[Q]. Explain the Components of Database Environment in detail?

 The major components of database environment like…

COMPONENTS OF DATABASE ENVIRONMENT:

 Computer aided software engineering tools(CASE tools)

 Repository
 Database
 Database management system( DBMS)
 User interface (Forms)
 Application programs
 Database administrator (DBA)
 System developers
 End users
 CASE Tools: - Computer Aided Software Engineering Tools. Some
predefined tools (built in- tools) are used to design database and
application programs. These tools are called Case tools. Some Case tools
are:
 Form generator
 Report generators
 Code generators
 Diagramming tools

A repository is a centralized
 Repository (data dictionary):-

memory unit in the

database generally; it is
used to store table
structures (Meta
data),
constraints information,
database object
information, database
users‟ information etc.
 Data base: - It is a collection of “Related and Meaningful information “stored
centrally at onelocation.
 Database Management System ( DBMS ) : It is a collection of programs working
together to control Data Manipulations ( add , change ,remove) ,
Retrievals ( Read ) and sharing on Database.
 Application programs:- Application programs are the programs that are
developed by the programs generally application programs are used to
manipulate the data in the data base. These programs provide
information to users.
 User interfaces: - User interfaces are the programs that are used to
manipulate data from the database easily generally user interface are
created through the case tool form generator.
 Database administrator: - Database administrators are the persons who are
responsible for the overall database in an organization database
 administrator uses case tools to improve databaseplanning and design
 System developers:-Persons such as analyst, designer’s programmers and
testers who developer’s new application system developers uses case
tools for system requirements analysis and design.
  End users:-Persons throughout the organizations who manipulated
data in the database andwho requests and receive information from the
database.
[Q]. Explain about Database Architecture? And also explain the types of Database Architecture?
DATABASE ARCHITECTURE:
Database architecture essentially describes the location of all the pieces
of information that make up the database application.


 The database architecture can be broadly classified into two-, three-,

and multi-tier architecture.
Two-Tier Architecture:
o The two-tier architecture is a
client– server architecture in
which the client contains the
presentation code and the SQL
statements for data access. The
database server processes the
SQL statements and sends query
results back to the client.
o Two-tier client/server provides a
basic separation of tasks. The
client, or first tier, is primarily
responsible for the presentation of
data to the user and the
“server,” or second tier, is primarily responsible for supplying data services
to the client.
o Presentation Services:
“Presentation services” presents data to the user. In addition, it also
provides for the mechanisms in which the user will interact with the


data. More simply, presentation logic defines and interacts with the
user interface.
o Business Services/objects:
“Business services” are a category of application services. Business
services encapsulate an organizations business processes and


requirements. These rules are derived from the steps necessary to

carry out day-today business in an organization.
These rules can be validation rules, used to be sure that the incoming
information is of a valid type and format, or they can be process rules,


which ensure that the proper business process is followed in order to

complete an operation.
o Application Services:
“Application services” provide other functions necessary for the
application.


o Data Services:
“Data services” provide access to data independent of their location.
The data can come from legacy mainframe, SQL RDBMS, or

 proprietary data access systems. Once again, the data services provide
a standard interface for accessing data.

Advantages of Two-tier Architecture :

The two-tier architecture is a good approach for systems with stable
requirements and a moderate number of clients.


The two-tier architecture is the simplest to implement, due to the

number of good commercial development environments.

  Software maintenance can be difficult because PC clients contain a
Drawbacks of Two-tier Architecture :

mixture of presentation, validation, and business logic code.

 To make a significant change in the business logic, code must be
modified on many PC clients.
 Performance of two-tier architecture can be poor when a large number of
clients submit requests because the database server may be overwhelmed
with managing messages.
Three-Schema (tier) Architecture :
The three schema architecture is also called ANSI/SPARC (American
National Standard Institute/Standards planning and requirements


committee) architecture or three-level architecture.

This framework is used to describe the structure of a specific database
system.


The three schema architecture is also used to separate the user

applications and physical database.


A “Multitier,” often referred to as “three-tier” or “N-tier,” architecture

provides greater application scalability, lower maintenance, and


increased reuse of components.

Three-tier architecture offers a technology neutral method of building
client/server applications with vendors who employ standard interfaces


which provide services for each logical “tier.”

From this figure, it is clear
that in order to improve the


performance; a second-tier is
included between the client
and the server. Through
standard tiered interfaces,
services are made available
to the application.
A single application can
employ many different


services which may reside on

dissimilar platforms or are
developed and maintained
with different tools.
This approach allows a developer to leverage investments in existing
systems while creating new application which can utilize existing


resources.
Although the three-tier architecture addresses performance degradations
of the two-tier architecture, it does not address division-of-processing


concerns. The PC clients and the database server still contain the same
division of code although the tasks of the database server are reduced.
 Multiple-tier architectures provide more flexibility on division of processing.
 The three schema architecture contains three-levels. It breaks the
database down into three different categories.


