JCC Seminar Description

As Oracle Rdb applications become an increasingly important enterprise resource, the job of Database Administrator becomes an increasingly important and visible responsibility. This seminar provides a thorough introduction to Rdb database administration, including abundant practical recommendations for physical database design and backup management. The seminar contains eight modules:

What is Rdb Database Administration? This section discusses the tasks and goals for which an Rdb DBA is responsible.

Creating a Data Model This section includes a brief discussion of an entity relationship data model and its relevance to Rdb. The motivation is set for domains, constraints and triggers within the database. The laboratory portion of this module will provide the foundation of the remainder of the seminar.

Creating a Database This section includes a complete discussion of the SQL necessary to create a database. The discussion includes domains and data types, tables, constraints and triggers. Sorted index definitions as performance enhancing mechanisms are discussed in a preliminary fashion. With this work, a student will be able to build a completely functional single file database.

Physical Design Recommendations Rdb provides a substantial number of options for performance tuning of a database. This section is an introduction to physical database design. The difference between single file and multi file databases is addressed. A general discussion of physical area layout, distinguishing between uniform and mixed areas, is included. The student is introduced to hashed indexes together with the calculations necessary to determine SPAM thresholds, page sizes and area sizing. The laboratory work includes specifying the database as a multi­file database.

Default Initial Design The robust capability for physical design present in Rdb means the DBA must make many choices for each piece of the database. This section discusses the choices, makes recommendations that will work well for most applications, and addresses how to decide which pieces should not use the general recommendations.

Database Restructuring This section addresses the use of the various database restructuring techniques that are available to the DBA. Topics covered include export-import, backup-restore and load­unload sequences. A discussion of which method is preferable in which context is also included. The laboratory includes restructuring of the student’s database.

Normal Care of the Database Any computer system has the potential to fail at some point. Rdb’s backup and journaling capability reduce the chance of data loss when failures occur. This section addresses the issues of database after image journaling, backup/restore and database verification.

Performance Monitoring and Tuning This section discusses Rdb’s capabilities in the area of performance monitoring and tuning. This is, essentially, an introduction to the interpretation of RMU dynamic and static analysis of the database. Some points to look for are addressed and commonly encountered symptoms of poorly performing databases are displayed.