Database Reference
In-Depth Information
cycle continues beyond deployment. The database has to be kept up—24/7 in many
organizations—and continually maintained. The database administrator continues
to monitor the performance of the database and initiates measures to tune the data-
base whenever necessary. He or she continues to check space utilization and the
usage of other resources such as processors and communication lines. After the
deployment, the project enters a continuous phase of maintenance and growth.
Compare the maintenance and growth stage of a database system with that of
an earlier data system. Maintaining the database system and coping with its growth
require more effort and specialized skills. The types of maintenance activities are
different and more involved. In the earlier phases of DDLC, you find many data-
base professionals taking the various responsibilities. During this phase, however,
the roles of analysts, designers, and programmers are diminished; the database
administrator takes the primary responsibility. During this phase, the following are
the major functions of the database administrator:
Ongoing monitoring of the database with the aid of usage statistics
Tuning the database for performance
Planning and executing tasks related to the growth of the database
Managing changes to the structure and physical characteristics of the database
Here we have just highlighted the functions during the maintenance and growth
phase. Chapter 17 is completely devoted to ongoing maintenance, and we will
discuss more details in that chapter.
Administration Tools
You have noted that during the maintenance and growth phase, the database admin-
istrator and a few other database professionals are charged with many responsibil-
ities. It is a dynamic environment, and these professionals must stay on top of so
many facets of the database system. How are they able to perform their intricate
functions? Fortunately, modern database management systems (DBMSs) provide
appropriate tools to carry out these functions. This feature of the modern DBMS is
even referred to as the toolkit feature. Today's commercial DBMSs come equipped
with adequate toolkits. Even where the DBMS is lacking a specific tool, you can
find third-party providers offering the missing tools.
DBMSs come with a complete set of DBA commands for the database adminis-
trator to evoke the functions of the toolkit. Commonly, the toolkit component of a
DBMS contains tools and utility programs to perform the following functions:
Load additional data as needed
Import data from outside data sources
Export data to outside data systems
Create log files for recovery
Supply usage statistics
Backup database files
Recover database after any type of malfunction
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