VMware, Inc.
Balancing write amplification and space amplification in buffer trees

Abstract:

A buffer tree structure includes, at each internal node, a buffer having a compacted portion and an uncompacted portion. Insertion of data elements to the buffer tree can occur units called packets. A packet is initially stored in the uncompacted portion of a receiving node's buffer. When a compaction trigger condition exists, packet compaction is performed including a data element compaction operation. A buffer-emptying (flush) operation pushes the compacted packets to children nodes.