Xref: utzoo alt.folklore.computers:9092 comp.periphs:3396
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!robert
From: Robert.Biddle@comp.vuw.ac.nz (Robert Biddle)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.periphs
Subject: External Sorting
Keywords: Sorting, Tapes
Message-ID: <1991Jan28.031017.19886@comp.vuw.ac.nz>
Date: 28 Jan 91 03:10:17 GMT
Sender: news@comp.vuw.ac.nz (News Admin)
Reply-To: robert@comp.vuw.ac.nz (Robert Biddle)
Organization: Computer Science Dept, Victoria Univ, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
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Originator: robert@oriental.comp.vuw.ac.nz



Is External Sorting done much anymore?

External Sorting used to imagine that you had some file
(usually thought of as being on several tapes, say) that
was too big to sort in primary memory - so you used whatever
memory you had in conjunction with whatever tape drives you had.
(See Knuth III:5.4 for details.)

Is it used anymore at all, either using traditional tape methods,
or in some new form?


[I wasn't sure where to ask this question, so if anyone has any better 
suggestions please mail me.]

-- 
--------
Robert Biddle, Computer Science, Victoria University, Wellington
Internet: Robert.Biddle@Comp.VUW.Ac.NZ               NEW ZEALAND
Telecom:  Voice +64 4 721-000 ext. 8546; Facsimile +64 4 712-070