Beginning Oracle Database 11g Administration From Novice to Professional

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INTRODUCTION
Who This Book Is For
I was a C programmer before I became a database administrator. For lack of a text like
this, it took me quite a while to adjust to my new role. If you are an IT professional who
has been thrust into an Oracle Database administration role without the benefit of formal
training, or just want to understand how Oracle Database works, then I wrote this book
for you.
How This Book Is Structured
The chapters of this book are logically organized into four parts that closely track the
way your database administration career will naturally evolve. Part I is a necessary backgrounder
in relational database theory and Oracle Database concepts, Part II will teach
you how to implement an Oracle Database correctly, Part III will expose you to the daily
routine of a database administrator, and Part IV will introduce you to the fine art of performance
tuning. Each chapter has a section of exercises that are designed to help you
apply the lessons of the chapter. Each chapter also includes a list of reference works that
contain more information on the topic of the chapter.
Part I: Database Concepts
You may be in a hurry to learn how to create a database but I hope you will take the time
to first understand the underlying theory. You won’t regret it.
Chapter 1: Relational Database Management Systems
Leonardo da Vinci said, “Those who are in love with practice without knowledge are like
the sailor who gets into a ship without rudder or compass and who never can be certain
[where] he is going. Practice must always be founded on sound theory.” How can you competently
administer a relational database management system like Oracle if you don’t
really know what makes a “relational” database relational or what a database management
system manages for you? This chapter will help you find your bearings and prepare
you for what is to come in the rest of the book.
Chapter 2: SQL and PL/SQL
All database user activity is conducted in Structured Query Language (SQL), and therefore
database administrators need to be intimately familiar with it. The greatest potential for
performance improvement usually lies within the software application, not within the
database where the application stores its data or within the physical infrastructure where
the database is housed. An equally important reason why database administrators need