Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
• There is a lack of basic step-by-step guides covering the analysis,
design, and implementation of a distributed database environment.
A distributed database management system offers many benefits. How-
ever, there are also many architectural choices that make the application
design for distributed databases very complex. To ensure an effective and
productive distributed database environment, it is essential that the dis-
tributed environment be properly designed to support the expected dis-
tributed database applications. In addition, an effective design will depend
on the limitations of the distributed DBMS software. Therefore, implement-
ing today's distributed database technology requires identifying the func-
tional limitations of a selected commercial product. Identification of these
limitations is critical to the successful operation of an application in a dis-
tributed database environment.
DISTRIBUTED DATABASE DEVELOPMENT PHASES
Effective corporationwide distributed database processing is not going
to happen overnight. It requires a carefully planned infrastructure within
which an orderly evolution can occur. The four major development phases
are: planning, design, installation and implementation, and support and
maintenance.
The Planning Phase
The planning phase consists of the very high-level management strategy
planning. During the planning phase, an organization must consider
whether it is advantageous to migrate to a distributed environment. This
chapter assumes that migration to a distributed environment is desirable
and feasible and that the corporate strategy planning issues and tasks have
been identified. The result of this phase is the total management commit-
ment for cost, resources, and a careful migration path towards a distrib-
uted database environment.
The Design Phase
The design phase is concerned with the overall design of the distributed
database strategy. The overall design task involves the selection of a dis-
tributed DBMS environment in terms of the hardware, software, and the
communications network for each node and how these elements are to be
interconnected. The design of the distributed database environment must
incorporate the requirements for the actual distributed database applica-
tion. The overall design divides into two main tasks: the detailed design of
the distributed database environment and the detailed design of the initial
distributed database application. In certain cases, the initial application
may be a prototype that is intended to pave the way for the full-production
distributed database application.
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