Oracle Database Examination – This marks the first of three in the series centered around examining Oracle databases.
We will discuss the following subjects in this database examination series:
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#1) An Introduction to Oracle Database Examination
#2) Carrying Out a Database Inspection for Memory, Storage, and CPU Processing
#3) Oracle Real Database Application Evaluation
Extra Section #4) Techniques to Examine and Confirm Your Oracle Database Backup and Recovery
We begin with the Introduction to Oracle Database Testing:
Key Learning Outcomes:
Testing Oracle Databases: A Snap Lesson
What Does “Database” Mean?
Suggested Reading => A Comprehensive Piece on Database Testing
A database is a structured arrangement of data that aids in categorizing, reshaping, and recalling data as needed.
Management of a database happens via Database Management System (DBMS) software, which coordinates an interface for the end-users to access the data kept in the database. Data restructuring and recall happens through SQL or Structured Query Language statements.
Please consider this scenario if you’re unfamiliar with the term “database” – Imagine a Windows-operated desktop or laptop wherein you open an MS Excel file, type in people’s names and addresses, and save the data to your hard drive.
For the next occasion, you need an address from the Excel file; you just open the file. In the illustrated scenario, the Excel file stands for the “database,” with Windows functioning as the “DBMS” software that knows how to access and open the file fetching the required data.
The real DBMS software employed in Oracle databases is significantly advanced and intricate, undertaking multiple tasks to maintain a seamless workflow of the database.
What Sets Oracle Apart?
Oracle is a corporation that has developed software meant for database administration. It is regarded as one of the most complex, stable, adaptable, and secure databases available on the market, offering an expansive range of features making it highly coveted.
Oracle databases hold relational data, meaning the data is contained and coordinated in tables with confirmed relationships between them – thus the name Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).
To clarify the concept better: Think about a class of 50 students, each having a residential address and preferred classes. You could categorize the addresses and preferences into independent tables for easy reference when looking up specific students’ details – the relevant tables are deemed “related.”
The attraction of Oracle lies in the simplicity of managing and creating databases. It guarantees undisturbed availability – a non-negotiable in today’s competitive world – at an affordable price.
If you’re familiar with databases, relational models, and Oracle and feel comfortable skipping the first two sections, please do so.
Let’s Mark the Beginning of the Fascinating Stuff!
Why Should Databases be Assessed?
Data is of utmost importance for an organization, demanding a secure and reliable database management system.
Think of a database as an application working alongside various others on your server. Like every other application, it requires testing to ensure ideal performance and prevent potential risks.
Testing of a database involves several techniques such as load testing, stress testing, I/O testing, and performance testing.
Various factors influence a database’s function, like memory, CPU processing speed, I/O subsystem, file system, hardware, and interacting applications.
It is pivotal to fine-tune all these parameters, mentoring the database’s functioning environment, to ensure ideal performance and stability. Every organization conducts its data handling, management, and backups differently.
For example, a telecom industry needs a highly responsive and precise database due to the volume of users. In contrast, a chemical factory might focus more on reporting features and handle less traffic, making a highly responsive database a lesser priority.
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It provides information of waiting times, plans, queries, resources, etc., for your Oracle database. The solution can optimize production databases on platforms like Azure and Amazon AWS while working with both cloud and on-site databases. It ensures peak performance for Oracle SE, EE, RAC, Exadata, E-Business, and PDBs.
How Does One Assess a Database?
Different environments are used for testing databases in organizations:
- UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
- DEV (Development Environments)
- Pre-Prod or TEST environments
- Production
Tests are usually performed on a substantial amount of data that will eventually be moved to the production environment. This testing is conducted in pre-prod, test, or UAT environments.
Before putting a production database into deployment, it is important to validate the data to ensure no negative impacts on the production environment.
The database needs to be tested with a workload similar to what can be expected in the production environment, and verifying that the operational and functional requirements are met. Every SQL statement must be intensively examined before deployment into the production environment.
Determining an acceptable benchmark for performance requires multiple evaluation cycles. If there are any integrated third-party applications with the database, it is important to involve the vendors and get their input regarding licensing and application functionality.
If the third-party applications require distinct parameters to handle the workload, those parameters should be set and validated. It is recommended to test performance using the built-in testing tools of the application. Oracle databases do not directly support third-party applications, and rectifying issues emerging after production deployment can be challenging and disrupt the organization’s operations.
Key Considerations for Oracle DB Testing:
- Take into consideration the number of users
- Think about potential SQL statements that might execute
- Determine the memory used per user and per statement
- Understand the number of transactions each typical user would execute to fetch desired information
- Examine whether users receive the desired response from the database within the expected time frame
1) Memory Assessment
When considering memory, think about the number of processes operating in the database system, which includes user, server, and background processes.
User processes tend to user demands, server processes interpret those demands, and background processes control various chores in the lifecycle of the database. Oracle databases can automatically manage memory, but it is vital to assure adequate memory on the server and allocate a portion to the Oracle database.
2) Storage Examination
When considering storage, think about the volume of data being dealt with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Determine the storage requirements for long-term or permanent data retention. Get this information from your organization’s business intelligence team responsible for infrastructure. Define what “unlimited” data storage means for your company.
3) Processing Assessment
When considering processing, determine the required number of CPU cores. With the progression in CPU technology, multiple cores and threads can be maximized. Based on your specific requirements, estimate the number of CPU cores needed and understand the capabilities of your processor.
4) Application Examination
When considering application testing, understand the type of application being used (e.g., Pro*C, OCI, JDBC). The kind of client software used for connection and whether connection pooling is employed will affect the number of processes and sessions needed to accommodate simultaneous connections to the database. Tools provided by third-party vendors should be validated for application performance.
For versions later than Oracle 11g, Oracle Real Application Testing provides additional features like SQL Performance Analyzer, Database Replay, and Test Data Management, enabling better performance management and diagnostics. We will cover these aspects in more detail in the succeeding part of this series.
The Take-Away
In summary, we provided definitions for a database, an introduction to Oracle database, and touched upon the importance of performing Oracle database testing.
In the next section of this series, we shall delve deeper into each facet of Oracle Database testing to ensure proper database design and functionality are satisfactorily achieved.
Please post any questions related to Oracle database testing in the comment section below.
About the Contributor: This guest post is by Suntrupth Yadav, an Oracle Certified Specialist, boasting over 8.5 years of total experience in the software sector. He is a specialist in managing all kinds of Oracle database issues.