This is the most complete, convenient and up-to-date reference for all Informix database professionals. It presents an overview of the entire Informix database product line, and introduces the overall Informix database architecture, covering shared memory, internal multi-threading, scalability and other common elements, as well as architectural elements unique to Online Dynamic Server, Extended Parallel Server, and Informix Universal Server. The book walks through the installation of each Informix database, and includes detailed, practical coverage of Informix database administration, monitoring and tuning -- using both GUI-based and command-line based tools. Three convenient reference sections present Informix-SQL syntax, character-based and GUI tools commands.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
Preface
A database is the core, the center of an application, a very critical component of the application architecture. Vital application information flows in and out of this component. Failures or flaws in the database could have a severe impact on the entire application.
For this reason, because of this criticality, the correct administration of the database is of paramount importance. For an application to run without incident, the database used must operate correctly and efficiently. Smooth database operation requires not only proper administration, but a proper physical and logical design of the database, a design that should match the needs of the application using the database.
As an Informix database administrator, you must understand the full range of engine operations: from how the engine uses machine resources (CPU and disk), how data integrity is maintained through logging mechanisms, archive and recovery facilities, and most importantly, database monitoring and tuning. Starting with a discussion of basic terms and concepts and proceeding through a discussion of the engine architecture, this book covers each of these topics in turn.
As an Informix application developer, you must understand the operation of the database to correctly architect an application. Flexible data organization through static database fragmentation is a an important feature of the Informix database and if understood and used correctly, can improve performance for many applications. This book covers Informix fragmentation in detail, explaining how this important feature can be used to improve performance for data retrieval and ease data administration by placing portions of data in specific disk locations.
An Informix application developer or database administrator will interact with the Informix database using the Informix Structured Query Language (SQL). Understanding and using Informix-SQL wisely can save tremendous amounts of development and administration effort. The most commonly used Informix-SQL statements for both data manipulation and data definition are covered in this text complete with examples of usage.
One of the most enduring Fourth Generation Languages is Informix-4GL. This development language represents a well-conceived combination of procedural and non-procedural programming statements that allow a complete application to be developed with ease. This tool is excellent for the development of reports, database administration, and the transformation, conversion and filtering applications common in data warehouses and data marts. This language is covered in detail in this text.
Despite the common maxim, it is generally not the computer that fails but the human who programmed or administered it. Careful, knowledgeable design, programming and administration are the base upon which computer applications are built. These tasks require a solid knowledge foundation for the development tools being used. Using this book, you, the Informix developer or administrator, can develop that solid foundation of knowledge of the Informix product line for the products presented in this book.
Appreciation
Thanks to all those who helped in the development of this book. Thanks especially for the great home support: Carolyn, Hannah and Eric, and especially Carolyn. Their patience and understanding has been appreciated.
Thanks to all the technical editors including Harold Davis and Seth Grimes. Most significantly thanks to the technical editors Paul Gancz and Dave Kosenko who stayed with this effort to the end and whose keen technical expertise kept me on the straight and narrow.
Special thanks to the Informix Press member of this team, Judy Bowman whose help and efforts are greatly appreciated.
And finally, thanks to the production team at Prentice-Hall: Ralph Moore and Kerry Reardon who have helped make all this information clear, clean and presentable.
A database is the core, the center of an application, a very critical component of the application architecture. Vital application information flows in and out of this component. Failures or flaws in the database could have a severe impact on the entire application.
For this reason, because of this criticality, the correct administration of the database is of paramount importance. For an application to run without incident, the database used must operate correctly and efficiently. Smooth database operation requires not only proper administration, but a proper physical and logical design of the database, a design that should match the needs of the application using the database.
As an Informix database administrator, you must understand the full range of engine operations: from how the engine uses machine resources (CPU and disk), how data integrity is maintained through logging mechanisms, archive and recovery facilities, and most importantly, database monitoring and tuning. Starting with a discussion of basic terms and concepts and proceeding through a discussion of the engine architecture, this book covers each of these topics in turn.
As an Informix application developer, you must understand the operation of the database to correctly architect an application. Flexible data organization through static database fragmentation is a an important feature of the Informix database and if understood and used correctly, can improve performance for many applications. This book covers Informix fragmentation in detail, explaining how this important feature can be used to improve performance for data retrieval and ease data administration by placing portions of data in specific disk locations.
