What is an IMS Database?
IMS is a mainframe database management system which is composed of separate and distinct database datasets. Each database is organized into a hierarchical structure with a root segment and multiple child segments under each root. Large IMS databases can be separated into dataset groups or partitioned by key into individual partitions. IMS Fast Path databases are optimized for extremely high performance of simple update transactions and partitioned into Fast Path Areas. IMS full function databases provide capabilities to sequentially or randomly retrieve each segment. They can also provide for logical relationships between segments. IMS HAL databases provide high availability and partitioning for large database structures.
