Data Administration & Database Administration

Learning outcomes At the end of this lecture, you should be able to: Define terms related to data & database administration List several major functions of data/database administration Describe the changing roles of the data and database administrator in the current business environment

Traditional Administration Definitions Data Administration: A high-level function that is responsible for the overall management of data resources in an organization, including maintaining corporate-wide definitions and standards Database Administration: A technical function that is responsible for physical database design and for dealing with technical issues such as security enforcement, database performance, and backup and recovery

Traditional Data Administration Functions Data policies, procedures, standards Planning Data conflict (ownership) resolution Managing the information repository Internal marketing of DA concepts

Traditional Data Administration Functions Data policies, procedures, standards Data Policies: statements that make explicit the goals of DA Every user must have a valid password Data procedure: written outlines of actions to be taken to perform certain activity Data Standard: explicit conventions and behaviors that are to be followed and that can be used to help evaluate database quality Minimum characters for password: 8

Traditional Data Administration Functions Planning Provide leadership in developing the organization’s Information Architecture (IA) Requires both an understanding the needs of the organization for data and information and the ability to lead the development of an information architecture

Traditional Data Administration Functions Data conflict (ownership) resolution Who owns the data? DA: suitable person because DA is not associated with a certain department Procedures must be established

Traditional Data Administration Functions Managing the information repository Repositories contain metadata  describe an organization’s data and data processing resources Replacing Data Dictionaries Serves as an essential source of information and functionality for: Users: who must understand data definitions, business rules and relationships among data objects CASE tools used to specify and develop IS Applications that access and manipulate data DBMS: maintain the repository and update system privileges, passwords, object definitions

Traditional Data Administration Functions Internal marketing of DA concepts The importance of procedures and policies Effective internal marketing  reduce resistance to change and data ownership problems

Traditional Database Administration Functions Analyzing and designing databases Selection of DBMS and software tools Installing/upgrading DBMS Tuning database performance Improving query processing performance Managing data security, privacy, and integrity Data backup and recovery

Traditional Database Administration Functions Analyzing and designing databases Prioritizing application transactions by volume, importance and complexity Specifications should be reviewed as quickly as the transactions are developed Selection of DBMS and software tools Establish policies regarding the DBMS and related system software that will be supported within the organization

Traditional Database Administration Functions Installing/upgrading DBMS All the correct versions of different modules are in place, all the proper device drivers are present and the DBMS works correctly with any third party software products User accounts must be created and maintained. Tuning database performance Performance of a database (query and update processing time as well as data storage utilization) needs to be monitored Design of a database must be frequently changed to meet new requirements Database  rebuilt, reorganized, and re-indexed: recover wasted space and to correct poor data allocation and fragmentation

Traditional Database Administration Functions Improving query processing performance Queries may need to be rewritten in a more efficient form Index may need to be added or deleted Data may need to be relocated to different devices Managing data security, privacy, and integrity Data backup and recovery

Functions of DA & DBA DA DATABASE PLANNING Develop corporate database strategy/policies Develop enterprise model (information architecture) Develop cost/benefit models Design database environment/select technologies Develop and market data administration plan DATABASE ANALYSIS Define and model data requirements (conceptual) Define and model business rules Define operational requirements Resolve requirements conflicts Maintain corporate data dictionary/repository DA

Functions of DA & DBA DBA DA/DBA DBA DA/DBA DATABASE DESIGN Perform logical database design Design external model (sub schemas) Design internal (physical) models Design integrity controls DATABASE IMPLEMENTATION Specify database access policies Establish security controls Install DBMS Supervise database loading Specify test procedures Develop application programming standards Establish procedures for backup and recovery Conduct user training DBA DA/DBA DBA DA/DBA

Functions of DA & DBA DBA DA/DBA OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE Backup and recover databases Upgrade DBMS Monitor database performance Tune and reorganize databases Resolve access conflict Tune and rewrite queries Enforce standards and procedures Support users GROWTH AND CHANGE Implement change-control procedure Plan growth and change Evaluate new technology DBA DA/DBA

Trends in Database Administration Trends and new skills needed: Increased used of procedural logic Triggers, stored procedures Ensure it is well planned, tested, implemented, shared and reused Proliferation of e-business applications Able to manage applications and database that are Internet enabled. Increase use of Smart phones How to design personal DB, how to manage data synchronization.

Data Warehouse Administration New role, coming with the growth in data warehouses Similar to DA/DBA roles Emphasis on integration and coordination of metadata/data across many data sources Specific roles: Support DSS applications Manage data warehouse growth Establish service level agreements regarding data warehouses and data marts

Open Source DBMSs DEFINITION: Free DBMS source code software that provides the core functionality of an SQL-compliant DBMS An alternative to proprietary packages such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or Microsoft Access mySQL is an example of an open-source DBMS Advantages: Less expensive than proprietary packages Source code available, for modification Have different version (simple to complex, free to some cost(additional features) No additional cost for copies or licensing

Open Source DBMSs Disadvantages: Absence of complete documentation Ambiguous licensing concerns Not as feature-rich as proprietary DBMSs Vendors may not have certification programs

Open Source DBMSs Consider these factors when choosing an open source DBMS: Features Support Ease-of-use Stability Speed Training Licensing

END OF CHAPTER Information in this slides were taken from Modern Database Management System, Tenth edition by Jeffrey A.Hoffer, V.Ramesh & Heikki Topi.