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SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION. CODI / HUG 2004 Portland, Oregon Val Gunnell, Dynix Sr. Systems Analyst. HALLOWEEN Revisited. What terrors lurk? Natural disasters System failures Co-workers (Do they trip?) Unexpected traumas Examples 3 hours -- no transaction backup 8 years – no DBMS backup.
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SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION CODI / HUG 2004 Portland, Oregon Val Gunnell, Dynix Sr. Systems Analyst
HALLOWEEN Revisited • What terrors lurk? • Natural disasters • System failures • Co-workers (Do they trip?) • Unexpected traumas • Examples • 3 hours -- no transaction backup • 8 years – no DBMS backup. • 2 years – no tape backup.
Seek First To Understand… Building blocks of your servers • Database (Governed by DBMS ‘rules’) • DBMS (Runs on top of OS) • Operating System (The Base)
OS / DBMS Operating System • Match your server operating system with compatible version of DBMS software and Horizon Database version. Database Management System (DBMS) • Keep your DBMS up-to-date.
Ask yourself Critical Questions • How many servers do I support? --Horizon DB server --Information Portal Server (HIP) --Other servers, e.g. RPA, etc. • What are the server(s)’ operating systems? • How many databases do I support?
More Questions • If my system fails, how much loss of data can I risk? (How long since the last backup?) • What disaster recovery plan have I developed? • How often have I reviewed my plan? • Can (or should) I simulate a test recovery? • Do I automate tasks or run them manually? • Do my automated backups write to disk or tape or both?
System Databases (Sybase) • Sybase • Master (Info on all DB’s) • Model (Template) • Sybsystemprocs (System procedures) • Tempdb (Workspace) Do you manage these?
System Databases (MS SQL) • MS SQL • Master (Info on all DB’s) • Model (Template) • MSDB (Jobs, alerts, backups) • Tempdb (Workspace) Do you manage these?
SYSTEM PERFORMANCE Setup Issues (Dynix does this for you!) • Utilize multiple processors • Maximize hard drive use • RAID • Balance memory (RAM) issues
SCHEDULED TASKS • DBCC • UPDATE STATISTICS • BACKUPS • Unix -- Cron • Windows -- Scheduled Tasks
Database Consistency Check • DBCC (Database Consistency Checker) -- The database consistency checker (dbcc) provides commands for checking the logical and physical consistency of a database. Two major functions of dbcc are to: Check page linkage and data pointers at both the page level and the row level. Check page allocation.
Update Statistics • ‘Runs Automatically’ -- keeps data retrieval at optimal levels. (Cron or Scheduled Tasks) • Accurate statistics are essential to the query optimization. The update statistics command updates the column-related statistics such as histograms and densities. • Running update statistics requires system resources. • Schedule when load on the server is light.
BACKUPS • Full DBMS DB Backups (Daily?) • Incremental backups (transaction logs) (Hourly?) • Disk Backups (File system; OS backup) (Monthly?) • Tape Backups (Where do you keep tapes?) (Daily or weekly?)
Maintenance Issues (You determine the frequency!) ‘Monthly’ Tasks: • Monitor Database free space (sp_helpdb <dbname>) • Run full Operating System Backup • Monitor Operating System directory(ies) free space.
More issues ‘As Needed’ Tasks: • Reboot server (refresh) • Expand Database(s) • Record database changes (Customization Table)
Test / Training Databases • Why have a test database? -- Test backup files (if same as horizon DB) -- Test any library procedure -- Test Horizon upgrades • How to maintain this DB -- Back up when needed
ACT ON YOUR PLANS Regular Routine Maintenance keeps your servers running optimally and protects you against unexpected system failure. GOAL: Develop and Maintain your disaster recovery plan.
SUMMARY • You’ve made it! • You made your plan • You worked your plan • You’re not afraid (even after Halloween!)
Suggested References • System Administrator Handbook: Brains in a Book Marge Freeman LION (Lynchburg Information Online Network) CODI / HUG 2003