Components of the Database Environment

Components of the Database Environment•

Hardware
– Can range from a PC to a network of computers containing secondary storage volumes and hardware processor(s) with associated main memory that are used to support execution of database management system
• Software
– DBMS, operating system, network software (if necessary) and also the application programs.
• Data
– Used by the organization and a description of this data called the schema. The data as discussed above is integrated and shared
– By integrated it is meant that the data is actually a unification of several files with redundancy among files partially eliminated
– By Shared it is meant that individual pieces of data in the database can be shared among different users.
• Procedures
– Instructions and rules that should be applied to the design and use of the database and DBMS.
• People
– The people that participate in the database environment.
– Including
• Application Programmers who are responsible for writing database applications
• End Users are people who interact with database system from workstations and terminals in order view and use data to complete their routine tasks.
• Data Administrator is the person who is responsible for deciding what data is important and should be recorded. This person belongs to senior management level (normally not a technician) and understands what is important for the enterprise. He is also responsible for defining various policies related to data including security policy.
• Database Administrator: This is a technical person responsible for implementing the policies defined by the data administrator. DBA is also responsible for ensuring that the system operates with adequate performance and for providing a variety of technical services.