Wk 3 - Technology and Knowledge

Question 1

Describe the nature of ‘file system’ data management.

Answer 1

Data is developed, collected, stored and used an application by application bases.

Development of application occurs on an adhoc and opportunistic basis

Question 2

Describe the nature of DBMS (database management system)

Answer 2

Integrated collection of logically related records / objects

Centralizes data, shares it with multiple users / applications in different locations.

Represents complex data relationships.

Question 3

Define ‘physical’ database view.

Answer 3

Where the info is stored.

The physical device it’s store on.

Question 4

Define ‘logical’ database view.

Answer 4

Data, manipulated in different ways and locations by different users, presented in user terms..

Question 5

Describe the importance of having a physical and logical view of databases. See DBMS.

Answer 5

Allows each user to access database information differently.

Question 6

Describe the 3 ways to classify database systems.

Answer 6

• number of users - single user and multi-user
• location - centralised or distributed
• use - transactional, decision support and data warehouse.

Question 7

What are the advantages of a DISTRIBUTED database system.

RSPSI

Answer 7

Resilience - failures affect a piece not whole of system.
Security - limit access, keep data safe
Performance - share traffic & storage
Scaling - easy to add to
Integrity - errors kept local.

Question 8

The 2 types of distributed database models.

Answer 8

Homogeneous - Every site runs the same type of DBMS.

Heterogeneous: Different sites run different DBMS

Question 9

Database advantages

SUS AI

Answer 9

Improvments in:
Sharing
Use
Security
Access 
Integrity

Question 10

Database disadvantages

Answer 10

High cost
Specialised staff
Increased vulnerability

Question 11

What is referential integrity?

Answer 11

Constraing ensures references between data are valid, intact and of quality.

fundamental principle of database theory.

Question 12

Define a relational database

Answer 12

It stores information in the form of logically related two-dimensional tables

Question 13

What are the advantages of a ‘relational’ database in addition to standard db advantages.

Answer 13

Increased flexibility

Question 14

Some drawbacks of file system data management

Answer 14

Increasingly complex
Structurally dependant
Security difficult
Leads to poor data

Question 15

Define a DBMS (database management system)

Answer 15

Software through which users & applications interact with a database.