Apparatus and method for adaptive logical partitioning of workfile disks for multiple concurrent mergesorts

An information handling system for improving response time of multiple, concurrent mergesort operations, comprising:

• a plurality of logical processors each operating under control of an image of an operating system program;
• a database storage system for storing data in a predetermined data structure;
• one or more workfile storage devices for storing workfiles during mergesort operations;
• means for sharing one or more of said workfile storage devices by one or more of said logical processors;
• and
• means for executing a plurality of mergesort operations, wherein each mergesort operation is executed on a separate logical processor and wherein said means for executing each mergesort operation comprises:
• means for sorting said data structure into one or more ordered runs;
• means for determining a logical partition size for said workfile storage devices;
• means for selecting a least loaded partition;
• means for writing said one or more ordered runs into said workfile storage devices in said selected partition;
• and
• means for merging said one or more ordered runs into a single sorted run.