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Lesson 4Network considerations with Oracle performance
ObjectiveExplain architecture-related performance factors.

Oracle Performance Network Considerations (architecture-related)

In today's environment, it is rare to see monolithic database systems that perform all of the processing for an application. Rather, we tend to see distributed environments that may consist of two-tiered or three-tiered client-server architectures. In a three-tiered client-server architecture, we have three layers:
  1. the database server,
  2. the application servers, and
  3. the clients.
The Slide Show below illustrates this.

When a request is made from a client, the request travels over the network where it is intercepted by the application server (called an 'app server').
1) When a request is made from a client, the request travels over the network where it is intercepted by the application server (called an 'app server').
The app server processes the data request, sometimes making a request to the database server to fetch a block
2) The app server processes the data request, sometimes making a request to the database server to fetch a block
The app server then process the data blocks, formats the client request, and sends it back over the network to the requesting client.
3) The app server then process the data blocks, formats the client request, and sends it back over the network to the requesting client.
In a three-tiered approach, there are dedicated processors for clients, the application, and the database. For optimal performance, we must ensure that the network traffic between the servers remains as fast as possible.
4) In a three-tiered approach, there are dedicated processors for clients, the application, and the database. For optimal performance, we must ensure that the network traffic between the servers remains as fast as possible.

We will discuss this in detail in a later module. In a distributed Oracle environment, we have a network administrator who ensures that network traffic remains optimized. The Network Administrator is responsible for all aspects of network configuration and network traffic. The next lesson looks at disk I/O.

Role of a Network Administrator in an Oracle Environment

A Network Administrator plays a critical role in an Oracle Environment by managing the network infrastructure that supports the Oracle database. The Network Administrator is responsible for ensuring that the network is secure, reliable, and optimized to support the performance of the Oracle database. Here are some of the specific roles and responsibilities of a Network Administrator in an Oracle Environment:
  1. Network Design: The Network Administrator designs the network architecture to ensure that the network is optimized for Oracle database performance. This includes designing the network topology, network security, network protocols, and network bandwidth.
  2. Network Configuration: The Network Administrator configures the network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and network adapters to ensure that they are configured correctly to support the Oracle database.
  3. Network Security: The Network Administrator ensures that the network is secure and protects the Oracle database from external and internal threats. This includes implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the Oracle database.
  4. Network Monitoring: The Network Administrator monitors the network for performance and security issues. This includes monitoring network bandwidth, latency, and other metrics to identify potential issues that could impact the performance of the Oracle database.
  5. Troubleshooting: The Network Administrator troubleshoots network issues that could impact the performance of the Oracle database. This includes diagnosing and resolving network connectivity issues, network device failures, and other network-related issues.
  6. Backup and Recovery: The Network Administrator is responsible for ensuring that backups of the Oracle database are taken and that the network infrastructure can support the backup and recovery process. This includes configuring the network devices and protocols to support backup and recovery operations.

In summary, the Network Administrator plays a crucial role in an Oracle Environment by managing the network infrastructure that supports the database. By ensuring that the network is secure, reliable, and optimized for Oracle database performance, the Network Administrator helps ensure that the Oracle database can deliver the performance and availability required by the business.