What is TickBase?

TickBase is a real-time data capture, storage and retrieval system with data capture speed in excess of 600 ticks per second.

How does TickBase work?

Once connected to a real-time data source, TickBase requests delivery of data for a list of subjects, captures any asynchronous data, and if desired, filters out "liar" or bad data. It then stores the results in a proprietary database structure.

How fast is TickBase?

TickBase has been rigorously tested up to 300 updates per second across a total of 50,000 subjects on a SPARC II platform. TickBase's speed will vary with the system that it is running on (platform, system load, etc.).

I need to collect data for 200,000 financial instruments. Can TickBase handle that much data?

One TickBase server on its own can't, but several TickBase servers together, each on separate machines, can achieve this result. TickBase servers check for alternate available machines in order to more efficiently process the data requested. We believe this feature is unique to TickBase.

Why should I use TickBase rather than a typical SQL server?

SQL is typically used to solve traditional relational database problems, whereas TickBase, in the same system, deals with high-speed accumulation and retrieval of transaction and time-series data. For example, EXPO can retrieve data from both TickBase and SQL servers but there is a dramatic difference in the relative performance speed of TickBase versus typical SQL servers in the handling of real-time transaction and time series data. The performance differences apply to both the storage and retrieval of real-time data.

Feature Comparison	TickBase	Typical SQL
Storage Speed	300 updates/second	< 75 updates/second
Relational Queries	no	yes
Size	variable	variable
API	yes	yes
Distributed Database	yes	no
Installation Time	very fast	very slow

In what storage format is the data kept by TickBase?

Data is stored in a proprietary format. For efficiency, a proprietary RAM buffer system is also used.

How do we get data back out of TickBase?

LMT provides EXPO for use with TickBase, which can be used to generate queries against the database and view database contents in a tabular or graphical format. An API (Applications Programmer Interface) is provided, making it easy to develop custom or proprietary data clients within TickBase.

Does TickBase have any "off-the-shelf" interfaces to popular financial data-distribution systems?

Yes. TickBase connects to Reuters SSL, Teknekron TIB, CSK/Micrognosis MIPS and others.

How are custom data interfaces developed?

TickBase's API accesses any data needed to create custom applications. The API is provided in a ready-to-use library format, complete with documentation of the command protocols. In the past, creating a new interface has typically taken less than two weeks to develop.

How do I work with TickBase? Is there a GUI?

TickBase is also supplied with an easy-to-use, menu-driven interface for system administrators. Users can easily look-up and import TickBase data into MS Excel and LMT's EXPO. Detailed and specific configuration files are provided for custom installations.

What are the major uses of TickBase?

• Real-time data capture, display and analysis for a large library of financial instruments on a departmental or personal-sized database.
• Data back-up; freedom from sole reliance on data vendors for data history.
• Real-time data filtering for removing "outlier", too frequent, or identically-valued data items.
• Building real-time accessible transaction databases in any environment with a high throughput requirement.

• Retailing and Retail Banking
• Defense
• Communications
• Process Control and Factory Automation

On what platforms does TickBase run?

TickBase currently runs on the following:

• SUN SPARC running a SunOS 4.x / Solaris 2.x
• IBM RS/6000 running AIX
• HP PA-RISC 800/900 Series running HP-UX A.09.x