Key-sequenced data set
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2017) |
A key-sequenced data set (KSDS) is a type of data set used by IBM's VSAM computer data storage system.[1]: 5 Each record in a KSDS data file is embedded with a unique key.[1]: 20 A KSDS consists of two parts, the data component and a separate index file known as the index component which allows the system to physically locate the record in the data file by its key value.[1]: 13 Together, the data and index components are called a cluster.[1]: 15
Records can be accessed randomly or in sequence and can be variable-length.
As a VSAM data set, the KSDS data and index components consist of control intervals which are further organized in control areas. As records are added at random to a KSDS, control intervals fill and need to be split into two new control intervals, each new control interval receiving roughly half of the records. Similarly, as the control intervals in a control area are used up, a control area will be split into two new control areas, each new control area receiving roughly half the control intervals.
While a basic KSDS only has one key (the primary key), alternate indices may be defined to permit the use of additional fields as secondary keys. An alternate index is itself a KSDS.
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c d Lovelace, Mary; Dovidauskas, Jose; Salla, Alvaro; Sokal, Valeria (March 2013). "Chapter 1. VSAM basics". VSAM Demystified (PDF). Redbooks (3 ed.). IBM.
 | This computer-storage-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |