Database Users and Administration

COMM1E Lecture Seven

Database Users & AdministrationDatabase Users & Administration


• Database Users• Data Administration • Database Administration• DBA Functions • DBA Role

Database Users & AdministrationDatabase Users & Administration


1. The End User

• The one who will use the information• Unaware of the background processes• Perhaps has little or no computing knowledge• Expertise is in the use of the data

Database UsersDatabase Users


1. The End User (cont.)

The information must be– correct– readily available– user friendly format– meet their requirements– allow them to be productive



2. Database specialist

– Database Administrator– Database Designer– Database Analyst– Database Programmer– Database Technician



• A high level management function(E.g. Director)• Determination of overall information needs from a management

perspective• Developing & administering the policies, procedures, practices

& plans for definition, organisation, protection & efficient utilisation of data

• Encompasses all corporate data whether computerised or not

Data AdministrationData Administration


• Normally responsible for computerised systems only• Management & Co-ordination function• Technical function responsible for:

– physical database design

– security

– backup

– recovery

– performance

Database AdministrationDatabase Administration


What is it?

“To successfully set up and manage an environment in which the data resource is effectively used”

Database AdministrationDatabase Administration


THERE ARE THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS:

1. Administration & management of Data Content

2. Administration & management of Data Structure

3. Administration & management of the Physical Database

DBA FunctionsDBA Functions


1. Administration & management of Data Content

– which data is to be held on the database– which users have what kind of access to the database

– which kind of users have access to individual items of data– which consistency checks must be maintained– when should data be removed



2. The administration and management of data structure.

– how many logical databases do we need ?– what is the table column structure ?

• normalisation

• functional analysis

• de normalisation

– how is security to be implemented ?



2. The administration and management of data structure (Cont.)– how are consistency checks made ?– how is access to be optimised ?

• transactions

• clustering

• indexing

• query optimisation

– how and when to re-organise the database ?



3. The administration and management of the physical database

– how many copies should run ?• machine sizing

• operating system performance

– when and how should we perform backups?• database files

• recovery log files



3.The administration and management of the physical database ( cont.)– start-up and shutdown procedures.

• DBMS parameters

• control procedures

– what procedures are required to recover from system failures ?

• export / import procedures

• roll forward / rollback



• integrity and consistency• monitoring and tuning• reducing redundant storage• facilitating sharing of data• security• backups• recovery• keep down time to a minimum

DBA RoleDBA Role


Liaison with:• Management

– enterprise objectives– time constraints for development– budget constraints– Future plans– organisational changes

DBA RoleDBA Role


Liaison with:• Users

– data requirements– application priorities– ownership of data– archiving requirements– documentation– response times

DBA RoleDBA Role


Liaison with:• Application Development Staff

– security/privacy controls– education/training– data integrity rules– housekeeping programs– information about the database– Test plans etc.

DBA RoleDBA Role


Liaison with:• Operations Staff

– availability requirements– batch job priorities– security procedures– error recovery requirements– performance monitoring etc.

DBA RoleDBA Role


Liaison with:• Software Vendors

– Education/training needs– Hardware requirements– documentation– service support & maintenance– utilities etc.

DBA RoleDBA Role


Liaison with:• Hardware Vendors

– hardware capabilities– expansion capability– incompatibility with any existing hardware– servicing requirements– training– equipment failure

DBA RoleDBA Role


Further ReadingFurther Reading

• Database Administration– Connelly & Begg, chapter 4, section 4.7– McFadden & Hoffer, chapter 13

• Next week– Database Security, Integrity and Recovery

Database Users and Administration

Documents

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