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What Is Oracle Database?
Databases are electronic archives that store organized information. At its inception, computers were mainly employed for scientific calculations.
With increasing computer usage came increased demands. Now computers must store more data for quicker retrieval. The flat file format was once used to store data prior to database systems such as Oracle.
Here is an example of an employee CSV showing its contents:First name, Last name and Phone numbers are provided below: Dr Ted Codd introduced the relational database model during the 1970s in response to some issues created by flat files, organizing data into entities and attributes instead of one massive structure.
Entities, whether people, places or things, have attributes that characterize them. You could use relational models to organize employee information as entities with attributes like first name, last name and phone number.Create an employee entity linked with the contact entity using a one-to-many relationship.
Entities, rows and columns are commonly referred to as tables; we refer to columns as records and entities as table rows and records.
Relational files provide more efficient solutions than flat files by eliminating redundant information. When combined, employee and contact records in one file become visible throughout its rows; should an employee have multiple contacts who appear as separate lines?
RDBMS stands for Relational Database Management System and manages relational information efficiently and securely.
Oracle Database holds the largest market share for RDBMS systems.Oracle Database is just one of many RDBMSs currently available; here are just some noteworthy ones:
IBM Db2 is a database.
- SQL Server is a product of Microsoft.
- MySQL is the most popular open-source database, also made by Oracle.
- PostgreSQL is the most advanced database available.
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Oracle Database Features
Oracle Database lets you store and retrieve information quickly and securely. Oracle Database offers many integration benefits.
- Oracle Database quality can run across numerous platforms. Oracle can support several operating systems, including Windows Server, Unix and various distributions of GNU/Linux.
- Oracle Database features its networking stack that facilitates accessible communication across platforms - for instance, applications running on Windows can easily communicate with Oracle Database instances running on Unix servers.
- Oracle Database is ACID compliant and helps to maintain data integrity.
- Oracle's commitment to open technologies goes back decades; in the mid-1990s, it was one of the very first Databases to support GNU/Linux before its commercialization; since then, it has continued supporting this open platform.
Oracle Database is popular because of its structural features:
- Oracle's logical data structure enables you to interact with its database even if you do not know where the information resides physically.
- Partitioning is a high-performance feature that lets you divide a large desk into several smaller parts and store them safely away on various storage devices.
- Memory caching enables you to scale an extensive database while still achieving peak performance.
- Data Dictionary is an internal set of tables and views to help administer Oracle Database.
- Backup and instant recovery ensure the integrity of data in case of system failure. Oracle provides DBAs with an effective tool known as Recovery Manager (RMAN), which enables cold backups, hot backups, incremental database back-ups, point-in-time recoveries and cold restores.
- Oracle Real Application Clusters RAC offers high availability by continuing operations even if one or more servers within its cluster fail. It gives IT administrators added peace of mind and ensures continuous user availability.
Oracle Database Editions
Oracle Databases are available in three different editions: The most prevalent and expensive variant, Oracle Database Enterprise Edition (EE), can be purchased.
It can be distinguished from other versions by several notable characteristics, including:
- There is no maximum CPU number.
- No limit on the size of your database or memory
- Includes premium features not found in other editions.
Standard Edition (SE), a limited edition of Enterprise Edition, has the following features:
- Limitations: Four or fewer CPUs
- No limits on a database or memory size
- Include many advanced features but not as many as EE
The free edition of Oracle Database Expression Edition, or XE, is available for Windows and GNU/Linux operating systems.
Available as either 64-bit or 32-bit versions, Oracle XE features in total three variants for your convenience:
- Limit of 2 CPUs
- Database Users can use up to 2GB RAM and have 12GB of data.
- Features are minimal
How Does Oracle Database Work?
Oracle business development consultant uses SQL as its standard language to build database structures and manage records, perform actions or retrieve information, add extensions to SQL statements as programming language extensions and retrieve cross-table data quickly and efficiently.
