A database system providing methodology for extended memory support is
described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for
extended memory support in a database system having a primary cache, the
method comprises steps of: creating a secondary cache in memory available
to the database system; mapping a virtual address range to at least a
portion of the secondary cache; when the primary cache is full, replacing
pages from the primary cache using the secondary cache; in response to a
request for a particular page, searching for the particular page in the
secondary cache if the particular page is not found in the primary cache;
if the particular page is found in the secondary cache, determining a
virtual address in the secondary cache where the particular page resides
based on the mapping; and swapping the particular page found in the
secondary cache with a page in the primary cache, so as to replace a page
in the primary cache with the particular page from the secondary cache.