An identity column cache is populated by a range of column numbers whenever an INSERT operation into an identity column table is processed. The values for the range are determined by the following factors.
- The next available value stored in DBC.IdCol.AvailValue
- The defined incremental identity column batch size for the system
This quantity is specified by the system parameter IdCol batch size. For more information, see Identity Columns and Bulk Inserts.
When the pool of available identity column numbers in the cache is exhausted, Vantage must update DBC.IdCol.AvailValue and get a new range of numbers.
If an ongoing transaction has DBC.IdCol locked, as during a SELECT statement against the table, system access to the column number pool is temporarily blocked and all inserts into the relevant identity column table are suspended until the transaction either commits or aborts. A SELECT statement against DBC.IdCol places an ACCESS lock on the table.
The SELECT privilege on DBC.IdCol is restricted to user DBC and any user explicitly granted the privilege by DBC.
When performing a SELECT statement against DBC.IdCol in Teradata session mode, you run the risk of creating a deadlock if you upgrade the default lock from ACCESS to READ or higher severity when both of the following conditions are true.
- The SELECT statement is run within the boundaries of an explicit transaction.
- Concurrent INSERT operations are being performed on an identity column table.