Transcript Exam preparation session

Exam preparation session
Examinable Topics
• Key characteristics of databases
• From data modelling to DB design
– Beyond data modelling
– Realistic constraints – key practical questions
– Key decisions in design optimisation
• Categories of critical operations (inc. internet DBs)
• Issues in DB performance
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Reading data in Oracle
Writing / changing data
Indexing
Partitioning
• Distributed DBs
– Control / challenges / protocols for commit & abort / timestamping
– Options for data administration
Examinable Topics (2)
• Creating Oracle DBs
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When DB is created
Block size
Tablespaces
Object creation: sizing / extents / segments / tables / views / clusters
• Data Warehousing
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From OLTPS to DMSS
Data extract explosion
Data quality
Datawarehouse architecture / life cycle / data models /
implementation approaches
– Datamarts
– Predefined reports / OLAP / data mining
• Transferring / migrating data
– Data staging areas
– Data cleaning
– What can go wrong + utilities
• Advanced Database tuning methodologies and techniques
Exam paper
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120 marks (+80cw = 200)
6 questions must do 4 type
5 questions: a & b
1 straight question
All are focused on one specific topic but
can involve material across lectures
• Notes (web + class attendance) are
sufficient
Sample question
Question x
(a) Explain how Oracle™ handles the sizing and the
growth of objects in a tablespace (e.g: segments,
extents, pctincrease factor, block size etc…) and what
this means for database administrators
(13 percent)
(b) Explain the use of tablespaces in Oracle™ and the
reasoning behind creating and organizing them (e.g.
business relevance, types of objects, etc).
(12 percent)