Oracle also allows for actions or retrieval using its programming languages PL/SQL, which provide quick and efficient cross-table access through row/column tables linked with attributes for quick data retrieval and management.
Oracle databases feature an architecture composed of several parts. A database holds files for storage purposes; data is managed through instances; listener processes connect clients with instances and are the bridge between physical and logical data structures; physical structures include their logical counterparts as part of this schema.
- Physical Storage Structures: data files, control files containing database metadata, and red-log (used to record modifications).
- Logical Storage Structures: Data Blocks and Tables, segments (extent records), and tablespaces.
Oracle offers comprehensive data security by encrypting data and network traffic. Furthermore, this database supports Java programs retrievable with PL/SQL.
Read More: Why do Organizations go for Remote Oracle DBA Services in 2022?
Oracle Database Tools
Oracle offers a variety of developer and management tools to extend Oracle databases.
- SQL*Plus- SQL*Plus can be found on all computers running Oracle client and server software as a command-line utility for managing databases, including data queries, command entries and file deletion/modification functions. Please be aware that using this program requires extensive knowledge of SQL syntax.
- Oracle SQL- developer java application with a graphical user interface that enables the creation or editing of database projects, managing SQL statements/scripts/bots (both for your database projects or the individual scripts themselves), performing database analyses or even creating or debugging PL/SQL procedures.
- Oracle Data Modeler Database- designers can use The Modeler as a free, open-source software application. Tailored explicitly towards database architects and designers, its primary function is creating logical database models and entity-relationship diagrams using drag-and-drop operations and mapping complex database structures, and exporting these diagrams directly into Oracle SQL Developer Tool for further work.
- Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control- Database administration system with an intuitive visual user interface for web servers.
- Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control-Oracle Administration Tool (OAOT) is an intuitive web-based administration tool with an interactive graphical user interface for Oracle virtual environments, capable of supporting multiple databases, clusters and standby systems.
- Oracle JDeveloperOracle Administration Tool (OAOT)- is an intuitive web-based administration tool with an interactive graphical user interface for Oracle environments, capable of supporting multiple databases, clusters and standby systems.
Oracle Database: Editions And Application Areas
Oracle Database products currently come in four main editions that can accommodate applications specific to various sizes and types of companies.
Express Edition
Oracle Express Edition provides a database for free. Ideal for training purposes or small applications, the Express Edition supports PHP, Java, XML, and .NET programming languages, while memory and RAM capacity is restricted due to being a free version with only one CPU available for usage.
Standard Edition
Oracle Standard Edition is an increasingly popular choice among large and midsized businesses, boasting intuitive configuration and management functions and efficient administration of large datasets - plus compatibility with most data types and applications.
Enterprise Edition
Oracle Enterprise Edition is an expensive RDBMS designed for large organizations that must manage large volumes of data.
Featuring advanced security measures against data loss, software errors and power outages. This edition can serve large enterprises well.
Oracle Database: Advantages And Disadvantages
Oracle Database's advantages and disadvantages depend heavily on user requirements, needs, costs, technical skills and programming abilities.
One key feature is its optional Database-as-a-Service model allowing relational databases to be hosted on Oracle Cloud; optimizing CPU utilization; storage utilization; hardware utilization as well as outsourcing administrative tasks related to database administration are made more cost-efficient with outsourcing administrative duties related to database administration outsourced to third parties; while its high-security standards offer maximum protection from cyber attacks, data loss or breach.
Benefits
Oracle Database offers many benefits, including:
- High compatibility for all platforms and applications
- Support for all major hardware and software vendors
- There are different editions, from free to enterprise.
- Enterprise IT is widely used.
- Oracle Cloud infrastructure Databases can be used for automation and outsourcing of database management.
- The most popular relational database system
- Oracle Support and a large developer community
- Features that provide robust security, including encryption, authentication, and authorization.
Disadvantages
Oracle databases have many advantages, but they also have some weaknesses.
