Revision

Database Management and Administration

(COMP1638)
Dr Tatiana Simmonds
 Assessment

100% Exam
 Pass mark is 40

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 Exam Format
2 hours and 15 min
 The first 15 minutes of this exam are to be used to read the exam
3 Questions - Answer only 2 questions
 Answer any 2 questions out of 3.

50 marks per question Time management!

 Each question will have several parts (a, b, etc)

 Balance between
 skill questions (explain architecture,
write SQL code)
 discussion questions (compare and contrast, describe,
evaluate, provide examples, etc.)
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 Course Material
1. Introduction and Databases Overview
2. Database Architecture
3. Managing Database Instance
4. Managing Database Storage Structures
5. Database Security and Users Management
6. Managing Schema Objects
7. Managing Data: Transaction Processing,
Undo, Locking Mechanism
8. Flashback Technology
9. Database Backup and Recovery
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 1.Databases Overview
Review Questions
Describe the nature and characteristics of the
Database Management System?
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the
relational model.
What is Structured Query Language (SQL), and
why is it important?

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 2. Database Architecture
Review Questions
As a DBA you have to make sure that
the System Global Area (SGA) has the right size.
What is the SGA in an Oracle Database?
List all SGA components and describe the main
functionality of each component.

The Oracle instance background processes are

the processes that are launched when the
instance is started and run until it is terminated.
 Describe five main background processes and their
purpose.
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3. Managing Database Instance
Review Questions
 For a DBA, starting up and shutting down
of a database is a routine and basic operation.
(i) What SQL command do you need to run to
accomplish the database startup?
(ii) What are startup stages?
(iii) Explain what is happening with the database
during each stage of the startup.
 An Oracle instance is defined by the parameters used to
build it in memory. These initialisation parameters can be
static or dynamic.
 Describe the difference between static and dynamic initialisation
parameters. Provide examples.

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 Starting up a database
OPEN

Instance opens the

SQL> alter database open; redo log files and
datafiles for the
MOUNT database

SQL> alter database mount; The instance opens the

database control file, but does
NOMOUNT not open the datafiles

The instance reads the initialization

parameter file, allocates SGA memory,
SQL> startup nomount;
and starts the background processes

SQL> startup;

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3. Managing Database Instance - Continued
Review Questions
 For a DBA, starting up and shutting down
of a database is a routine and basic operation.
(i) What SQL command do you need to run to
accomplish the database shutdown?
(ii) Explain what is happening with the database and
instance during each stage of the shutdown?
(iii) What are shutdown modes and what restrictions are
applied for each mode?

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 Database shutdown
Users can no longer access the Modified data blocks cached in the SGA are written
database. to a disk. The contents of the redo log buffer are
written to a disk, and then the redo log buffer is
cleared. A checkpoint is performed. Datafiles and
CLOSED log files are closed.

SHUTDOWN The instance dismounts the database and updates relevant

entries in the control file to record a clean shutdown. The
control file is closed. The database is now closed and
dismounted.
DISMOUNT

The Oracle instance stops the background processes and de-

allocates the shared memory used by the SGA.

SQL> shutdown;
Instance stopped
Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.
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 Shutdown modes
Shutdown Modes A I T N
Allows new connections No No No No

Waits until current sessions end No No No Yes

Waits until current transactions No No Yes Yes

end
Forces a checkpoint and closes files No Yes Yes Yes

• Shutdown modes:
• A = ABORT
• I = IMMEDIATE
• T = TRANSACTIONAL
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• N = NORMAL 11
 4. Managing Database Storage Structures
Review Questions
What is your understanding of a tablespace?
 Explain what a tablespace is in an Oracle database and its
purpose?
 Critically evaluate the different tablespace types?
 Which SQL command do you need to use in order to
create a tablespace? Provide an example.
 An Oracle database is made up of physical and logical
structures.
 Describe the Oracle database physical and logical
structures. And their purpose.
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5. Database Security and Users Management
Review Questions
 Security in an Oracle database can be managed in a number of
ways including the use of roles.
 Describe the process of creating and managing roles including SQL
commands.
 Critically discuss the benefits of using roles. Illustrate your answer with
suitable examples and SQL commands

