| IN THIS CHAPTER This chapter is an introduction to MySQL and PostgreSQL, two database systems that are included with Fedora. You'll learn what these systems do, how the two programs compare, and how to consider their advantages and disadvantages. This information can help you choose which one to use for your organization's database needs. Finally, you will learn how to install, initialize, and configure these popular client/server database programs and how to administer those databases to maintain tight security and full integrity of the data. The database administrator (DBA) for an organization has several responsibilities, which vary according to the size and operations of the organization, supporting staff, and so on. Depending on the particular organization's structure, if you are the organization's DBA, your responsibilities might include the following: Installing and maintaining database servers You might need to install and maintain the database server software. Maintenance can involve such tasks as installing patches that fix bugs and security issues as well as upgrading the software at the appropriate times. As DBA, you might need to have root access to your system and perhaps know how to manage software (see Chapter 7, "Managing Software and System Resources"). You also need to be aware of kernel, file system, and other security issues. Installing and maintaining database clients The database client is the program users use to access the database (you'll learn more on that later in this chapter, in the section "Database Clients"), either locally or remotely over a network. Your responsibilities might include installing and maintaining these client programs on users' systems. This chapter discusses how to install and work with the clients from both the Linux command line and through its graphical interface database tools. Managing accounts and users Account and user management include adding and deleting users from the database, assigning and administering passwords, and so on. In this chapter, you will learn how to grant and revoke user privileges and passwords for MySQL and PostgreSQL while using Fedora. Ensuring database security To ensure database security, you need to be concerned with things such as access control, which ensures that only authorized people can access the database, and permissions, which ensure that people who can access the database cannot do things they should not do. In this chapter, you will learn how to manage Secure Shell (SSH), web, and local GUI client access to the database. Planning and overseeing the regular backup of an organization's database and restoring data from those backups is another critical component of securing the database. Ensuring data integrity Of all the information stored on a server's hard disk storage, chances are the information in the database is the most critical. Ensuring data integrity involves planning for multiple-user access and ensuring that changes are not lost or duplicated when more than one user is making changes to the database at the same time.
|
