The six stages of the Database Life Cycle (DBLC) include database initial research, database design, implementation and loading, testing and evaluation, operation, and maintenance and evolution, as depicted in the accompanying Figure.
- The Database Initial Study
The designer must evaluate the present system’s functioning inside the organization and establish how and why the current system fails in the Database Initial Study. The general goal of the first database analysis is to:
- Examine the Business Situation:
The company scenario covers the basic operating circumstances of a firm, its organizational structure, and its objective. To examine the corporate scenario, the database designer must first determine what the operational components of the organization are, how they work, and how they interact.
- Identify Problems and Restrictions:
The designer has access to both official and informal knowledge sources. End-users of a firm are often unable to correctly define the greater scope of company activities or to identify the underlying challenges experienced during company operations.
- Establish Goals:
A suggested database system must be intended to aid in the resolution of at least one of the primary issues identified during the problem identification phase.
- Establish Scope and Boundaries:
The designer must be aware of two types of constraints: scope and boundaries. The scope of the system establishes the range of the design in relation to operational needs. Knowing the scope helps in establishing the necessary data structures, entity type and number, and physical size of the database.
- Database Design
The second phase focuses on creating the database model that will support the company’s activities and goals. Remember the following concepts:
- Database design is inextricably linked to the analysis and design of a larger system.
- The data component is merely one component of a bigger information system;
- Implementation and Loading
The database design step results in a set of instructions for creating tables, attributes, domains, views, indexes, security restrictions, and storage and performance requirements. During this step, you will really put all of the design criteria into action.
- Setup the database management system:
The database management system (DBMS) may be implemented on new or existing servers. Virtualization is a technology that generates logical representations of computer resources that are independent of the real computing resources that underpin them.
- Construct the Database(s):
A new database implementation in most current relational DBMSs necessitates the construction of unique storage-related structures to house the end-user tables. Storage groups (or file groups), table spaces, and tables are typical constructions.
- Data Loading or Conversion:
The data must be imported into the database tables once the database has been built. Typically, data must be migrated from an earlier version of the system. Data for inclusion in the system must often be pooled from numerous sources. With our unique solutions, you may achieve greater business results in database development.
- 4. Evaluation and testing
During the design process, choices were taken to assure the database’s integrity, security, performance, and recoverability. These strategies were put in place throughout installation and loading.
- Run the Database Test:
The DBA checks the database throughout this process to verify that it maintains data integrity and security. The DBMS enforces data integrity via the appropriate application of primary and foreign key rules.
- Optimize the Database:
Many variables may have an influence on the database’s performance while performing different operations. Environmental considerations, such as the database’s hardware and software environment, may have a substantial influence on database performance.
- Assess the database and its associated application programs:
Individual component testing and assessment should be followed by a series of larger system tests to verify that all of the components interact appropriately to suit the demands of the users.
- Execution
The database is deemed operational if it has passed the assessment step. The database, its administration, its users, and its application programs create a full information system at that time.
- Upkeep and Evolution
The database administrator must be prepared to undertake normal database maintenance tasks. The following are some of the essential periodic maintenance activities:
- Preventative maintenance (backup).
- Preventative maintenance (recovery).
- Maintenance that is adaptable (enhancing performance, adding entities and attributes, and so on).
- Assigning and maintaining access rights for new and existing users.