- Extensive SQL knowledge and administrative experience are prerequisites for the local, on-premises Oracle version.
- Oracle licenses can be costly. (Standard edition approx. 17,000 USD, Enterprise Edition approx. 40,000 USD)
- Hardware requirements are high for the local on-premises versions.
Alternatives To Oracle Database
There are a number of alternatives to the Oracle Database. SAP and IBM provide well-known database systems.
- SAP HANA
- IBM Db2
- Amazon Relational Database Service
- Amazon Aurora
- Microsoft SQL
- MySQL
- SQLite
- Azure SQL Database
There are also several open-source, free database management systems.
- MariaDB
- NoSQL
- InnoDB
- CouchDB
- MongoDB
- PostgreSQL
Top 5 Tips To Optimize Oracle Data Warehouse Performance
Assuring optimal data warehouse query performance doesn't happen by chance; read this article for the top five tips for consistently reliable performance with Oracle Analytics reports.
1. Optimizer Statistics Must Be Representative.
When To Collect Statistics
Data warehouses should collect statistics once all their data have been loaded into tables. Oracle 12c and subsequent releases automatically gather statistics when direct path loading empty tables - eliminating manual data collection on interim tables.
Avoiding Out-Of-Range Situations
Predicates are out-of-range when their values do not fall between the low_value and high_value columns in all_tab_col_statistics.
To solve this issue, recalculate all table statistics accordingly.
Consider Data Skew
When data becomes unbalanced by the database, a Histogram is determined as appropriate to represent that column's usage statistics in SYS.COL_USAGE$.
This usage statistic then serves as the predicate of queries against that column.
Histograms will be generated automatically if you utilize the AUTO option of METHOD_OPT in DBMS_STATS.
As an example, execute: BMS_STATS.GATHER_TABLE_STATS(...METHOD_OPT => "FOR ALL COLUMNS SIZE AUTO") to collect table statistics
Consider column correlation
Correlation can be defined as the presence of multiple predicates within one table; for instance, city and State are considered correlated.
By default, selectivity is calculated by multiplying all filter predicates together; to improve estimates on cardinality estimation for these columns with multiple correlations, create extended statistics on them for better estimation of how many rows they'll return once all filter predicates have been applied - otherwise, known as extended statistics or cardinality estimation.
- Important - If the columns within a column group already possess histograms, a new histogram must first be established for them before proceeding further with using this column group. You may first select predicate columns before the recomputation of statistics for their newly established histogram.
2. Implement Constraints To Help The Optimizer.
Constraints provide information on the relationships among tables within your schema, which allows the optimizer to perform optimizations such as join elimination and other query transforms.
DBAs may worry about the performance impacts of data loads when constraints are in place. One way to alleviate this concern is creating foreign keys with validate and disabled constraints in fact tables - this instructs the database not to validate relationships when adding (disabled), updating, or inserting new records (validate).
to trust constraint relationships in the RELY state, set query_rewrite_integrity to TRUSTED and query_rewrite_enabled to TRUE as shown here (default values).
- IMPORTANT - Adjust the query_rewrite_integrity parameter only if the data quality in your fact table can be trusted to prevent incorrect results. Be wary if any rows with join keys that do not correspond with dimensions tables are present - use LEFT OUTER JOB OR IS NULL SQL syntax when checking fact table rows against dimensions.
3. Divide The Fact Table To Partition It
Choose a column you frequently use for filtering data and partition your fact table by interval or range on its basis, for instance, by a date column.
Also, consider partitioning using range if dates have numeric representation in your table dimension.
With no null constraints on dimension tables and primary and foreign keys, your database might be able to understand your schema, thus precluding partition pruning designed to improve performance.
4. The Data Types Of The Fact And Dimension Tables Must Be The Same
Dimension and fact table join keys should have identical lengths and precision of data types for their keys to be effective.
