RE: Laymans explaination for single level store?

[PaulMmn <PaulMmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If I may--

Imagine if you will an uber-computer that consists of an infinite 
number of bytes of real (RAM) memory.  This computer has no disk 
memory.

Storing anything in this computer consists of writing to a fragment 
of the bytes in this immense memory space.  It doesn't matter if the 
thing being stored is a program, a data area, a database file, or any 
other object.

You write an object to a block of memory.  A program is executed 
directly from the memory it occupies; there is no need to move it 
anywhere.  A file is accessed by observing the data as it resides in 
its normal resting space.

An object is moved from library to library by removing an entry from 
a list and writing it to another.  No movement of the object is 
required.

This is the S/38 / AS/400 / iSeries / i5 computer system.  As far as 
OS/400 is concerned, it HAS that infinite memory space in which to 
play.  The fact that there's a memory to disk mapping system and a 
sophisticated swapping algorithm to make it work in the real world is 
merely a 'temporary' inconvenience.

--Paul E Musselman
PaulMmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


ps--  I've always liked this system--   When the hardware has 
outlived its usefulness, you 'merely' jack up the operating system, 
slide out the old hardware, slide in the new hardware, let down the 
OS, and it's off and running with new and improved technology.  No 
changes to the objects in the memory space required!  [If you don't 
count the CISC to RISC conversion process, that is!]