Method and apparatus for using a hash-partitioned index to access a table that is not partitioned or partitioned independently of the hash partitioned index

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses an index that is hash-partitioned to access a table that is not hash-partitioned. During system operation, the database receives a request to perform an operation involving a table in the database. If performing the operation involves looking up a key in the hash-partitioned index, the database applies a hash function to the key to identify a unique partition within the hash-partitioned index for the key, and uses the key to perform a lookup in the identified partition to identify zero or more rows of the table that match the key.