Information Technology 643


ITEC 643
Database Performance and Scalability

1. Catalog Entry

ITEC 643
Database Performance and Scalability

Credit hours (3)
Prerequisites: ITEC 641 and ITEC 660

A detailed examination of database performance and scalability. Includes basic tuning of databases for transaction processing and data warehousing as well as techniques for load testing and load balancing of consolidated and distributed databases. Performance of storage subsystems, computer clusters, and mainframe systems is examined. Includes study of current industry tools and techniques for virtualization and management of big data.

2. Detailed Description of Course

    1) Basic Database Tuning
        a. Review of Indexing and Hashing Schemes
        b. Tuning SQL
        c. Tuning Memory and Storage Structures and Parameters
        d. Tuning Network Communication
    2) Load Testing and Load Balancing
        a. Methods for Load Balancing
        b. Methods for Load Testing
    3) Virtualization and Cloud Architectures
        a. Purpose of Virtualization
        b. VMware Details
        c. Cloud Architectures
    4) Big Data
        a. Defined
        b. Data at Rest vs. Streams
        c. Current Tools

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course will be delivered in a lecture and discussion format with application of concepts and systems using consolidated and distributed databases, including cloud-based resources.
 
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students who complete this course will be able to:
    1) Describe and apply techniques for tuning database systems.
    2) Design and apply techniques for load testing and load balancing distributed database systems.
    3) Identify and describe the advantages and challenges associated with virtualization and cloud
        computing for database systems.
    4) Design and assess Big Data architectures and their performance.
    5) Describe and apply current techniques for Big Data Storage.
    6) Describe the advantages and limitations of noSQL solutions to distributed data.

5. Assessment Measures

A significant component of the assessment must measure each individual student’s mastery of the conceptual and applied knowledge and skills described in the course objectives. Evaluations may include but are not limited to assignments, projects, presentations, quizzes, and examinations.

6. Other Course Information

None.

Review and Approval

April 23, 2014