch API or ADAUSER.

Top of page

Executing Adabas

Session Types

Three types of sessions can be identified for Adabas:

Storage Areas

The Adabas nucleus and each user program or Adabas utility is executed in a separate storage area defined by the operating system. The name of the storage area depends on the operating system:

BS2000 task
OS/390 or z/OS address space, data space, hiperspace, 64-bit virtual space
VM/ESA or z/VM virtual machine
VSE/ESA partition, address space, data space

For consistency and simplification, Adabas documentation refer to all non-VM areas (task, address space, partition, etc.) as "regions". VM areas are called "virtual machines".

Modes of Operation

Adabas supports two modes of operation: single-user and multiuser.

Single-user mode is in effect when a user program (or Adabas utility) is executed in the same partition/region as the Adabas nucleus.

graphics/single_user.png

Multiuser mode is in effect when the Adabas nucleus is located in a separate partition/region. It is the most efficient and therefore the recommended mode of operation.

graphics/multi_user.png

When using Adabas in multiuser mode, interregion communication is handled by Adabas in a manner that takes optimum advantage of the communications facilities offered by the various operating systems.

For single-user mode, the appropriate Adabas nucleus JCL must be included with the job control for the utility or user program.

ADARUN Start-up Parameters

The ADARUN control statement defines and starts the Adabas operating environment. The ADARUN control statement also starts Adabas utilities. ADARUN

The ADARUN statement, normally a series of entries each specifying one or more ADARUN parameter settings, is specified in the DDCARD (OS/390, z/OS, MSP, VM/ESA, z/VM, or BS2000) or VSE/ESA CARD dataset.

Session Control

Adabas provides several ways to monitor and control Adabas, user, and utility sessions:

Operator commands can be used to terminate an Adabas or user session; display nucleus or utility information; log commands; and change Adabas operating parameters or conditions.

Adabas "direct call commands" can also be used to open and close a user session. See Direct Call Interface for more information about direct call commands.

Top of page