Oracle Essentials: Oracle9i, Oracle8i and Oracle8, Second Edition

Chapter 1. Introducing Oracle

Where do we start? One of the problems in comprehending a massive product such as the Oracle database is the difficulty of getting a good sense of how the product works without getting lost in the details of implementing specific solutions. This book aims to solve this problem by giving you a thorough grounding in the concepts and technologies that form the foundation of Oracle’s technology products: the Database Server (currently Oracle9i) and the Application Server (Oracle9iAS). Oracle is also a provider of business applications, popularly named the “E-Business Suite”; discussion of those applications is outside the scope of this book, although we do touch on how technology components are being leveraged in linking Oracle’s applications to non-Oracle applications and in building data warehouses.

We’ve tried to write a book for a wide range of Oracle users, from the novice to the experienced user. To address this range of users, we’ve focused on the concepts and technology behind the Oracle database. Once you fully understand these facets of the product, you’ll be able to handle the particulars of virtually any type of Oracle database. Without this understanding, you may feel overburdened as you try to connect the dots of Oracle’s voluminous feature set and documentation.

This first chapter lays the groundwork for the rest of the discussions in this book. Of all the chapters, it covers the broadest range of topics; most of these are discussed further ...