Database Chapter 20: Transaction Processing

Questions and Answers

What denotes the beginning and end of a transaction in database processing?

Begin and end transaction statements (correct)

Begin and end record statements

Start and finish transaction commands

Start and end data commands

Which of the following correctly represents a read operation according to the content?

read_item(X) (correct)

write_item(X)

fetch_item(X)

retrieve_data(X)

What is a characteristic of a single-user DBMS?

Allows many users to access the system simultaneously

Supports concurrency through multiprogramming

Is designed for large databases

Can only support one user at a time (correct)

What is the size of a data item referred to as?

Granularity Signup and view all the answers

In the write operation, what step follows copying the disk block into a buffer?

Copy item X from the program variable into the buffer Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of parallel processing in transaction systems?

Processes multiple transactions simultaneously for improved speed Signup and view all the answers

Which type of transaction does not modify data within the database?

Read-only transaction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a multiuser DBMS?

Enables access for multiple users simultaneously Signup and view all the answers

What is multiprogramming primarily designed for?

To increase system performance by suspending tasks Signup and view all the answers

How does interleaved processing differ from parallel processing?

Interleaved processing executes processes one after another without overlap Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Transaction Processing Concepts

A transaction represents a single unit of database processing.
Transaction processing systems are designed to handle large databases with numerous concurrent users, emphasizing high availability and rapid response times.

Types of Database Management Systems

Single-user DBMS:
- Limited to one user at a time.
- Example: Home computers.
Multiuser DBMS:
- Allows multiple users to access the system simultaneously.
- Example: Airline reservation systems, utilizing multiprogramming concepts.

Multiprogramming and Processing

Multiprogramming enables concurrent execution of multiple processes through the operating system.
Interleaved processing refers to handling multiple transactions by alternating between them.
Parallel processing involves executing multiple transactions simultaneously.

Transaction Components

A transaction consists of begin and end statements to define its boundaries.
Types of transactions include:
- Read-only transactions: Do not modify data.
- Read-write transactions: Both read and modify data.

Database Items and Granularity

A database consists of named data items, with size varying based on its granularity (record, disk block, or attribute value).
Concepts of transaction processing are irrelevant to the granularity of data items.

Read and Write Operations

read_item(X): Reads the specified database item and stores it in a program variable.
write_item(X): Writes the value from a program variable to the database item.
Operations involve locating, copying, and possibly updating disk blocks in memory.

DBMS Buffers

DBMS maintains multiple memory data buffers for efficient data access.
Buffer replacement policies (e.g., least recently used) are employed when memory is full.

Concurrency Control Issues

Transactions may run concurrently, potentially leading to data integrity issues such as:
- Lost Update Problem: Concurrent access results in some updates being lost.
- Temporary Update Problem: Involves reading uncommitted changes.
- Incorrect Summary Problem: Results from aggregate data being affected by concurrent transactions.
- Unrepeatable Read Problem: Changes made by another transaction disrupt read consistency.

Importance of Recovery

Transactions need recovery mechanisms to handle failures:
- Committed transactions: Changes persist permanently.
- Aborted transactions: Changes are discarded without impact.
DBMS must ensure all operations of a transaction are either completely applied or not applied at all.

Common Types of Transaction Failures

Computer Failures: Due to hardware or software crashes.
System Errors: Including logic errors and user interruptions.
Local Errors: Such as data access failures.
Concurrency Violations: Issues like deadlocks and serializability violations.

Less Common Transaction Failures

Disk Failures: Issues related to disk read/write mechanisms.
Catastrophic Failures: Severe power or environmental disruptions.

Transaction State Management

The system monitors each transaction's lifecycle:
- Identifying when transactions begin, read/write data, and commit/abort.

System Logging

The system log tracks transaction operations in a sequential manner, unaffected by most failures.
A log buffer in memory stores transactions until full, then transfers them to the disk log.
Periodic backups of the log file ensure data integrity and recovery options through undo and redo capabilities.

Sample Log File Entries

Example entries include:
- [start_transaction, T]: Indicates start of transaction T.
- [write_item, T, X, old_value, new_value]: Indicates a change from old to new value for database item X.
- [read_item, T, X]: Indicates transaction T has read item X.
- [commit, T]: Indicates successful completion of transaction T.
- [abort, T]: Indicates transaction T was aborted.

Description

Explore the key concepts and theories behind transaction processing in databases as introduced in Chapter 20. Understand the local unit of database processing, the significance of transaction processing systems, and the requirements for high availability and fast response time in large databases with multiple users.