Database as a service

Brian Kurlychek · Post by **Brian Kurlychek** » 13 Sep 2009 5:09 am

Need to know what it is: are there any sites that explain what it is and how it is used? Or any books on the subject?

(I'm taking a database design class. Thx)

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 13 Sep 2009 4:28 pm

In its most basic form, the name itself is the best explanation. A database simply gathers data, stores the data for future perusal, to manipulate for a desired outcome. A good example to see how a database is [mis]used, just go to your mailbox and and look at all the [un]solicited mail. They got your address from some database somewhere. When you call in to get some info on carwax you just saw on a TV ad, your name is put into a database.

Technically, a database is a collection of columns, rows, and tables (at least for SQL). Some of the older databases (like Informix) used fields and records. In either event, you design a database to hold data that you will need for future reference, where you sort the output, in a format you want.

I'm sure if you go to a Borders book store, or Amazon.com, or even query Google, you'll get all the info you need to do a report on database design.

John Cipriano · Post by **John Cipriano** » 13 Sep 2009 9:18 pm

First result on Google...

I don't know it by this name but I think they're talking about something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_SimpleDB

The really basic explanation would be that your database is stored and maintained by a hosting provider somewhere over the internet. Not every kind of database is suitable for this kind of treatment. This would be one facet of cloud computing.

Cloud computing is sort of buzzword right now and it's hard to pin down exactly what it is since everyone's trying to get on the bandwagon. LongJump's a decent example from what I can see. Check this out too: http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/08/lo ... e-service/

IMO it makes more sense to have the whole thing online, the application and the database, which seems to be what they're doing. So I suppose the distinction between an online database and a database as a service would be who's doing the admin work. If you're paying someone to be your db admin, then I guess at that point it becomes a "service". I'm certainly no expert though. If you're taking a class then I'm sure you can ask the prof. about it.

There are some considerations, the first link I gave outlines some...for instance, is it possible for you to secure the data so that the host cannot do anything with it, yet still be able to serve it to the application? Common sense would say no, but here's something interesting that was reported on not too long ago... http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/06 ... ypted-Data

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 14 Sep 2009 1:46 am

This is bascially (in concept) an extension of a LAN with a server that hosts all the programs and data for users workstations. That was how our Novell LAN systems were set up at SSA. The users PC's didn't have any applications, if for example they needed to write a letter they accessed WordPerfect from the server did what they had to do and if they wanted to save the wordprocessor file it was stored on the server.

But, with the potential for data being compromised/hacked I have problems with using the "cloud computing" or having my (personal) data backed up or stored somewhere other than in my PC or home LAN system.

Brian Kurlychek · Post by **Brian Kurlychek** » 18 Sep 2009 7:09 am

Thanks to all who responded. This helped.