Unix for Oracle Dbas Pocket Reference [Paperback]

Donald K. Burleson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2001

The Unix for Oracle DBAs Pocket Reference puts within easy reach the commands that Oracle database administrators need most when operating in a Unix environment. If you are an Oracle DBA moving to Unix from another environment such as Windows NT or IBM Mainframe, you know that these commands are far different from those covered in most beginning Unix books. To jump start your learning process, Don Burleson has gathered together in this succinct book the Unix commands he most often uses when managing Oracle databases. You'll be able to reach into your pocket for the answer when you need to know how to:

• Display all Unix components related to Oracle, identify the top CPU consumers on your server, and even kill processes when necessary
• Stack Unix commands into powerful scripts that can perform vital DBA functions
• Monitor Unix filesystems, and automatically manage your trace files, dump files, and archived redo log files
• Use essential server monitoring commands such as top, sar, and vmstat

And there's much more between these covers. If you need to get up to speed with Oracle on Unix, and quickly, this book is for you.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Unix for Oracle DBAs Pocket Reference has a remarkably tight focus. It's about making Oracle database management systems run optimally under various Unix operating systems, including HP-UX, Sun Solaris, and IBM AIX (there's also some specialized coverage of IRIX and DEC Unix). Author Donald Burleson assumes readers know how to get around the Unix command shell, and that they're quite familiar with Oracle database administration. To put it simply, to get the most out of this book, you should already know what you want to do, and need only to be told concisely how to do it. This book is ideal for people moving from Oracle administration under Windows to the same job under Unix.

As a byproduct of its careful focus, the book is tiny. It almost fits in a shirt pocket, and is about as thick as a standard pencil. A typical entry documents a single command (there are separate entries for different operating systems when commands differ), and includes a bit of text followed by the relevant command and a listing of typical output. Utility scripts with Oracle relevance are listed with minimal comments. This isn't traditional man-page-style Unix documentation, but rather advice on how to accomplish various Oracle goals inside Unix. Most readers will likely turn first to the index to find the entries that they need. --David Wall

Topics covered: Making Oracle database management systems run well under HP-UX, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, IRIX, and DEC Unix. Ways of examining and adjusting Oracle's use of processes, memory, processor cycles, files, disk resources, and other aspects of the Unix system. Information is presented in recipes, in type-this-to-do-that format.

About the Author

Donald K. Burleson has more than 20 years of experience as a database administrator. He has consulted with numerous Fortune 50 companies regarding their leveraging of Oracle technology, and has implemented dozens of mission-critical database systems. A former adjunct professor of information systems, Don has taught more than 100 university courses in information technology, and he excels at explaining complex theory in plain English. Don is also a popular speaker and has presented at dozens of national database conferences, including Oracle OpenWorld and the International Oracle Users Group (IOUG) conferences. Don serves as editor-in-chief of Oracle Internals, a popular Oracle DBA magazine, and is the author of seven other books on database systems. Don's web sites are www.dba-oracle.com and www.remote-dba.net.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (February 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596000669
• ISBN-13: 978-0596000660
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Computers & Internet > Programming
  • #25 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Oracle
  • #46 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Relational Databases

More About the Author

Donald K. Burleson is one of the world's most widely published Database experts with more than 20 years of full-time DBA experience.

He specializes in creating database architectures for very large online databases and he has worked with some of the world's most powerful and complex systems.

A former Adjunct Professor Emeritus, Burleson has written 30 books, published more than 100 articles in National Magazines, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Rampant TechPress.

Don is a popular lecturer and teacher and is a frequent speaker at Oracle Openworld and other international database conferences.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful UNIX scripts compilation, April 22, 2001

By 

Vinicio Valencia (MIAMI, FLORIDA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unix for Oracle Dbas Pocket Reference (Paperback)

I found this book useful to write UNIX scripts for Oracle DBA tasks, specially performance tuning. The entire book is filled of 'tricks' (like how to kill a oracle user-process in unix,etc) some of them not very useful. I expect to find some more practical examples on backup (unix-generic oracle backup scripts), oracle architecture on unix, net8, oracle installation, utilities like export (I mean, why don't show an example of how to use UNIX pipe when you make an export file greater than 2gb?), etc. Also, it lacks of explanation about UNIX admin commands critical for any Oracle DBA who in almost one situation has to be the UNIX system administrator, like booting, file system administration, etc. I mean some generic examples could be enough. Needs to be improved.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding UNIX book for the DBA, February 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Unix for Oracle Dbas Pocket Reference (Paperback)

This book is great for understanding how to write UNIX scripts for managing Oracle in UNIX. Many of the scripts are easy to run, and there are excellent examples to show how to write customized UNIX sctipts. This book really simplifies UNIX and concentrates on the UNIX that I need to know as the DBA. It is easy to read and a very useful reference book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super book for UNIX and Oracle, May 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Unix for Oracle Dbas Pocket Reference (Paperback)

I was very impressed with this book. I am always forgetting UNIX command syntax, and this book helped me to remember the commands that I need. It also has lot's of great tips, and techniques for managing Oracle. Overall, this is one of my most-used Oracle books! Highly recommended.