 Creating and managing user accounts are the most common

responsibilities of the DBA. Using SQL commands create
a user account with the following requirements.
Provide explanation for every step.
1. Username = > scott, password => Hello123.
2. Default tablespace => users,
temporary tablespace => temp.
3. Set up quotas on default tablespace to unlimited.
4. Make sure the user can log on to the database.
5. Make sure the user can create a table.
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 Review Questions
 Privileges in an Oracle database come in two forms:
system privileges and object privileges. Which of these
statements about system privileges are correct? Choose
all correct answers and provide an explanation:
1. Only SYS user can grant system privileges.
2. If a system privilege is revoked from a user,
it will not be revoked from all users to whom he/she granted it.
3. CREATE TABLE is a system privilege.
4. SELECT TABLE is a system privilege.

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 Review Questions

 Study this script:

CREATE ROLE hr_mgr IDENTIFIED BY hr_pass;
GRANT CONNECT TO hr_mgr;
GRANT CREATE TABLE TO hr_mgr;
GRANT SELECT TABLE TO hr_mgr;
GRANT hr_mgr TO scott;
 Which line will cause an error?
 Provide explanation for each line.

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 6. Managing Schema Objects
Review Questions
 Data integrity is a fundamental property of the
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).
(i) Discuss what data integrity is and why it is important to
maintain data integrity in the RDBMS.
(ii) Critically evaluate the three primary methods to maintain
data integrity in the database. Include advantages and
disadvantages of each method. Illustrate your answer with
suitable examples.
 Discuss integrity constraints and their purpose? What
are the two ways to define constraints?
 What is the database data dictionary? How to view the
content of the data dictionary?
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7. Managing Data: Transaction Processing, Undo,
Locking Mechanism
Review Questions
 Transactions can be described by the ACID
principles. Discuss the meaning of the ACID
principles and give examples of how COMMIT and
ROLLBACK statements are used to enforce these
principles.
 Which of these commands will terminate a transaction?
Choose all correct answers and explain why.
 CREATE
 GRANT
 SAVEPOINT
 SET AUTOCOMMIT ON

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 Review Questions
 Two employees, Jane and Rajesh are making transactions
against the PROJECTS table. In order to enter new project’s
information into the company database, Jane begins a
transaction at 10:00 A.M. that consists of several SQL
statements against the PROJECTS table, which are not
supposed to end at least until 10:30 A.M.
Rajesh issues a SELECT statement against this table at 10:15
A.M. You find that none of the modifications done by Jane are
reflected to Rajesh.
(i) To which of the database properties will you attribute the
above situation?
(ii) Explain the mechanism that facilitates this property.
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 8. Flashback Technology
Review Questions
 Starting from the release 10g, Oracle introduced a new
feature called Flashback Technologies.
(i) What do you understand about Flashback
Technologies?
(ii) Explain the architecture and components of each
flashback feature.
(iii) Provide examples of how you would use each
flashback feature to solve particular problems in
the database.

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 Review Questions
Working with the company database you
accidentally dropped the table CLIENTS. You have
to recover it.
(i) Discuss the best functionality to use to solve this
problem?
(ii) Write the SQL statement you will execute to recover
the table.
(iii) Discuss how this recovery functionality is
implemented.
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 9.Database Backup and Recovery
Review Questions
● A robust backup strategy includes both physical and
logical backups.
Compare and contrast the differences between these two
backup methods.
Include in your discussion the different options available for
each method, as well as examples that demonstrate the
implications and uses of both physical and logical backups.

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 Where to find more information
Books:
 Oracle Database 12c DBA Handbook by B.Bryla 2015
 Easy Oracle Jumpstart: Oracle Database Management
Concepts and Administration by Karam S., Freeman R., 2014
 Database Systems: The Complete Book by H. Garcia-
Molina, 2008
Oracle Documentation:
 http://www.oracle.com/pls/db121/homepage

 Oracle Technology Network

 http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/index.html

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 Useful exam notes
Exam paper will have three questions, you need to
answer only TWO questions (including one compulsory question)
 Each question will have several parts (a, b, c, d, etc)

READ each question VERY CARREFULLY and make

sure you understand it!!!!!!!
 The examination will be “closed book”
 you may not bring any notes, books or other material
 Please use examples wherever possible to demonstrate your
understanding of the concept and its practical implementation.

Check your exams timetable!!!

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 Good Luck with your
Exams!!

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