UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR DEGREE OF BACHELOR SCIENCE/BUSINESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BBIT 304 ADVANCED DATABASE SYSTEMS
MODE: FULL TIME/PART TIME/DISTANCE LEARNING
ORDINARY EXAMINATIONS
DATE: JULY, 2018 DURATION: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE [30 MARKS]
a) Briefly describe the following terminologies used in advanced databases.
i. Tuple.
ii. Relation.
iii. Relational algebra.
iv. Data warehouse.
v. Stored procedure
5 Marks
b) Discuss the differences between NoSQL databases and SQL databases.
8 Marks
c) Describe any FIVE characteristics of a multimedia database.
5 Marks
d) Database Tuning is the activity of making a database application run more quickly. Describe any
FOUR activities performed during database tuning.
4 Marks
e) Database performance can be defined as the rate at which the database system supplies the demand
for information to the users. Describe any FOUR metrics for a database performance.
8 Marks
QUESTION TWO [20 MARKS]
a) A distributed database is a database system in which portions of the database are stored on multiple
computers within a network. Users have access to the portion of the database at their location so that
they can access the data relevant to their tasks without interfering with the work of others. Describe
any FOUR business conditions driving distributed databases.
4 Marks
b) Describe FOUR salient characteristics of distributed database environments.
8 Marks
c) Briefly explain the following DBMS products:
i. IBM DB2.
ii. MySQL.
iii. Microsoft SQL.
iv. PostGreSQL.
8 Marks
QUESTION THREE [20 MARKS]
a) Discuss the FOUR key software components of a DBMS product.
4 Marks
b) Discuss the FOUR categories of SQL statements, giving an example in each category.
8 Marks
c) Define the term SQL injection attack.
2 Marks
d) Discuss any THREE factors motivating SQL injection attacks on databases.
6 Marks
QUESTION FOUR [20 MARKS]
a) Using an example, briefly describe the following operators used in relational algebra.
i. Selection.
ii. Projection.
iii. Union.
6 Marks
b) Compare and contrast On-line Transaction Processing (OLTP) and On-line Analytical Processing
(OLAP) systems.
8 Marks
c) Discuss any THREE operations associated with multidimensional databases.
6 Marks
QUESTION FIVE [20 MARKS]
a) Describe the steps involved in knowledge discovery in databases.
7 Marks
b) Discuss the steps involved in query processing and optimization in relational databases.
5 Marks
c) Differentiate between pessimistic locking and optimistic locking strategies in database systems.
4 Marks
d) Database recovery can be defined as is the process of restoring the database and the data to a
consistent state. Describe any FOUR database recovery techniques.
4 Marks
