Database Environment
Brandon Smith
DBM/380
10-8-2012
Kenneth Hoskins

Database Environment

“A database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. In order for a database to be truly functional, it must not only store large amounts of record, but also be able to access those records fast and efficiently. In addition, new information and changes should also be easy to input.” (tech-faq.com) To be useful over a long term the database should be able to store all the records necessary for the business to function as well as be able to get all of this information back in case of a system failure or a crash. If all the information is loss a business could go bankrupt so the database is a fail
For larger scale applications you would have to use a N Tier client/server architecture. An example of this would be a shopping cart on any website that you can order a product off of. “The user will pick what they want to buy which they do so by interacting with the Graphic User Interface and with the application and the application server.” (exforsys.com)
The database the museum would use is a two tier client/server architecture. They could keep all their information on a server and actually use an intranet instead of the internet to locate all the information they need for their everyday use. The challenges would be that the system could be overloaded if too many requests were made at one time. This could be overcome by increasing the bandwidth of the network you are working on though. The other thing that could cause challenges is all the processing is done on a few central computers.
The use of this two tier system for the museum would be to have a specific location of each piece of art and where it is located in the museum. They could know where they had all their art located from world renowned artist all the way to the ones they kept from local artist. If they wanted to replace some art they were displaying with art they were storing they could check to see where they were storing the piece easily go and find it and replace it with the one they are displaying. When this is done they could go into the