The Oracle relational database management system (RDBMS) is an enormous system, with myriad technologies, options,and releases. Most users -- even experienced developers and database administrators -- find it difficult to get a handle onthe full scope of the Oracle system. And as each new version of the database is released, users find themselves underincreasing pressure to learn about a whole range of new technologies.

This book distills the enormous amount of information about what Oracle is, where it came from, and what the latestreleases (Oracle8 and Oracle8i) do -- and packages it into a compact, easy-to-read volume filled with focused text,illustrations, and helpful hints for DBAs and developers. It explains what is new and important about Oracle'srevolutionary releases, Oracle8 (the "object-relational database") and Oracle8i (the "Internet database"). It covers suchtopics as overall system products, architecture, and data structures; installation, management, security, backup andrecovery, and tuning issues; and specific Oracle technologies such as data warehouses, online transaction processing(OLTP), and the system's interfaces to the Web.

For each major concept, this book poses two basic questions about Oracle8/8i technology: why is it important, and howhas Oracle implemented it? The answers to these questions will provide the fundamentals for developing your own bestpractices for Oracle programming and administration.