Skip to main content

Course description: Informix Dynamic Server Database Administration: Managing and Optimizing Data

Interested in bringing a class to you? Onsite training

Overview

List of course details in a data table
Course code IX221 Skill level Intermediate
Duration 4.0 days Delivery type Classroom
(Hands-on labs)
Course type Public or Private on-site    
Public price USD $2,600.00 plus tax  

This course will teach you the basic concepts of data management within IDS. It discusses how to determine correct data types; how to create, manage and maintain tables and indexes; how the IDS optimizer works; how to manage data; and how to utilize the SET EXPLAIN feature to determine query effectiveness. The course and lab exercises are updated for Version 11.5 of Informix Dynamic Server, but is suitable for those still running previous versions of IDS. This course is the classroom delivered version of Instructor Led OnLine course 3X221.

View this course in other countries


Training Paths that reference this course are:

Back to top

Special note

IBM Education Advantage Program eligibility:

  • Yes - IBM Education Pack - online account

Back to top

Audience

This course is designed for IDS administrators, Database administrators, and Application developers.

Back to top

Prerequisites

You should have a working knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL).

Back to top

Skills taught

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Select the IBM IDS data types appropriate for storing your data
  • Create and maintain databases, tables, and indexes
  • Estimate size and extent requirements for tables and indexes
  • Create index strategies to improve performance
  • Create and maintain table and index partitioning (fragmentation)
  • Implement referential and entity integrity
  • Manage database and table modes
  • Manage violations logging
  • Describe how the optimizer builds an optimal query plan
  • Use the SET EXPLAIN feature to capture optimizer query plans
  • Use directives and environment variables to influence the optimizer
  • Optimize the query plan through the use of UPDATE STATISTICS
  • Manage end-user concurrency: Use permissions and roles to manage data security
  • Create and use views
  • Manage smart large objects
  • Create and manage triggers

Back to top

Course outline

Introduction to IDS Terminology

  • Define basic Informix Dynamic Server terms
  • Query the sysmaster database for information about the server

IDS Data Types

  • Identify the Informix data types
  • Choose the appropriate data type for a data column

Creating Databases and Tables

  • Create databases and tables
  • Determine database logging and storage requirements
  • Locate where the database server stores a table on disk
  • Create temporary tables
  • Locate where the database server stores temporary tables
  • Use the system catalog tables to gather information
  • Use the dbschema utility

Altering and Deleting Databases and Tables

  • Delete a database
  • Delete a table
  • Alter a table
  • Convert a simple large object to a smart large object

Create, Alter, and Drop Indexes

  • Build an index
  • Alter, drop, and rename an index
  • Identify the four index characteristics

Managing and Maintaining Indexes

  • Explain the benefits of indexing
  • Evaluate the costs involved when indexing
  • Explain the maintenance necessary with indexes
  • Describe effective management of indexes
  • Enable or disable indexes

Table and Index Partitioning

  • List the ways to fragment a table
  • Create a fragmented table
  • Create a detached fragmented index
  • Understand temporary fragmented table and index usage

Maintaining Table and Index Partitioning

  • Alter a fragmented table
  • Alter a fragmented index
  • Explain how to skip inaccessible fragments

Cost-Based Query Optimizer

  • Write queries that produce the following index scans: Sequential with a temporary table; -Sequential scan with filter; Key-only index scan; Index Scan: lower and upper index filters; Dynamic Hash Join; Key-first index scans

Updating Statistics and Data Distributions

  • Execute the UPDATE STATISTICS statement and explain the results
  • Use the system catalogs to monitor data distributions

Managing the Optimizer

  • Understand how to set OPTCOMPIND
  • Understand how to set OPT_GOAL
  • Write optimizer directives to improve performance

Referential and Entity Integrity

  • Explain the benefits of referential and entity integrity
  • Specify default values, check constraints, and referential constraints
  • Determine when constraint checking occurs

Managing Constraints

  • Determine when constraint checking occurs
  • Drop a constraint
  • Delete and update a parent row
  • Insert and update a child row

Modes and Violation Detection

  • Enable and disable constraints and indexes
  • Use the filtering mode for constraints and the indexes
  • Reconcile the violations recorded in the database

Concurrency Control

  • Use the different concurrency controls
  • Monitor the concurrency controls for lock usage
  • Use the Retain Update Lock feature

Data Security

  • Use the database, table, and column level privileges
  • Use the GRANT and REVOKE statements
  • Use role-based authorization

Views

  • Create views
  • Use views to present derived and aggregate data
  • Use views to hide joins from users

Introduction to Stored Procedures

  • Explain the purpose of stored procedures
  • Explain advantages of using stored procedures

Triggers

  • Create and execute a trigger
  • Drop a trigger
  • Use the system catalogs to access trigger information

Agenda

Day 1

  • Welcome
  • Unit 1 - Introduction to IDS Terminology
  • Exercise 1
  • Unit 2 - IDS Data Types
  • Exercise 2
  • Unit 3 - Creating Databases and Tables
  • Exercise 3
  • Unit 4 - Altering and Deleting Databases and Tables
  • Exercise 4

Day 2

  • Unit 5 - Create, Alter, and Drop Indexes
  • Exercise 5
  • Unit 6 - Managing and Maintaining Indexes
  • Exercise 6
  • Unit 7 - Table and Index Partitioning
  • Exercise 7
  • Unit 8 - Maintaining Table and Index Partitioning
  • Exercise 8
  • Unit 9 - Cost-Based Query Optimizer
  • Exercise 9
  • Unit 10 - Update Statistics and Data Distributions
  • Exercise 10

Day 3

  • Unit 11 - Managing the Optimizer
  • Exercise 11
  • Unit 12 - Referential and Entity Integrity
  • Exercise 12
  • Unit 13 - Managing Constraints
  • Exercise 13
  • Unit 14 - Modes and Violation Detection
  • Exercise 14
  • Unit 15 - Concurrency Control
  • Exercise 15

Day 4

  • Unit 16 - Data Security
  • Exercise 16
  • Unit 17 - Views
  • Exercise 17
  • Unit 18 - Introduction to Stored Procedures
  • Exercise 18
  • Unit 19 - Triggers
  • Exercise 19

Back to top

My IBM

We're here to help

Easy ways to get the answers you need.

or call us at
Call 1-800-426-8322

Open M-F 9AM-7PM ET.

Student center

Find the right course

Offers and more