Database server with enhanced management and self-configuration features

• US 20030023603A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bala Kumaresan, Balasubramanyam Sthanikam, David Stowell, Dimitris Nakos, Doherty C. Gregory, Harish Rawat, Jane Chen, Jay Rossiter, John E. So, John, Joseph Therrattil Koonen, Lalitha Ganti, Lawrence J. Ellison, Muthu Olagappan, Niloy Banerjee, Pari Bhaduri, Ramkumar Venkataraman, Srinivas Maturi, Thivakaram Prakash Sivakumar, Venkat Malla, Yuanjiang Ou
• Original Assignee: Bala Kumaresan, Balasubramanyam Sthanikam, David Stowell, Dimitris Nakos, Doherty C. Gregory, Harish Rawat, Jane Chen, Jay Rossiter, John E. So, John, Joseph Therrattil Koonen, Lalitha Ganti, Lawrence J. Ellison, Muthu Olagappan, Niloy Banerjee, Pari Bhaduri, Ramkumar Venkataraman, Srinivas Maturi, Thivakaram Prakash Sivakumar, Venkat Malla, Yuanjiang Ou
• Inventors: Sthanikam, Balasubramanyam, Doherty, C. Gregory, Rawat, Harish, John E. So, John, Therrattil Koonen, Joseph, Olagappan, Muthu, Chen, Jane, Ou, Yuanjiang, Kumaresan, Bala, Malla, Venkat, Banerjee, Niloy, Venkataraman, Ramkumar, Ganti, Lalitha, Rossiter, Jay, Ellison, Lawrence J., Bhaduri, Pari, Maturi, Srinivas, Sivakumar, Thivakaram Prakash, Stowell, David, Nakos, Dimitris
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A database system that incorporates numerous features that reduce the total cost of maintaining the database system is provided. That database system includes a database appliance that executes a database server on a platform that includes a special purpose operating system specifically tailored to the services required by the database server. The database appliance configures itself by detecting the environment in which it resides and setting operational parameters based on the detected environment. The configuration metadata of all components of the system are stored in a centralized repository which itself may reside external to the system. Both the database server configuration and the operating system configuration are managed by a remotely located integrated management console, which interacts with and configures the system at the database system level, the operating system level and, optionally, at the hardware subsystem level. Backup management may also be performed remotely. The remote components, such as the integrated management console, the backup server, and the configuration repository, may communicate with the system through a wide area network, such as the Internet, or directly through a dial-up connection.

Claims

1. A database appliance comprising:

a database server that includes self configuration software that automatically;

detects an amount of resources that are available at a particular installation of the database appliance; and

adapts one or more parameters of the database server based upon the amount of resources that are detected.

2. A database appliance comprising:

a database server;

a special purpose operating system whose features and configuration are dictated by the database server and supporting components; and

a management agent for dynamically changing parameters associated with said database server and said operating system.

3. A database appliance comprising:

a database server; and

an operating system;

where the database server includes self configuration software that automatically;

detects an amount of resources that are available at a particular installation of the database appliance; and

adapts one or more parameters of the operating system based upon the amount of resources that are detected.

4. A database appliance comprising:

a database server; and

hardware for executing the database server;

where the database server includes self configuration software that automatically;

detects an amount of resources that are available at a particular installation of the database appliance; and

adapts one or more parameters of the hardware based upon the amount of resources that are detected.