UNIX Database Management Systems

UNIX^® Database Management Systems provide readers with a practical guide into the UNIX^® DBMS world. Based on the author's personal experience in building DBMS applications, this book clarifies information every user of a UNIX^® DBMS should know. It provides insight on issues regarding the trade-offs involved in selecting one DBMS over another, the limitations imposed by the implementation of a selected DBMS.

Design for those with some basic knowledge of the UNIX^® operating system, this source describes how to use DBMSs when developing applications under UNIX^®. It also describes how UNIX^® and DBMSs interact and how that, in turn, affects applications. In this exceptional new text, you'll also find in-depth reviews of how to select, design, develop, and test applications with four of the major DBMS products:

• Informix^®
• Oracle^®
• Ingres^®
• Accell (Unify)^®

Review of these products will prove to be an invaluable timesaver in terms of investigating products, planning development projects, and design.

• Part 1: The Theoretical Foundation
1. What Is a DBMS?
1. A Historical Perspective
2. Objectives of a DBMS
3. DBMS Models
4. The Hierarchical Model
5. The Network Model
6. The Relational Model
7. Entity-Relationship and Other Models
8. Conclusions
2. Relational Concepts
1. Relational terminology
2. What Is Normalization?
3. The Normal Forms
4. Relational Operations
5. Conclusions
3. Why Use a DBMS?
1. Data Control
2. Utility Packages
3. Conclusions
4. The SQL Query Language
1. Why Is SQL Important?
2. The SQL Data Definition Language
3. The SQL Retrieval Statement
4. The SQL Data Manipulation Language
5. Extensions to SQL
6. Embedded SQL Interface
7. Conclusions
• Part 2: UNBIX and DBMS Applications
5. UNIX Facilities and Constraints
1. The Process Based Architecture of UNIX
2. Data Storage under UNIX
3. The UNIX Terminal Interface
4. Security Control Facilities
5. Concurrency Control Tools
6. Networking Facilities
7. Real-Time Features
8. UNIX Tuning
9. Application Development Tools
10. Conclusions
6. Developing a DBMS Application
1. Data Storage Options
2. Which Access Methods to Use?
3. Maintaining the Integrity of Data
4. Concurrency Control Issues
5. Facilities for Building User Interfaces
6. Developing with a Host Language Interface
7. Host Language versus Fourth Generation Languages
8. Conclusions
7. Running a DBMS Application
1. How Much Interaction with UNIX?
2. Users' Performance Needs
3. Administrative Needs
4. Access Security Control
5. Adaptability Considerations
6. Growth and Portability Considerations
7. Conclusions
• Part 3: Four UNIX DBMS
8. The Informix DBMS
1. Introduction
2. Packages and Components
3. Data Control
4. Utility Packages
5. Integration with UNIX
6. Conclusions
9. The Ingres DBMS
1. Introduction
2. Packages and Components
3. Data Control
4. Utility Packages
5. Integration with UNIX
6. Conclusions
10. The Oracle DBMS
1. Introduction
2. Packages and Components
3. Data Control
4. Utility Packages
5. Integration with UNIX
6. Conclusions
11. The ACCELL Application Development System
1. Introduction
2. Packages and Components
3. Data Control
4. Utility Packages
5. Integration with UNIX
6. Conclusions
• Part 4: Selecting a DBMS
12. Determining Your Requirements
1. Data Volume
2. Transaction Volumes
3. Performance Requirements
4. Security Requirements
5. Routine Administration
6. Enhancements to the Application
7. Future Portability
8. Conclusions
13. Assessing the Tradeoffs
1. Which DBMS Facilities are Crucial?
2. Batch or Interactive Operation?
3. Development Constraints
4. Frequency and Ease of Program Modification
5. Administrative Control
6. Conclusions
14. Benchmarking Tips and Traps
1. Getting Started
2. UNIX Tools
3. Designing DBMS Benchmarks
4. Testing with Realistic I/O
5. Running the Benchmarks
6. Interpreting Test Results
7. Conclusions
• Part 5: Future Directions
15. What's Next?
1. Why Use Multiple Machines?
2. Distributed Systems
3. Analyst's Tools
4. Natural Language Interfaces
5. Expert Systems
6. Conclusions

1. DBMS Evaluation Checklist
2. Application Development Checklist
3. For More Information

An old comparision of DBMS systems.