Architecture and Implementation of Database Systems
This course is a journey into the heart of essentially every business application today: its database management system. We learn the tricks and techniques that enable modern database back-ends to store petabytes of data effortlessly, sustain thousands of update operations per second, or answer complex decision support queries in an instant.
Course Topics
- Indexing
- Tree-structured indices provide fast and scalable access to one- and multi-dimensional data.
- Query Processing and Optimization
- Internally, user input queries are translated into a query execution plan. The most efficient of these plans is discovered by the system's optimizer, then evaluated by a processing engine such as the "Volcano" iterator model.
- Database Tuning
- With knowledge about the internal workings of a database system, we can achieve far-reaching performance improvements.
- Transactions and Recovery
- The ACID principle provides a consistent multi-user execution model. We look at techniques to implement it internally.
- Recent Developments
- We conclude this lecture with a glimpse into current database research issues.
The course serves two purposes: it aids practitioners to gain most out of their database system and gives students the background and tools required to complete their MSc thesis in the area of information systems.
Lecture Slides
| Description | PDF 2x4 | last updated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | PDF 2x4 | 16.09.2008 | |
| Storage: Disks and Files | PDF 2x4 | 23.09.2008 | |
| Indexing | PDF 2x4 | 01.10.2008 | |
| Multi-Dimensional Indexing | PDF 2x4 | 09.10.2008 | |
| Query Processing | PDF 2x4 | 23.10.2008 | |
| Query Optimization | PDF 2x4 | 30.10.2008 | |
| Transaction Management and Recovery | PDF 2x4 | 04.12.2008 | |
| Databases on Modern Hardware | PDF 2x4 | 11.12.2008 |
Course Evaluation
Thank you for taking time to fill out the course evaluation forms on November 27, 2008. Here are the results (we will discuss them in the lecture on December 11, 2008):
Questions D1 through D12 were the ones that I asked on this slide set.
Exam
- The exam for this course is on Thursday, December 18, 2008 in Room CAB G 56.
- We would like to start with the exam at 14:30. Please be at CAB G 56 at 14:15 to make sure we can start on time. The exam duration is 60 min.
- You are allowed to bring one (1) piece of paper, DIN A4, hand-written (you can write on both sides). No other material is allowed in the exam. No need to bring a calculator.
- All exam questions will be in English. You can write your answers in English or German.
- Don't forget to bring your Legi and a dark pen (black or blue; no pencils).
Course Hours
- Lecture
- Thu, 14-16h, Room CAB G 56 — Instructor: Jens Teubner
- Exercises
- Thu, 16-17h, Room CAB G 51 — Instructor: Philipp
Unterbrunner / Stefan Hildenbrand
- Fri, 13-14h, Room CAB G 56 — Instructor: Philipp
Unterbrunner / Stefan Hildenbrand
Additional Information
This lecture will be given in english. This is lecture 251-0365-00L in the ETH Course Catalog. You'll get 5 ECTS Credits for this 2V+1Ü course.



