Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
database environment, additional hardware modification may be required.
Information on any additional hardware modifications can be determined
from the distributed DBMS technical requirements as specified by its ven-
dor. For example, technical knowledge is required to add any needed addi-
tional random access memory (RAM), communications cards, and commu-
nications lines.
The addition of RAM may take the form of installing memory chips into
a memory board or purchasing a memory board with the memory chips
already installed. The appropriate existing memory cards must be identi-
fied and extracted from their position in the computer's chassis or cabinet.
Any new card or existing cards with the required added memory must then
be installed in the computer chassis. Depending on the targeted computer,
switches or jumpers on the memory cards may have to be set for proper
recognition of the added memory.
After any required memory has been added, diagnostic software should
be run to confirm that the computing software recognizes this additional
memory. In most computers, built-in firmware will check for the existence
of the additional memory during the initial boot process of the computer.
To establish a connection among computers targeted as nodes in the
distributed database environment, a communications card must be
present in each computer. The features required for a communications
card should be confirmed by the vendor of the candidate distributed
DBMS software. It is advisable to purchase the compatible communica-
tions card used by the vendor in developing the software. The brand of the
communications card and the computing platform will determine any
extras that are required to connect to a network. For example, on personal
computers, the communications cards generally allow either an external
transceiver connection (i.e., a thick-net cabling connection) or connection
to its built-in transceiver (i.e., a thin-net cabling connection). In the first
case, an external transceiver must be purchased in addition to the com-
munications card. In the second case, only thin-net cabling is required. On
workstations and other larger computing platforms, the first case is gen-
erally the only option.
After the communications card has been installed, the following tasks
must be performed:
• running the hardware diagnostic software
• testing the remote connectivity capability
Running the hardware diagnostic software verifies system recognition of
the newly installed communications card. Proper recognition by the sys-
tem means that the communications card is linked to an acceptable (non-
conflicting) address and its features have been recorded by the system.
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