5. Parallel Execution
Validate and verify the performance of the plan before proceeding further. Adding parallel execution will speed up your report.
Still, more resources might be consumed, and database consistency might result from an incorrect foundation.
Read More: Best Tips To Implement Oracle Data Modelling
How To Create Databases In Oracle 4 Ways?
Oracle Database is an Oracle multi-model database system used for online transaction processing, data warehouses or mixed database workloads.
This blog will discuss four methods to create an Oracle Database using tools and a command line to create databases at 12c, 19c, 11g, 10g levels or higher.
Prerequisites for creating an Oracle database include:
- Operating system privileges.
- It would help if you had enough memory to run Oracle.
- You need enough space on your PC running Oracle for the database.
Method 1: Create An Oracle Database Using The Create Database Statement
- Set the scene by installing and creating data dictionary views target database explicitly for single instance databases (A single instance database can only be accessed by one Oracle instance on one host; multiple Oracle instances still reside there.).
- Windows users can manually set Instance Identifiers (SID) when installing databases without first creating one. However, only certain types of databases allow this option.
Method 2 - Create An Oracle Database Using DBCA
- Select Create Database in the dashboard. Click Then.
- Select Advanced Configuration, and click Next.
- Choose General Purpose or Transaction Processing on the deployment type page. Click Then.
- Choose Template for database storage attributes in the Storage Options section and click Next.
- Click Next after specifying Fast Recover Option.
- Configure Network Configuration for the creation of a new listener. Next,
- Install the Data Storage Option if you wish.
- Click Next. Select Use Unicode (AL32UTF8) and AL16UTF16 as National Character sets in the Character Sets section. Click Next. Select Use Unicode (AL32UTF8) or AL16UTF16 for the National Character set in the Character Sets section. Check the Add sample schemas in the database checkbox on the last tab.
- Select Dedicated Server Mode in the Connection Mode tab.
- The size tab allows you to specify the maximum number of OS user processes which can connect simultaneously to Oracle DB.
- Choose Configure EM Express on the Options page and enter the port. Click Then.
- Enter the same password as an administrator for all accounts. Enter a user password in User Credentials. Click Then.
- On the creation option page, specify the database. You can create a DB script to repeat the entire creation process. Save the new DB template and specify the scripts that will run when the DB has been created. Click Then.
- On the Summary page, click Finish. Click Password Management... to unlock database accounts. Click OK.
Method 3: From An Existing Database
Consider creating a CREATE DATABASE from an existing Oracle database as a practical measure. This would speed up the process.
- Choose Manage Templates, then click Next.
- In the Template Manager, enter the name and the location and click Next.
- Choose Create Template using an existing database. Enter the Oracle DB credentials and click Next.
- Choose whether to convert the file default locations to OFA or keep them in the File Location Structure section.
- Finish. Click Close after it has been generated.
Method 4 - Create An Oracle Database Using The Oracle SQL Developer
- Download Oracle SQL Developer. Extract its files before running SQL Developer.
- Locate the green plus sign under Connections, click the down arrow, then "N New Database Connection..." from the drop-down list.
- First, select your database connection by filling all required information in the New/Select the Database Connection Window, including user credentials such as your username and password, before proceeding with selecting Success: at the bottom of your screen and then Connect; your new database can then be found listed among Oracle Connections listings.
How Can You Improve Database Performance?
Database tuning allows oracle developers and DBAs to optimize system resources to achieve lasting performance improvements, enhance system resources for optimal usage, and attain lasting performance gains.
Databases serve as the central nervous system of applications, orchestrating critical processes. Even minor performance issues with databases can devastate an application's operation.
Early identification of database issues will assist applications in remaining healthy and available to their users, potentially saving revenue losses and customers who turn away altogether.
Check Your Database Server.
For optimal database performance, the host must provide adequate resources. To identify potential issues and address performance problems effectively, test CPU utilization, disk space consumption and memory availability.
