Introduction to Database Systems

Prepared by:
Arwie H. Fernando
 References
• R. Elmasri & S. B. Navathe, Fundamentals of Database
Systems, The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, 1994.
• T. Conolly, C. Begg & A. Strachan, Database Systems, A
Practical Approach to Design, Implementation and
Management, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1998.
• F. R. McFaden & J. A. Hoffer, DatabaseManagement, The
Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, 1991
• H. F. Korth & A Silberschatz, Database System Concepts,
McGraw-Hill, 1991
 Introduction to Databases : Objectives
• Examples of database systems
• Characteristics of file-based systems
• Limitations of file-based systems
• Meaning of the term database
• Meaning of the term Database Management System
(DBMS)
• Typical functions of a DBMS
• Major Components of the DBMS environment
• People involved in the DBMS environment
• Strengths and weaknesses of DBMSs
 prepared by:RdDB

Outline: Introduction to Databases

1.0 Some examples of database systems

2.0 Manual Filing System
3.0 File-based Approach
3.1 Characteristics of File-based systems
3.2 Example of a File-based system
3.3 Limitations of File-based systems
 Outline: Introduction (cont)
4.0 Database Approach
4.1 Simple database system architecture
4.2 Components of a DBMS environment
4.2.1Software
4.2.2 Hardware
4.2.3 Data
4.2.4 People
4.2.5 Procedures
4.3 Strengths and Weaknesses of Database Systems
At this stage, for purpose of discussion:

• Database is a collection of related data.

• Database Management System (DBMS) is
the software that manages and accesses the
database.
Can you give some examples of
database systems?
• Supermarket
• Credit card
• Travel Agent
• Library
• Insurance
• Hospital
• Bank
• University
Student Database System
enrollment EAF

payment
DBMS DB
of fees

processing course
official
of grades cards
receipt
Supermarket Database System
inventory &
oil official
milk price check
receipt

sales update DBMS DB

credit
card check DBMS DB
How were records maintained in
the pre-computer period?
Manual Filing System

Projects Clients

Products Employees

Tasks Sales
What are File-Based Systems?
• A File-based system is a collection of
application programs that perform services
for the end users such as the production of
reports.
• Each program defines and manages its own
data. [CBS98]
• Each user (with the assistance of DP staff)
defines and implements (including storage
and control) the files needed for a specific
application. [CBS98, EN94]
What
Whatcan
canbe
beobserved?
observed? Data
prepared by:RdDB

Dataredundancy
redundancy

Student System (File-based)

Student
Registrar File Courses
Faculty
enrollment
EAF

Student
Accounting File Fees
payment of fees
OR

Department File Student

Processing of Courses
grades course Grades
cards
Faculty
What Separation
Separationand
and
Whatcan
canbe
beobserved?
observed? isolation
isolationof
ofdata
data

Student System (File-based) Student

Registrar File Courses
Faculty
enrollment
EAF

Student
Accounting File Fees
payment of fees
OR

Department File Student

Processing of Courses
grades course Grades
cards
Faculty
What
What can
canbe
beobserved?
observed? Program-data
Program-datadependence
dependence
prepared by:RdDB

Student System (File-based)

struct
structperson
person Student
Registrar File Courses
{{char
charfirst[20];
first[20];
Faculty
char enrollment
charmiddle[3];
middle[3]; EAF
char
charlast[30];
last[30];
}}employees,
employees,managers;
managers; Student
Accounting File Fees
payment of fees
OR

Department File Student

Processing of Courses
grades course Grades
cards
Faculty
What
What can
canbe
beobserved?
observed? Incompatibility
Incompatibility of
of files
filesprepared by:RdDB

Student System (File-based)

COBOL
COBOL Student
Registrar File Courses
Faculty
enrollment
EAF

CC
Student
Accounting File Fees
payment of fees
OR

Department File Student

Processing of Courses
grades course Grades
cards
Faculty
What
What can
canbe
beobserved?
observed? Incompatibility
Incompatibility of
of files
filesprepared by:RdDB

Student System (File-based)

COBOL
COBOL Student
Registrar File Courses
Faculty
enrollment
EAF

CC
Student
Accounting File Fees
payment of fees
OR

Department File Student

Processing of Courses
grades course Grades
cards
Faculty
What
What can
canbe
beobserved?
observed? Fixed queries;
Fixed queries; prepared by:RdDB

proliferation of application
proliferation of application
Student System (File-based)
programs
programs
Student
Registrar File Courses
Faculty
enrollment
EAF

