Course Title: Database Administration

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Database Administration

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COSC2404	City Campus	Undergraduate	140H Comp Sci & Info Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011
COSC2405	City Campus	Postgraduate	140H Comp Sci & Info Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011

Course Coordinator: Dr. Santha Sumanasekara

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9673

Course Coordinator Email:santha.sumanasekara@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have the knowledge of fundamentals of database systems design and SQL such as covered in the course Database Concepts.

Essential Unix Skills -- you must be able to use Unix command line, use basic unix commands, edit text files using vi editor and how to write simple shell scripts. You can gain these skills by attending Unix Survival Skills induction sessions (held during Weeks 0, 1 and 2 of each semester).

Course Description

This course introduces you to the principles and practice of administering enterprise-level database systems. Topics include Oracle database architecture; DBMS installation and configuration issues; performance optimizing, monitoring and tuning; user management and database security, back-up and recovery; multi-platform DBA issues; and DBA tools.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following capabilities:

Critical analysis: Analyse and model requirements and constraints for the purposes of installing, configuring, and tuning a DBMS, and implementing security, back-up and recovery measures.

Problem solving: Design and implement plans for installing, configuring, and tuning a DBMS, and security, back-up and recovery measures, based on requirements analysis/ modelling or a requirements specification.

Communication: Motivate and explain complex database administration concepts, relevant alternatives and decision recommendations to IT specialists, via technical reports of professional standard.

This course teaches you about issues in the administration of enterprise-level database systems. It provides you with the opportunity to gain experience in working on industry-standard DBMSs. On completion of this course you should be able to:

• Analyse the DBMS requirements for specific scenarios
• Install, configure, optimize and tune the performance of a DBMS;
• Design and implement security, back-up and recovery measures

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

• key concepts will be explained in lectures, classes or online, where syllabus material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
• tutorials and/or labs and/or group discussions (including online forums) focussed on projects and problem solving will provide practice in the application of theory and procedures, allow exploration of concepts with teaching staff and other students, and give feedback on your progress and understanding;
• assignments, as described in Overview of Assessment (below), requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
• private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and technical problems.

Attendance:
While a minimum attendance standard is not compulsory, non-attendance may seriously jeopardise the chances of success in this course. Clearly, non-attendance at an assessment will result in failure of that assessment. Where visa conditions apply, attendance is compulsory.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the School. You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Learning Hub (also known as online@RMIT) and may be provided with copies of additional materials in class or via email. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.

Use the RMIT Bookshop’s textbook list search page to find any recommended textbook(s).

Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises of assignments and a formal written examination.
 
For standard assessment details, including deadlines, weightings, and hurdle requirements relating to Computer Science and IT courses see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/compsci/cgi.