Oracle and Unix Performance Tuning

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 255 pages
• Published by: Prentice Hall June 1997
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0138491674
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0138491673
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1.3 pounds

Card Catalog Description
Oracle and UNIX Performance Tuning is the first book to address tuning of both current Oracle releases and the underlying Solaris, HP-UX, or Sequent Dynix systems they're running on. It's also the first Oracle database tuning book with detailed, specific coverage of optimizing both OLTP and OLAP decision support systems. Oracle Senior Engineer Ahmed Alomari begins by presenting a systematic approach to tuning Oracle databases based on UNIX, and showing how benchmarking and optimization fit into the development lifecycle. Next, he reviews important UNIX kernel-related issues that impact performance, and introduces effective techniques for tuning memory, processors, and I/O. The book also contains detailed coverage of optimizing SQL code - a factor often neglected in database tuning books, but which can powerfully impact database performance. Alomari makes in-depth recommendations for tuning both decision support and transaction applications - each of which impact the Oracle kernel in significantly different ways. No other tuning book covers specific OLAP and OLTP issues in comparable detail.

From the Inside Flap
Preface

The purpose of this book is to share my experiences in the areas of UNIX and Oracle performance and tuning. Although this book may be used as a reference guide for UNIX kernel or Oracle startup parameters, it is intended to be an overall reference for concepts. The chapters of this book provide a awesome level of detail on the internal workings of the Oracle and UNIX kernel. The purpose of including so much detail is to give the reader a complete understanding of Oracle and UNIX. It is this understanding that will enable the reader to apply these concepts to specific applications and/or user environments, thus enabling the reader to maximize the performance of his or her environment.
It is a key characteristic of this book that only the latest versions of Oracle and UNIX are discussed. The book covers Oracle 7.2 and 7.3, Sun Solaris 2.4 and 2.5, Sequent Dynix 4.1 and 4.2, and HP-UX 10. This will enable the reader to focus on the functionality and enhancements of the new versions, avoiding discussion of old releases.
Another characteristic of this book is that I have organized it into two major areas: Decision Support and Transaction Workloads. I felt that rather than focus on areas in the Oracle kernel and discuss each parameter, I would focus instead on the workload and discuss the affected areas of the Oracle kernel per workload.

Recommended prerequisites for this book are a basic understanding of SQL, UNIX shell language, and experience with UNIX system and Oracle7 database administration.

I have been a user of Oracle and UNIX across many different platforms including Sun, Sequent, HP, VAX/VMS, MS-DOS, Windows, and IBM RT. In this book, I intend to cover in great detail the Sun Solaris, Sequent Dynix, and HP-UX operating systems.

I hope you enjoy this book and find it useful in mastering the areas of performance and tuning. To show my appreciation for UNIX, I had to start with a Chapter 0. Good luck, and away we go!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is dedicated to my parents, Mukarram Alomari and Dr. Suha Alomari, and to Lana Gardi. My parents have always emphasized education and the pursuit of excellence. Lana Gardi is also a very special human being in my life. Lana, soon to be my wife (hopefully by the time this book is published), has been wonderfully supportive of my career and the drafting of this book. Special thanks to my mother, Dr. Suha Alomari, who gives true meaning to the words commitment, dedication, and excellence. Her values and encouragement keep me constantly striving to excel.
Thanks to the rest of my family Mustafa, Mohammed, Munna, May, Abduallah, and Zena for their support and encouragement.

I would also like to sincerely thank Henry Dai of Oracle. It is a great pleasure to work woth such a talented technical inovator as well as a great manager and visionary.
I would also like to thank the Oracle engineers and support staff with whom I have had the pleasure of working on various issues. Thanks also to the Sun, HP, and Sequent engineers and support staff.
I would also like to thank the reviewers, Michael Machowicz, Omar Tahboub, and Salim Ahmed. Their diligent and careful review helped me improve the format and organization of the book.
Thanks also to Mark Taub of Prentice Hall and the Prentice Hall staff for the editing and publishing efforts of this book.
Best Regards, Ahmed Alomari EMAIL: aalomari@us.oracle



Reader Reviews
After hearing the author speak at Oracle Open World in 1997, I bought his book. There are alot of details covered in his book that the oracle documentation specific to the Unix platform doesn't address. The book assumes a working knowlege of both Oracle and Unix. I would recommend it for System Administators who support systems that run Oracle and DBA's who need more performance tips for their platform.