Lesson 1

This module introduces you to the components of the environment external to the Oracle database. These are the components that you must focus on as you learn to monitor, identify, tune, and report external performance issues. Each subsequent module of the course expands on the material in this first module. We will start with an overview of the basic processes of each component in the external environment. As the course progresses, you will learn to tune each one for maximum performance.
By the end of this module you should be able to:

1. List OS components that can be tuned
2. Describe OS tuning roles
3. Explain architecture-related performance factors
4. Explain the importance of disk I/O to Oracle database performance
5. Describe how OS memory is managed
6. Describe how Oracle manages CPU usage

There are several factors that can impact the performance of an Oracle database:

1. Hardware resources: The performance of an Oracle database can be affected by the amount of available CPU, memory, and disk resources. If these resources are insufficient, the database may not be able to keep up with the workload and performance may suffer.
2. Database design: The way that the database is designed, including the choice of data types, the use of indexes, and the distribution of data across tables, can all impact performance.
3. SQL statements: The efficiency of the SQL statements being executed can greatly impact performance. Poorly written or inefficient SQL statements can cause the database to perform poorly.
4. Concurrency: The level of concurrency, or the number of users accessing the database at the same time, can affect performance. If there are too many users accessing the database concurrently, it can lead to performance issues.
5. Configuration: The way that the Oracle database is configured, including the size of the SGA and PGA, the choice of storage options, and the use of initialization parameters, can all impact performance.
6. Workload: The workload being placed on the database, including the number and complexity of SQL statements being executed, can affect performance. If the workload is too heavy, it can lead to performance issues.