WPI - CS - TR - 94 - 4 November

A modeling technique, the Capitalist model, is outlined for analyzing multi-dimensional le structures. It is particularly appropriate where the data keys may have non-uniform data distributions. The basis of the model is to assume that the current distribution of data in an existing le is a good predictor of the underlying \true" distribution. The method is applied to formal analysis of the BANG and NIBGF directory structures. The average cost for search and insertion is found to be logarithmic in the le size. The order constant is quite small and depends on the capacity of a bucket. Simulation con rms the analytic results. This rst use of the Capitalist model suggests its usefulness to the analysis of other multidimensional le structures.