ABSTRACT
Technology advances in recent years have embedded computers in our personal and business lives and environments. As mission or business-critical data were identified, relational database management systems (RDBMSs) have been used to store and manage information to guarantee accuracy and availability of data, including protection against hardware failure. In addition, RDBMSs support dynamic alteration of a database as user needs grow, as well as providing Structured Query Language support to permit dynamic access of any data at any time. Critical RDBMS systems can be configured with failover services to provide a hot copy of a system that can be used should the primary system’s hardware or software fail.
However, the successful implementation and use of a RDBMS and its associated databases require careful selection, design, and implementation of its components and services to efficiently meet the end user’s requirements. The saying everything has its price extends to RDBMS and database design and implementation. A database that is thrown together with little planning will only create a more expensive data solution with little if any benefits. The successful design and implementation of a database simply requires a careful review and understanding of user requirements.