An Informix application developer or database administrator will interact with the Informix database using the Informix Structured Query Language (SQL). Understanding and using Informix-SQL wisely can save tremendous amounts of development and administration effort. The most commonly used Informix-SQL statements for both data manipulation and data definition are covered in this text complete with examples of usage.
One of the most enduring Fourth Generation Languages is Informix-4GL. This development language represents a well-conceived combination of procedural and non-procedural programming statements that allow a complete application to be developed with ease. This tool is excellent for the development of reports, database administration, and the transformation, conversion and filtering applications common in data warehouses and data marts. This language is covered in detail in this text.
Despite the common maxim, it is generally not the computer that fails but the human who programmed or administered it. Careful, knowledgeable design, programming and administration are the base upon which computer applications are built. These tasks require a solid knowledge foundation for the development tools being used. Using this book, you, the Informix developer or administrator, can develop that solid foundation of knowledge of the Informix product line for the products presented in this book.
Appreciation
Thanks to all those who helped in the development of this book. Thanks especially for the great home support: Carolyn, Hannah and Eric, and especially Carolyn. Their patience and understanding has been appreciated.
Thanks to all the technical editors including Harold Davis and Seth Grimes. Most significantly thanks to the technical editors Paul Gancz and Dave Kosenko who stayed with this effort to the end and whose keen technical expertise kept me on the straight and narrow.
Special thanks to the Informix Press member of this team, Judy Bowman whose help and efforts are greatly appreciated.
And finally, thanks to the production team at Prentice-Hall: Ralph Moore and Kerry Reardon who have helped make all this information clear, clean and presentable.
From the Back Cover
The complete Informix-Dynamic Server reference for every DBA and developer!
Informix administrators and developers now have an authoritative single source for database architecture, development, administration, monitoring and tuning. Informix Power Reference brings together all the essential skills and knowledge every Informix database professional needs to maximize reliability and performance.
Understand shared memory, internal multi-threading, and other architectural elements that directly impact performance. Discover how to simplify administration through static database fragmentation; supercharge Informix-SQL for database access; work with stored procedures and database triggers; enhance data integrity through constraints; and more. Coverage includes:
- A comprehensive overview of the Informix database engine.
- High-performance Informix-Dynamic Server (IDS) installation and configuration.
- Managing IDS physical and logical disk layouts.
- Identifying resource bottlenecks, including CPU, memory, disk, LRU queues, and more.
- Building and tuning queries for maximum effectiveness.
You'll find extensive practical guidance on database administration, including online engine modifications, DSS parameter changes, onmode commands, database security, managing logs, archiving and recovery. Expert tips and examples help you create better screen forms and reports and make the most of Informix-4GL. Complete, convenient, and up-to-date, Informix Power Reference is an invaluable resource for DBAs and developers alike.
CD-ROM included!
The accompanying CD-ROM brings together a comprehensive library of Informix-related tools, resources and white papers for both DBAs and developers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
By an MIS person dealing with IDS 7.3 for the first time,
By Richard W. Spooner (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: INFORMIX: Power Reference (Paperback)
The book covers a lot of useful points. I was interested only in installing and configuring IDS 7.3 on both UNIX and Windows, and writing DML to create databases, tables, etc. The book covers generics pretty well, but not the differences between UNIX and Windows versions. I was able to install and configure IDS (making informed choices) after reading the book. Details on DML syntax was scattered throughout the book, without adequate index or cross-references entries to take you to the next syntax option you could specify. Some syntax options were missing. This book would benefit from better organization or stronger editing in this area. The book gave useful hints and procedures to follow after a few problems were encountered after users started to use IDS.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A GOOD WAY TO BE AN INFORMIX CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL,
This review is from: INFORMIX: Power Reference (Paperback)
This book is execellent. It really helped me to get an Informix Certification.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good general information,
By
This review is from: INFORMIX: Power Reference (Paperback)
A good place to start is with "Informix Basics" by Glenn Miller. Then you are ready to graduate to "Informix Power Reference" by Art Taylor. I do have to weed out what I can use as I am using SE not online. The CD is almost exclusive online. There is a pretty comprehensive 4GL section. The 4GL was interesting however I am not using that either. Two pages made this book worth the price. I was desperate to find out how to copy data to a flat file and back. The commands are "load" and "unload." With a few adjustments for the HP/UX SE ANSI file names the example worked right out of the book.
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