DATABASE PERFORMANCE TUNING AND OPTIMIZATION

Database Performance Tuning and Optimization

Database Performance Tuning and Optimization

Introduction

Database tuning is a set of interdependent activities aimed at optimizing and regulating the performance of a database. The term refers to the configuration of files that are used in the database, the hardware and software components of the system on which the database is running and the database management system. Since the beginning of databases, researchers have introduced several methodologies to optimize the performance of a database. The major objective of the database performance tuning has always been and is to optimize the functions of system resources for the purpose of achieving efficiency in business and official transactions as swiftly as possible. Today, the majority of database management systems are designed and developed with efficiency and optimized performance in mind. However, there is always a room for customizing the database so as to cater to an organization's unique requirement, and subsequently for introducing enhancements in the system (Elmasri, Ramez & Sham, 2007).

Recently, the complex use of database system, increased data interactivity and frequency has led to the database performance problems in the operation and maintenance, migration and the expansion process. To ensure the healthy operation of the enterprise IT infrastructure components, database performance optimization bears an essential importance as a key technology to achieve higher productivity in the organizations, thereby making the database performance management and IT systems management framework, increasingly inseparable. This paper attempts to explore the different concepts related to the performance tuning of database systems, while briefly discussing the historical evolutions of the database performance methodology.

Discussion

In the era of mature database management systems and database applications, database performance tuning practices and methodology have evolved into a very integrated set of database system related activities. As one of the core components of enterprise IT infrastructure, the database is not an isolated system, it is closely linked with the operating systems, the telecommunication network, storage devices, other hardware components, and multiple connectivity features of this and other IT components determine the database performance optimization as an integrated technology (Ramakrishnan, et al., 200).

In today's business organizations with complex information technology infrastructure need, the dependency upon high database management systems and database applications has increased profoundly. A 'one size fits all' approach regarding the database performance optimization methodology is, therefore, not easy especially when there are a plethora of database dependent application software are working in a highly distributed ...