When to use an MSDB

MSDBs store and provide access to an installation's most frequently used data. The data in an MSDB is stored in segments, and each segment available to one or all terminals.

MSDBs provide a high degree of parallelism and are suitable for applications in the banking industry (such as general ledger). To provide fast access and allow frequent update to this data, MSDBs reside in virtual storage during execution.

One use for a terminal-related fixed MSDB is in an application in which each segment contains data associated with a logical terminal. In this type of application, the application program can read the data (possibly for general reporting purposes) but cannot update it.

Non-terminal-related MSDBs (without terminal-related keys) are typically used in applications in which a large number of people need to update data at a high transaction rate. An example of this is a real-time inventory control application, in which reduction of inventory is noted from many cash registers.