Crash Course: Oracle basics

Oracle often comes head to head with SQL Server and DB2 in DBMS evaluations. While Oracle's price tag may be higher, many users claim its functionality is preferred over that of its competitors, particularly in large-enterprise environments. Judge for yourself. This crash course will help you research Oracle technologies or get started with your own Oracle DBMS. It will bring you up to speed on Oracle DBMS basics for versions 8.x through 9.x, and provide you with an overview of Oracle10g's new tools and features.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS
   Know your terminology
   Oracle overview
   Product details
   Is Oracle right for you?
   Getting started with your DBMS
   Database administration basics
   Upgrade considerations
   Resources to help you along the way

 

  Know your terminology
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Before you invest your time and money in Oracle, make sure you know what you're talking about. The following resources will help you find your way through the sea of Oracle terms and acronyms.

• Oracle
• DBMS
• RDBMS
• SearchOracle.com glossary
• Oracle8i database master glossary
• Oracle9i database master glossary
• Oracle 10g database master glossary
• Best Web Links: Glossaries

  Oracle overview
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Are you a self-dubbed Oracle newbie? Are you in the early stages of your Oracle research? Seeking some quick answers to your tough questions? Here's a list of beginning Oracle resources, including tutorials, expert technical advice and FAQs.

• Introducing Oracle
• Learning Oracle basics
• A short Oracle tutorial for beginners
• Resources for Oracle newbie
• Getting started with Oracle
• PL/SQL: What, when, and where
• Introduction to Oracle Web applications
• New Oracle DBA FAQs
• Oracle FAQ collection
• Oracle underground FAQ
• Webcast: Database Administration 101
  
• Featured Topic: Oracle on Windows
• Featured Topic: Oracle on Linux
• Featured Topic: Oracle and the grid
• Best Web Links: Oracle Basics
• Best Web Links: Oracle FAQs

  Product details
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Oracle8i, 9i, 10g... what do all the numbers mean? Get product details, version comparisons and an overview of Oracle tools and features here.

• Oracle Corp. database page
• Differences among Oracle versions
• Differences between 8.1.7 and 9i
• Version numbers explained
• Oracle8i vs. 9i
• Webcast: Tom Kyte answers your Oracle9i questions
• Oracle Server 9i quick reference guide
• Hidden Oracle: Exploring undocumented utilities
• New features in Oracle9i RMAN
• Which applications benefit from Oracle9i RAC?
• Differences between 9i and 10g
• 10g and the grid
• Don Burleson's favorite Oracle10g new features
• Oracle Database 10g new features: 12 new 10g features in a nutshell
• Webcast: Oracle Database 10g automated features
• Featured Topic: 10g sneak peek

  Is Oracle right for you?
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Many users are torn about which DBMS is best -- Oracle, SQL Server, DB2 or another option. One offers advanced functionality with a high price, another is cheaper but may limit you to smaller projects. Read the debates and comparisons among the DBMS solutions.

• Why Oracle wins in a comparison with SQL Server
• MS Access, MS SQL Server and Oracle compared
• Oracle vs. DB2
• Scaling and reliability features of Oracle
• Why PostgreSQL can best SQLServer, Oracle
• Featured Topic: DBMS wars: The big three in 2004

  Getting started with your DBMS
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So you've chosen Oracle -- now what? You need to make sure you properly design and install your DBMS. The following resources will help you determine storage and sizing requirements, initiate design plans and identify installation best practices.

• Introduction to Oracle design
• Database installation for beginners
• Determine database size
• How much memory will Oracle use?
• Storage space required for 9i
• Tip for installing Oracle 8i on Solaris
• Installing Oracle DBMS on Solaris servers
• Installing 9i: What you need to do
• Minimum server requirements for installing Oracle9i
• On what Windows platforms will 9i run?
• Is 9i available in 32-bit for AIX?
• Installing 9i on PC that already has version 8
• Installing the database and Developer on the same partition
• Installing 9iAS and 9i database on same box
• Installing Oracle Enterprise Manager
• Featured Topic: Troubleshooting your database installation
• Best Web Links: Database Design
• Best Web Links: Database Installation

  Database administration basics
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The job of a DBA is never done. They have to consider security, performance, availability, backup and recovery, migrations and so on -- and many of these tasks have to be performed on a daily basis. The following list will give you some quick insights into the job of an Oracle DBA.

• Database commands
• Help with migrating Oracle databases
• Regularly transferring data from other databases to Oracle
• Migrating data from DB2 to 9i
• Featured Topic: Data migration strategies
• Information on Oracle security
• Learning Guide: Oracle security
• Featured Topic: Securing Oracle
• 26 must-know performance tuning solutions
• Five Oracle tips in five minutes
• Analyzing and monitoring performance, disk space, etc.
• Featured Topic: Managing space usage
• Learning Guide: Performance tuning
• Featured Topic: Performance tuning
• The easiest way to back up and restore Oracle 8
• Learning Guide: Backup and recovery
• Featured Topic: Backup and recovery
• Featured Topic: Top 10 DBA tips of 2003
• Best Web Links: Database administration

  Upgrade considerations
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Choosing Oracle for your DBMS needs means making a long-term investment in that vendor and its products. Upgrades are necessary to keep up with the latest and greatest technologies. The following resources will help you determine why and how to upgrade your DBMS.

• Advantages of upgrading from 7 to 8i or 9i
• Upgrading from 8.1.6 to 9.2
• Determining hardware requirements for upgrade to 9i
• Service packs for upgrade to 10g
• Cross-platform upgrade to 10g
• Lessons Learned: Upgrading to Oracle10g
• Featured Topic: Upgrading Oracle
• Best Web Links: Upgrades

  Resources to help you along the way
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Feeling stumped by your Oracle research, installation or administration? The following resources may come in handy.

• Ask the Oracle experts
• Fast guide: Solving common Oracle errors
• Fast guide: Becoming an Oracle Certified Professional
• Oracle book chapter download library