What is a Databus?

Typical distributed systems require data to be shared across multiple devices and multiple networks, from the edge to the cloud. This is challenging because the sheer volume and variety of data — not to mention the stringent safety and security requirements — can easily overwhelm a network. These challenges require new ways to manage increased data volume, data variety, performance requirements, safety risk and security certifications. One of the most important innovations is the databus and its unique ability to manage data flow.

Differences Between Database and Databus

The databus provides for data in motion where a database provides for data at rest.

A database implements data-centric storage. It saves old information that you can later search by relating properties of the stored data.

A databus implements data-centric interaction. It manages future information by letting you filter by properties of the incoming data. Data centricity can be defined by these properties:

• The interface is the data. There are no artificial wrappers or blockers to interface such as messages, objects, files or access patterns.
• The infrastructure understands that data. This enables filtering/searching, tools and selectivity. It decouples applications from the data and thereby removes much of the complexity from the applications.
• The system manages the data and imposes rules on how applications exchange data. This provides a notion of "truth". It enables data lifetimes, data model matching, CRUD interfaces, etc.

It is important to note that a databus is not just a database that you interact with via a pub-sub interface. There is no database. A database implies storage: the data physically resides somewhere. A databus implements a purely virtual concept called a "global data space" and implies data in motion.

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What is a Layered Databus?

The DDS standard has been used in thousands of systems to solve increasingly complex design integration challenges without the need for custom coding. In intelligent distributed systems, a common architecture pattern emerges that is made up of multiple databuses layered by communication QoS and data model needs. Engineers can create multiple (even hundreds) of DDS-based layers (databuses) to separate, isolate and selectively share communications.

A layered databus architecture is the ideal framework for resolving cross-network data sharing challenges and developing multi-tiered distributed systems of systems.

The Connext Databus: A Powerful Data-Centric Paradigm

RTI Connext, built on the DDS standard, features a databus that eliminates network bottlenecks by allowing applications to exchange data via a publish-subscribe, trusted peer-to-peer communication method. Connext handles the details of data distribution, synchronization and management, including serialization and lifecycle management. Its reliability, security, performance and scalability are proven in the most demanding industrial systems.

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