Student
Accounting File Fees
payment of fees
OR

Department File Student

Processing of Courses
grades course Grades
cards
Faculty
 Limitations of File-Based Systems
• Separation and isolation of data
• Duplication of data/ data redundancy
• Program-data dependence
• Incompatibility of files (e.g C vs. COBOL)
• Fixed queries / proliferation of application
programs
 Factors that limit File-Based System
• The definition of data is embedded in the
application programs, rather than being
stored separately and independently.
[CBS98]
• There is no control over the access and
manipulation of data beyond that imposed
by the application programs. [CBS98]
Database Approach
 What is a database?
• It is a shared collection of logically coherent data
with some inherent meaning;
• It is designed , built and populated with data for
specific purpose such as meeting the information
needs of an organization;
• It represents some aspect of the real-world.
[EN94]
• Ex: student database, employee database,
library database, air flights database, hospital
database, etc.
 What is a DBMS?
• Database Management System
• It is a software system that enables users to :
– define, create and maintain the database
• DDL
• DML
– provide controlled access to this database
• Security
• Integrity
• Concurrency control
• Recovery control
• User-accessible catalogue (description of data)
A Simple Database System Environment
DATABASE DBMS Software
SYSTEM Software to
Data
process
Definition
programs/
queries
Application
Programs/
Queries
Software to
access stored
data Database
 Components of the DBMS
Environment[CBS98]
People
Hardware Software Procedure
Data - data admin
- DBMS - log on
- stored data - start/stop - database
- PC - OS admin
- backup
- meta-data
- mainframe - network - handle - DB designer
- schema
- network software failures - application
- application - change programmers
structure
programs Bridge - end users

Machine Human
 Hardware [CBS96]
• Ranges of computer hardware:
– a single personal computer
– a single mainframe
– a network of computers
• Multi-User DBMS Architectures
– Teleprocessing : one computer with a single CPU and a
number of terminals
– File-Server : LAN where the file-server acts as a shared
hard disk drive for the database, and the applications
and DBMS run on each workstation
– Client-Server : the DBMS resides in the server
 DBMS
Application Programs Database

Teleprocessing topology
 File-Server Workstation 1
DBMS

Workstation 2 Workstation 3

DBMS DBMS
LAN
Request for data Files returned

Database

File-server
Client-Server Client 1

Client 2 Client 3

LAN
Request for data Selected data returned
Database
Server with
DBMS
 Software
• DBMS with fourth-generation tools
• Application programs
• Operating System
• Network Software
 Data
• Operational data
• Meta-data
• Schema (structure)
 Procedures
These refer to the instructions and rules that govern the use
and design of the database:
• log on to the DBMS
• use a particular DBMS facility or application program
• start and stop the DBMS
• make a backup copies of the database
• handle hardware or software failures
• change the structure of a table, reorganize the database,
improve performance, archive data to secondary storage
 Workers Behind the Scene
• DBMS Designers and Implementers
– Data Administrator
– Database Administrator
– Database Designer
• Logical database designer
• Physical database designer
– Application Programmers
• Tool Developers (e.g. performance monitoring,
graphical interfaces, etc.)
• Operators and Maintenance Personnel
• End Users
• Data Administrator manages the data resource including:
– database planning,
– development and maintenance of standards, policies
and procedures and
– logical database design.
• Database Administrator is responsible for the physical
realization of the database including
– physical design and implementation,
– security and integrity control,
– maintenance of the operational system and
– ensuring satisfactory performance for the applications
and users.
• Database Designers identify the data to store and
choose the proper structures.
• System Analysts and Application Programmers
deal with development of applications for end
users.
• End Users actually access the database contents.
 End Users
• Casual end users occasionally access the database, using
a query language.
• Naive or parametric end users use standard queries, due
to consistent needs from the database, using canned
transactions.
• Sophisticated end users are engineers, scientists, business
analysts and those who have complex requirements.
• Stand-alone users maintain personal databases, using
ready-made program packages (e.g. tax package).
 Strengths of Database Systems
• Control of data redundancy
• Promote data consistency
• More information from the same amount of data
• Sharing of data
• Improved data integrity
• Improved security
• Enforcement of standards
• Economy of scale
 Strengths of Database Systems
• Balanced conflicting requirements
• Improved data accessibility and
responsiveness
• Increased productivity
• Improved maintenance through data
independence
• Increased concurrency
• Improved backup and recovery services
 Weaknesses of Database Systems [CBS98]

• Complexity
• Size
• Cost of DBMS
• Additional hardware costs
• Cost of conversion
• Performance
• Higher impact of a failure
 Assignment # 1
• Research topic: History of Database
Management Systems
• Interview a user of a database system.