The Following Are Some Of The Ways To Get In Touch With Each Other.
Upgrade to a better CPU unit if your database is continuously underperforming. Assess its different aspects, such as its ready time metric; this will alert you of instances when resources that prevented using the CPU's full potential were lacking.
A minimum of two cores is recommended to maintain server responsiveness due to constant base load on database servers; upgrading with a powerful CPU will alleviate stress caused by multiple requests and applications, thus increasing database efficiency and improving database performance and efficiency.
Memory
Memory constraints can also contribute to performance issues for databases, so when assessing memory requirements, it is wise to look at two metrics - page faults and memory usage.
Page faults of thousands indicate your hosts have run out of memory and require extra resources; more memory can boost the performance and efficiency of systems.
Another approach would be to increase MySQL memory allocation to utilize 70 per cent of available memory; however, this only works if MySQL is the sole application running on your server.
Disk Space
Storage space on your database server should always be plentiful; indexes and performance enhancements can eat into disk space unnecessarily, leading to fragmentation due to other processes and fragmented files.
Dedicating specific drives specifically to data files, backups, log files and tempdb can boost performance and provide convenient backup strategies options in disaster recovery.
Increased disk latency can have a severe impact on database performance. Monitor metrics related to disk latency carefully; caching offers one cost-effective and fast way of decreasing latency.
Disk type on servers is also essential in improving their performance. It takes millions of i/o operations to retrieve results for one query depending on its data needs.
Making upgrades such as using solid-state drives may dramatically improve this timescale- select an SSD model intended explicitly for database use for optimal results.
What Are The Components Of Network Performance Management (NPM)?
Indexing can often be overlooked when creating databases, yet it can dramatically enhance performance and query execution.
Indexes must be strategically set up to reduce response times and facilitate faster data retrieval. Search for best practices in query structuring to boost indexing strategies.
Access The Database By Identifying The User
One application or service could be responsible for performance bottlenecks; to quickly pinpoint its source, consider reviewing metrics associated with that service.
If your entire operation is experiencing performance problems, they could be related to any number of professional services; if only database clients seem affected, host health could be to blame; in such an instance, review all hardware to assess if any may be contributing.
Evaluate Connection Capacity
Reconfiguring the connection pool could be necessary if acquiring connections consumes an inordinately large portion of database response times.
Being familiar with what number of connections your database can handle will enable you to set up the ideal configuration of this resource pool.
Monitor server metrics as you increase connections and load until your CPU, RAM or disk performance is limited. Should additional connections become necessary, upgrading may be required to achieve maximum capacity.
Optimize Queries
Many performance issues stem from queries. Although sub-queries make coding more straightforward, they can adversely impact database performance.
Looped code can lead to unnecessary requests that burden your database and may burden it further. SQL statements should be utilized instead of cursors used as looping mechanisms in SQL servers for greater efficiency and less workload.Use a query optimizer as part of your coding decisions for enhanced SQL query and database performance.
Why Do We Use Oracle?
This database management software aims to simplify database operations for Personal and Enterprise use. A database is an organized collection of information.
A database management system (DBMS) stores this data securely while offering high-performance storage capabilities with authorized access control, authorized user accounts and recovery from failure features - making for a user-friendly software system capable of overseeing database operations effectively for both applications.
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Conclusion:
This Oracle Database Platform is an innovative Oracle solution provider designed to maximize flexibility and robustness in design.
Thorough testing with real OLTP workloads was conducted to verify all hardware and software work according to best practice recommendations.
This validated design for Oracle databases enables customers to more quickly and confidently implement database infrastructures by saving time and resources by not purchasing components, conducting tests to ensure all layers work, or purchasing and performing them themselves if failure arises.
IT teams and administrators benefit significantly as this validated design consolidates Oracle data faster while freeing resources to meet mission-critical deadlines more efficiently. Starting up Oracle database workloads doesn't have to be complex or time-consuming! With our solution, starting is made simple.