 The 3-level of architecture are…

o The internal schema defines the internal level. The internal level
 Internal level :

is the lowest level of data abstraction. This level indicates how

the data will be stored into
 the database and describes the file structures, data structures
and methods used by the data base.

o The conceptual schema defines the conceptual level. The

 Conceptual level

conceptual level is the middle level abstraction. This level

indicates entities, attributes, relationship between entities and
attributes.

o External schema defines the external level. The external level is

 External level

the highest level of data abstraction. This level describes part of

database, i.e. relevant to the user.

[Q]. Write about Database Approach?

o A database is a collection of related information stored in a manner that

Database Approach:

many users share it for different purposes. The content of a database is

obtained by integrating data from all the different sources at a
centralized location in an organization.
o Such data is made available to all users as per the requirements and
redundant data can be eliminated or at least minimized.
o The Data Base Management System (DBMS) governs to create an
environment in which end users have better access to more and better
managed data than they did before the DBMS become the data
management standard.
o Some of the common database applications are student database system,
business inventory, accounting information, organization data etc.
o Some commercially available DBMS are INGRES, ORACLE, DB2, Sybase,
etc.
o Most database management systems support the following
facilities/capabilities:
– Creation, modification and deletion of data files.
– Addition, modification, deletion of data
– Retrieving of data collectively or selectively
 Sorting or indexing of data
Creation of input forms and output reports.
–

To maintain data integrity and security

–

To create an environment for Data warehousing and Data mining

–
–
[Q]. Explain the Database vendors and their Products?

 A database vendor is an entity that offers one or more databases to customers

Database Vendors:

for license or sale. Since there are so many database management systems
available, it is important for there to be a way for them to communicate
with each other.
 Some DBMS examples include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft Access, SQL
Server, FileMaker, Oracle, RDBMS, dBASE, Clipper, and FoxPro.
 The systems are listed by type: relational(R), extended-relational(X),
object relational (OR),object-oriented (OO), network (N) and hierarchical
(H).

DBMS Vendor Type Primary Market

MySQL Freeware R Open Source

SQL Server Microsoft R Enterprise

SQLBase Centura Software R Mobile/Embedded

DB2 IBM OR Enterprise/VLDB

Oracle Lite Oracle OR Mobile

Oracle 8I Oracle OR Enterprise

PostgreSQL Freeware OR Open Source

[Q]. Explain the various cost and risk factors involved in implementing a database system?
Cost and Risk factors involved in implementing a Database System:
The database approach causes some additional costs and risks that must
be recognized and managed when implementing this approach.


In database approach in order to maintain or develop database we

should take a risk and we should invest money, time and environment.


Database approach when we develop a new database or when we

maintain an existing database we should consider the following points.


The various cost and risk factors involved in implementing a database system
are:


 High cost:
o Installing a new database system may require investment in
hardware and software. The DBMS requires more main memory
and disk storage.
o Moreover, DBMS is quite expensive. Therefore, a company needs to
consider the overhead cost of implementing a new database system.
 Training new personnel:
o When an organization plans to adopt a database system, it may
need to recruit or hire a specialized data administration group,
which can coordinate with different user-groups for designing
views, establishing recovery procedures and fine tuning the data
structures to meet the requirements of the organization. Hiring
such professionals is expensive.
 o A shared corporate database must be accurate and
 Explicit backup and recovery:

available at all times. Therefore, a system using on-line

updating requires explicit backupand recovery
procedures.

o When a computer system containing the database fails,

 System failure:

all users have towait until the system is functional again.

o Moreover, if DBMS or the application program fails, a
permanent damage may occur to the database.

o Frequently, organizations that adopt the database

 New, Specialized Personnel:

approach need to hire or train individuals to design and

implement databases.
o This personnel increase seems to be expensive, but an
organization should not minimize the need for these
specialized skills.

o A multi-user database management system is large and

 Installation and Management Cost and Complexity:

complex software that has a high initial cost. It requires

trained personnel to install and operate, and also has
annual maintenance costs.
o Installing such a system may also require upgrades to
the hardware and data communications systems in the
organization.

o The term “legacy systems” is used to refer to older

 Conversion Costs:

applications in an organization that are based on file

processing. The cost of converting these older systems to
modern database technology may seem prohibitive to an
organization.

o A shared database must be accurate and available at all

 Need for Explicit Backup and Recovery:

times. This raises the need to have backup copies of data

for restoring a database when damage occurs. A modern
database management system normally automates
recovery tasks.

o A database requires an agreement on data definitions

 Organizational Conflict:

and ownership as well as responsibilities for accurate

data maintenance.
o The conflicts on data definitions, data formats and
coding causes updating of shared data. Handling these
issues requires organizational commitment to the
database approach.