The Oracle Database :
Oracle is a relational database. In a relational database, all data is stored in
two-dimensional tables that are composed of rows and columns. The Oracle Database
enables you to store data, update it, and efficiently retrieve it.
Oracle provides software to create and manage the Oracle database. The database
consists of physical and logical structures in which system, user, and control
information is stored. The software that manages the database is called the Oracle
database server. Collectively, the software that runs Oracle and the physical database
are called the Oracle database system.
Course content of Oracle DBA
Common Oracle DBA Tasks :
- As an Oracle DBA, you can expect to be involved in the following tasks:
- Installing Oracle software
- Creating Oracle databases
- Performing upgrades of the database and software to new release levels
- Starting up and shutting down the database
- Managing the database’s storage structures
- Managing users and security
- Managing schema objects, such as tables, indexes, and views
- Making database backups and performing recovery when necessary
- Proactively monitoring the database’s health and taking preventive or corrective
action as required
- Monitoring and tuning performance
Tools for Administering the Database :
The intent of this book is to allow you to quickly and efficiently create an Oracle
database, and to provide guidance in basic database administration.
The following are some of the products, tools, and utilities you can use in achieving
your goals as a database administrator:
Oracle Universal Installer (OUI) : The Oracle Universal Installer installs your Oracle software and options. It can
automatically launch the Database Configuration Assistant to install a database.
Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) : The Database Configuration Assistant creates a database from templates that are
supplied by Oracle, or you can create your own. It enables you to copy a
preconfigured seed database, thus saving the time and effort of generating and
customizing a database from scratch.
Database Upgrade Assistant : This Database Upgrade Assistant guides you through the upgrade of your existing
database to a new Oracle release.
Oracle Net Manager : Net Manager is an alternate tool for configuring and managing Oracle Database
networks.
Oracle Enterprise Manager : The primary tool for managing your database is Oracle Enterprise Manager, a
web-based interface. After you have installed the Oracle software, created or
upgraded a database, and configured the network, you can use Oracle Enterprise
Manager for managing your database. In addition, Oracle Enterprise Manager also
provides an interface for performance advisors and for Oracle utilities such as
SQL*Loader and Recovery Manager.
Types of Oracle Database Users :
The types of users and their roles and responsibilities depend on the database site. A
small site can have one database administrator who administers the database for
application developers and users. A very large site can find it necessary to divide the
duties of a database administrator among several people and among several areas of
specialization.
Database Administrators :
Each database requires at least one database administrator (DBA). An Oracle Database
system can be large and can have many users. Therefore, database administration is
sometimes not a one-person job, but a job for a group of DBAs who share
responsibility
A database administrator's responsibilities can include the following tasks:
- Installing and upgrading the Oracle Database server and application tools
- Allocating system storage and planning future storage requirements for the
database system.
- Creating primary database storage structures (tablespaces) after application
developers have designed an application
- Creating primary objects (tables, views, indexes) once application developers have
designed an application
- Modifying the database structure, as necessary, from information given by
application developers
- Enrolling users and maintaining system security
- Ensuring compliance with Oracle license agreements
- Controlling and monitoring user access to the database
- Monitoring and optimizing the performance of the database
- Planning for backup and recovery of database information
- Maintaining archived data on tape
- Backing up and restoring the database
- Contacting Oracle for technical support
Security Officers :
In some cases, a site assigns one or more security officers to a database. A security
officer enrolls users, controls and monitors user access to the database, and maintains
system security. As a DBA, you might not be responsible for these duties if your site
has a separate security officer. See Oracle Database Security Guide for information about
the duties of security officers.
Network Administrators :
Some sites have one or more network administrators. A network administrator, for
example, administers Oracle networking products, such as Oracle Net Services. See
Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's Guide for information about the duties of
network administrators.
Application Developers :
Application developers design and implement database applications. Their
responsibilities include the following tasks:
- Designing and developing the database application
- Designing the database structure for an application
- Estimating storage requirements for an application
- Specifying modifications of the database structure for an application
- Relaying this information to a database administrator
- Tuning the application during development
- Establishing security measures for an application during development
Application Administrators :
An Oracle Database site can assign one or more application administrators to
administer a particular application. Each application can have its own administrator.
Database Users :
Database users interact with the database through applications or utilities. A typical
user's responsibilities include the following tasks:
- Entering, modifying, and deleting data, where permitted
- Generating reports from the data
