Oracle Database 10g: SQL Tuning

What you will learn
 This course is designed to give the experienced SQL Developer or DBA a firm foundation in SQL tuning techniques. The participant learns the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively tune SQL in the Oracle Database 10g Release 2. They learn about tuning methodology as well proactive tuning and reactive tuning methods. Students are introduced to the benefits of the new automatic tuning mechanisms available in Oracle Database 10g. On completion of the course they are able to compare and contrast the steps involved to tune manually as in prior releases as well as use the automatic SQL tuning features provided in the current release. Students gain a thorough conceptual understanding of the Oracle Optimizer, and reinforce instructor-led learning with structured hands-on practices. The course uses a series of challenge-level workshops, allowing students to "play, discover, and learn" at their own level and pace. The students learn to use the Oracle diagnostic tools and facilities: Automatic SQL Tuning components, EXPLAIN, SQL Trace and TKPROF, SQL*Plus AUTOTRACE. Students also learn to influence the behavior of the Optimizer by changing the physical schema and modifying SQL statement syntax.

This course counts towards the Hands-on course requirement for the Oracle Database 10g Administrator Certification. Only instructor-led inclass or instructor-led online formats of this course will meet the Certification Hands-on Requirement. Self Study CD-Rom and Knowledge Center courses DO NOT meet the Hands-on Requirement.
Audience
 Business Intelligence Developer
Forms Developer
Java Developer
PL/SQL Developer
Reports Developer
Technical Consultant

Prerequisites
 Oracle Database 10g: SQL Fundamentals I
Oracle Database 10g: PL/SQL Fundamentals

Course Objectives
 Describe the basic steps in processing SQL statements
Describe the causes of performance problems
Understand where SQL tuning fits in an overall tuning methodology
Describe Automatic SQL Tuning
Use the diagnostic tools to gather information about SQL statement processing
Understand Optimizer behavior
Influence the optimizer behavior
Influence the physical data model so as to avoid performance problems

Course Topics
Database Architecture overview
 Overview of Database architecture
Listing the SQL Statement Processing Steps
Identifying Means to Minimize Parsing
Stating the Use of Bind Variables

Following a Tuning Methodology
 Describing the Causes of Performance Problems
Identifying Performance Problems
Using a Tuning Methodology

Designing Applications for performance
 Oracle Methodology
Understanding Scalability
System Architecture
Application Design Principles
Deploying New Applications

Introducing the optimizer
 Describe the functions of the Oracle optimizer
Identify the factors that the optimizer considers when it selects an execution plan
Set the optimizer approach at the instance and session level
Use dynamic sampling

Optimizer Operations
 Execution plans
Types of Joins

Displaying Execution plans
 Using the EXPLAIN PLAN Command
Interpreting EXPLAIN Output
Interpreting AUTOTRACE Statistics

Gathering Statistics
 Using the DBMS_STATS Package
Identifying Table, Column, and Index Statistics
Building Histograms

Application Tracing
 Statspack
End to End tracing
Invoking the SQL Trace Facility
Setting Up Appropriate Initialization Parameters
Formatting Trace Files with TKPROF
Interpreting the Output of the TKPROF Command

Identifying High Load SQL
 Use different methods to identify high-load SQL
ADDM
Top SQL
Dynamic Performance views
Statspack

Automatic SQL Tuning
 Query Optimizer Modes
Types of Tuning Analysis
SQL Tuning Advisor
SQL Tuning Sets
Top SQL

Introduction to Indexes
 Identifying Row Access Methods
Creating B-Tree Indexes
Understanding B-Tree Index Access and Index Merging

Advanced Indexes
 Using Bitmapped Indexes
Using Function-Based Key Indexes

Optimizer Hints and Plan Stability
 Using Hints
Purpose and Benefits of Optimizer Plan Stability

Materialized Views and Temporary Tables
 Using the CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW Syntax
Utilizing Query Rewrites

Related Courses
 Oracle Database 10g: SQL Tuning Self-Study CD Course NEW