Informix 12.10 System Administration SPVC

Preface • Course Overview • Intended Audience • Course Objectives • Prerequisites Unit 1 - Overview of the Informix Database Server • Describe the major components of the Informix Database Server • Define database server terms • Describe major database server events Unit 2 - Preparing for configuration • Review the contents of the release notes • Identify the kernel parameters that must be set • Determine operating system patches that must be applied Unit 3 - Configuring client-server connectivity • List the methods to connect to the database server • Make appropriate entries into the sqlhosts file • Set the environment variables necessary for a client application to connect to the database server Unit 4 - Configuring a database server • Create cooked files or prepare raw devices for server disk storage • Set environment variables necessary to administer a database server • Explain the purpose of the configuration file • Identify basic configuration parameter settings required to bring up a simple database server • Use a text editor to modify the configuration file • Bring the database server online Unit 5 - Monitoring the database server • Describe the use of the SMI (System Monitoring Interface) • Connect to the sysmaster database and run simple SQL queries • Use onstat to monitor information about the database server • Use oncheck to gather information about space usage and the status of indexes and tblspaces Unit 6 - Managing shared memory • List and describe the database server operating modes • Use onmode and oninit to change the operating mode • Describe the shared memory segments used by the database server • Describe the configuration parameters that affect the size of shared memory • Set the RESIDENT parameter to control shared memory residency • Monitor the major components of shared memory Unit 7 - Virtual processors and threads • Define a thread • Describe the multithreaded architecture • Describe how the virtual processors are implemented in Unix • Use onstat to monitor VPs and threads • List and explain the virtual processor classes • Describe how network connections are handled by the server • Set server configuration parameters related to VPs and threads • Dynamically add and remove virtual processors Unit 8 - Disk architecture • Describe the Dynamic Server page and chunk structure • Explain how pages are allocated within extents • Explain the difference between table and index extents • Describe the relationship between chunks and dbspaces • Describe the overhead pages in various types of chunks • Describe the structure of a dbspace, blobspace, and sbspace • Use the oncheck command to display reports about space allocation, tblspace usage, and index usage • Use onstat to display dbspace and chunk information Unit 9 - Managing and monitoring disk space • Create and drop dbspaces, blobspaces, and sbspaces • Change the status of a mirrored dbspace • Monitor dbspaces, blobspaces, and sbspaces • Use the storage pool and the APIs to administer storage spaces Unit 10 - Physical and logical logging • Move the physical log to a plogspace • Add, drop, and modify logical logs • Change the logging mode of a database • Define a long transaction • List and describe configuration parameters related to physical and logical logging • Monitor the physical and logical logs Unit 11 The shared memory buffer pool • List the steps performed by the server to update a row on disk • Describe the checkpoint process • Describe the differences between a blocking and a nonblocking checkpoint • Properly set the configuration parameters related to checkpoints • Describe what events cause a checkpoint to occur • Monitor checkpoints and buffer writes performed by the server Unit 12 Fault tolerance • Describe the types of failures that could occur on the server system • Describe the fast recovery process • Examine the status of chunks and dbspaces • Identify the configuration parameters associated with recovery Unit 13 Introduction to backup and restore • Identify Informix backup and restore utilities • Explain the backup and restore process • Explain the incremental backup levels • Explain the two different methods to backup logical logs • Describe the difference between a warm and cold restart Unit 14 Backup and restore using ontape • Configure your server to use ontape for backup and restore • Perform a server backup using ontape • Backup logical log files using ontape • Perform a warm restore using ontape Unit 15 Temporary files and tables • Describe the temporary objects created by the database server • Describe the configuration parameters and environment variables related to temporary objects • Explain the importance of using multiple temporary dbspaces • Explain the purpose of the WITH NO LOG clause when used to create temporary tables • Use onstat and the SMI to monitor the space used to create temporary objects Unit 16 Performance features • Configure your server to perform read-aheads • Configure your server to use recovery threads • Configure your server to enable or disable the use of OS time • Describe the PDQ operations available in the database server • Describe configuration parameters that control PDQ resources • Configure your server to use the SQL statement cache Unit 17 Monitoring user activity • Use onstat and the sysmaster database to monitor user activity on the database server • Identify the resources held by a user session • Display the last SQL command run by a user session • Identify which user sessions have created temporary tables • Describe how to identify the type of locks held by user sessions • Identify and terminate a specific user session • Explain the purpose of the dynamic lock manager Unit 18 Event alarms • Explain how to use the event alarm feature • List the event security codes • List the classes of alarm events in the server environment • Explain the purpose of the system alarm program Unit 19 SQL administrative functions and task scheduler • Use SQL commands to perform system administrative tasks • Use the built-in scheduler to automatically perform routine tasks Unit 20 Troubleshooting • Identify and respond to common server problems • Run the commands to check for consistency of the disk subsystem • Identify the version and serial number of the database server • Identify permission problems with devices and server files • Describe the information required by Technical Support • Describe the parts of a database version number • Recover from a simple permission or data storage location problem in the server Unit 21 A configuration case study (optional) • Set required server environment variables • Create an sqlhosts file entry to enable a connection • Initialize and configure a server • Use command line utilities or SQL administrative routines to reinitialize the server and to: • Create dbspaces • Create and delete logical logs • Move the physical log Appendix A Installing Informix on Linux / UNIX • Prepare the host machine for installation of the Informix server • Install Informix on the host machine