FILE SYSTEM

Major feature of file system approach are:

1. In this approach each application program has its own separate data file.
2. It is used in small systems that require few files to represent it. So it has simple structure
and costs less.
3. Lot of duplication of data is there due to creation of different files for different
application programs. This may lead to inconsistency.
4. In this approach it is difficult to apply security constraints since application programs are
developed in an adhoc manner i.e. when requirement arises.
5. There is poor coordination of application programs, so multiple user access is difficult.
6. It is difficult to change application programs whenever the integrity constraints are
applied.
7. Its examples are C, C++ etc.
DATABASE SYSTEM APPROACH
Major features of database system approach are:
1. In this system there is collection of interrelated files. Different application programs can
access and modify these files.
2. It is used in large systems which inter-relate many files. So it is complex to design and
costs more.
3. Due to centralization of database the problem of data redundancy as well as
inconsistency is controlled.
4. With the centralization of data, security constraints are easy to apply so that
unauthorized users can not access the database. A user is allowed to access only
concerned part of the database and not the entire database.
5. In this approach integrity constraints are easy to apply.
6. Its examples FoxPro, dBase, Oracle, SQL Server etc.
DBMS
DBMS is software that manages the databases i.e. it defines database, stores the
data, supports a query language, manipulates data and produces results.
Major database level operations performed by DBMS are:
 Makes access to the data easy for the user.
 Provides mass storage of relevant data
 Provide prompt response to user requests for data.
 Makes the latest modifications to the database available immediately.
 Eliminates redundant data.
 Allows multiply users to be active at one time.
  Protects the data from unauthorized access.
 Allows for growth in the database system.
Some commonly used DBMS are: MS-Access, FoxPro, Oracle
OBJECTIVES OF DATABASE SYSTEM
Major objectives of database system are:
1. Data Redundancy: In file system, each application program has its own
independent data file. These data files are in different formats and may contain
same data (up to some extent). This duplication of data at several places is known as
data redundancy. This redundancy leads to wastage of space and inconsistency. One
of major objective of database is to reduce the redundancy without any harmful
loss.
2. Data Inconsistency: Due to redundancy, it is quite difficult to handle the data. If
the data changes at one place then it must be applied to all the places wherever it is
duplicated. If it is not done then it leads to data inconsistency i.e. various copies of
same data may not remain same. This is known as data inconsistency. Second major
purpose of the database is to remove the data inconsistency.
3. Difficulty in accessing data: Traditional file approach is convenient and efficient to
access the stored data. Third major purpose is to provide efficient and convenient
data accessing system.
4. Data isolation: In traditional file system, data is isolated i.e. it is scattered in
different files in different formats. Objective of database is to provide all the
required data at one place i.e. in a single database.
5. Integrity problems: The data stored must agree with some constraints or
conditions. These can be put by adding certain code to the application programs. If
it is done for the first time then it is okay but as and when new constraints are
added, it is difficult to change programs. The problem gets multiplied when data
items are in more than one file.
The purpose of the database is to remove these integrity problems.
6. Atomicity problems: The computer system is also anticipated for the failures. In
many applications, it is crucial to ensure that, once a failure is detected, the data are
restored to the consistent state that the system had prior to failure. If the database
is not recovered to its proper state it loses its consistency. Maintaining this
consistency is called as atomicity. It is difficult to ensure this property in
conventional file-handling.
 The purpose of the database is to provide solution to atomicity problems to ensure
the consistency of the database.
7. Problems in concurrent-access: Many systems permit multiple users to update
the data at the same time. Accessing ad updating data simultaneously is called as
concurrent data processing. When two processes simultaneously change one data
item, there is every chance of inconsistency of data. The system must supervise to
take care of this possibility. However, in conventional file processing system, it is
very difficult to provide such supervision.
The purpose of the database is to provide concurrent access to multiple users
under the supervision of DBMs. The part of DBMS, concurrency-control manager
takes care of this.
8. Problems with Security: Every user of the database of DBMS must not be given
access to all the data. As the application programs are added to the system
according to situations, enforcement of security constraint is difficult.
The purpose of the database system is to provide the security with ease.
DISADVANTAGES OF TRADTIONAL FILE SYSTEM
Major disadvantages of traditional file system:
1 Duplicate Data: Since all the files are independent of each other, so there is every
chance that some fields may be available in more than on files. Thus there is lot of
duplicity of data i.e. same data is stored at more than one place
2. Inconsistency: In file system, same data is stored in number different independent
files. When we update some data, we miss updating in some files. Due to this, same
data may have different values at different values (updated values in some file while
original vales in miss files). This is known as inconsistency. It is quite common in file
system.
3. Separated and Isolated Data: In file system data is separated and isolated. To get
some information, it is quite possible to extract data from two or files. This isolation of
data demands that increase burden for analysts and programmers, as they have to first
determine the specific required data and the relation between them.
4. Format Dependency: In file system, the physical formats of the files are entered in the
programs. Any changes in the file format results in change in application program and
vice versa. This increases the cost and is time-consuming.
6. Poor Data Security: In file system, all files are stored in flat or text files, which can be
easily located and trapped. So there is poor data security in file system.
7 Difficulty in Complex Objects: File system has capability of dealing with fixed length
records only and no facility for variable length record. The complex object
representation may need variable length records. So in file system, it is very difficult to
deal with complex objects.
8. Data Inflexibility: Due to data isolation and program-data interdependency, very little
flexibility is provided to users in file processing systems.
DISADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEM
Major disadvantages of database system are:
1. Complex: A database system is required to support multiple applications and provide
many other features like data independence, minimum redundancy, interface with
past, interface with future etc. All this makes it a quite complex system.
2. High Cost of Software: Data base system is quite complex and it requires specialized
software like DBMS, which is quite costly.
3. High Hardware Cost: To run specialized software like DBMS and to deal with large
amount of data in data base, database systems required high capability hardware
which is quite costly.
4. High Conversion Cost: When system is changed from file system to data base system,
a lot of data need to be converted. This conversion cost is quite high.
5. Data Security: Due to this direct accessibility of database by large number of remote
users, there is strong need of security to protect it from unauthorized users.
6. Data Integrity: Since a large number of users can access data concurrently, so there is
every chance of simultaneous updating attempt by many users. So there may be
problem of data integrity i.e. same data is different at different places.

ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SYSTEM

Major advantages of database system are:
1. Minimum Redundancy: In database system, entire data is centralized. So there is
either no or minimum redundancy of data.
2. Efficient Updating: In database system, data is available with minimum redundancy,
so there is almost no chance of inefficient updating. It ensures data integrity.
3. Sharing Of Data: Data in a database can be shared by many applications without any
problem. This saves a lot of time and money that would have been invested for
creating different files for each application. Even a development of a new application
is easy as it does not require new data and may share existing database.
 4. Standard Can be Enforced: Since all access to the database is under the control of
DBMS and DBA, so it is quite easy to enforce standards such as naming and
formatting of data. Such standards result in uniformity in the database as well in its
usage. It also makes security easy.
5. Flexibility: To make any required change in data, database system is more flexible as
compare to file system.
6. Conflict Resolution: Since database is under the control of DBA, so any conflicts and
if occurs, can b easily handled by the DBA and user need not to consider these.
7. Simplified Approach: In data base system, a lot of built-in functions are available for
some common tasks such as searching, sorting etc. So user finds it very easy to
perform such tasks and need not to perform programming as it happens in case of
file system.
COMONENTS OF DATABASE SYSTEM
Database system is a computer based record keeping system to manage and process
large volume of data of entire organization. There are following four major components
of database system:
1. Data: Data is collection of facts in raw form. It is not in directly useful form and need
some processing. It is an important component of the database system. The data acts a
bridge between the machine parts i.e. the hardware, software and the users.
2. Hardware: Physical components of the computer system (such as CPU, VDU, I/O devices
etc.) are known as Hardware. Since database can range from a single user with a
desktop computer to thousands of users on mainframe computers, therefore proper
care should be taken to select appropriate hardware devices.
3. Software: Database system includes software like DBMS that acts as a bridge between the
user and the database. It interacts with the users, application programs, and database
to access and update data. Some commonly available DBMS are Oracle, Access, SQL
FoxPro, dBase etc.
Major functions of DBMS are:
(i) It manages organization, dictionary and location of the data.
(ii) It manages data processing. It also manages extract answers that are not
available in regular reports.
(iii) It speeds up programming making programmer free to concentrate on logic of the
program.
(iv) It includes special user friendly query languages.
(i) It performs authorization services like log on to the DBMS, start the database,
stop the Database etc.
 (ii) It performs import and export of Data.
(iii) It performs user’s monitoring
3. Users: Users are the persons who need the information from the database. Different
categories of the users are provided access to the database totally or partially. Users are
of mainly following three categories:
(i) Database Administrator (DBA): DBA is a person or a group of persons who is responsible
for the management of the database. The DBA is responsible to decide the attribute to
be included in the data base, their type, size, storage media to be used, backup and
recovery techniques to be used, who will be allowed to access the database and up to
what extent.
(ii) Application Programmers: Application programmers are users responsible to develop
application programs to use and manipulate the data base. These application programs
operate on the data to perform various operations such as retaining information,
creating new information, deleting or changing existing information.
(iii) End Users: End users are the users that interact with the database through application
programs. End users are of two types:
(a) Casual End Users: These are the users who occasionally access the database but may
need different information each time. They use some query language to specify their
requests. Example of such users includes high level managers who access the data
weekly or biweekly.
(b) Naive End Users: These are the users who have least knowledge about the system. They
simply use only standard types of queries. These can perform limited operations and
effect precise portion of the database. An ATM user is an example of naïve user as he
has access to only standard (limited) portion of the database.
DATA BASE ADMINISTRATOR (DBA)
DBA is a highly skilled person (or group of persons) who is responsible for the
management of the database. He has most of the powers such as defining schemas,
storage structures and access method strategies, physical organization, authorization and
integrity constrains etc.
Major functions (responsibilities) of DBA are:
1. Deciding the information content of the database: DBA identifies what kind of
information is to be stored in the database. He identifies entities (tables) as well as the
fields to be recorded about those entities.
2. Define the storage structure and access strategies: DBA decides the representation of
the data in the database. He also specifies the mapping between the physical schema
(storage structure definition) and the conceptual schema.
3. Defines external schemas for the users: DBA writes necessary external schemas and
ensures that required data should be made available, in the required format. He also
specifies the mappings between the external schemas and the conceptual schemas.
4. Defines integrity constraints specifications: DBA is responsible for the accuracy of the
data in the database by specifying integrity constraints and checks. For example- An
employee cannot work for more than 8 hours a day.
5. Granting of authorization for data access: DBA ensures that only authorized user can
access the data. For this he defines the authorization checks to be carried out whenever
access to sensitive data is attempted. So it is the job of DBA to decide which part of the
database should be accessible by whom.
6. Define strategy for backup and recovery: DBA specifies the strategy for backup and
quick recovery of data lost due to the failure in the hardware or software or due to
human failure.
7. Monitoring performance: DBA monitors the performance and makes sure to get the
optimum performance. He plans future storage requirements for the database system. He
also installs and upgrades the DBMS and the applications tools.