IBExpert and Firebird Power Workshop

Firebird Administrator intensive training with emphasis on speed, security and interfaces.

In our Firebird Power Workshop, we focus on the tasks that an administrator needs to perform to effectively run a Firebird server. The aim is to achieve the optimum speed of the hardware and software used, to guarantee maximum operational reliability, and to be optimally prepared for a breakdown by means of a suitable worst-case scenario. We will also concentrate on the independent implementation of simple requirements in the areas of import, export and reporting.

Overview of topics

1. Basics

After an introduction to the basic Firebird technology, the most important files and installation versions for Windows and Linux with Firebird versions 2.x and 3.x will be explained.

2. Hardware

Using suitable tools, the Firebird performance with the hardware/software combination used is measured and compared with other systems
Effects of Firebird versions and configurations for processors, memory, I/O load, and process priority
Comparison of the different I/O subsystem techniques HDD, SSD, SATA, M.2, NVME, RAID, SAN, IOPS, Bandwidth, Reads, Writes, etc.
Comparison of different CPU types, clock cycle, L1/L2/L3 cache, cores, Xeon E3/E5/E7
Expedient use of memory, RAM disk, temporary memory, ECC, DDR, clock cycle
Locate the bottleneck in your own server
Supplementary hardware for performance optimization
Recommendations for optimal hardware

3. Operating system

What optimizations can I make in Windows and Linux operating systems?
Comparison of a Firebird server running on a virtual machine or without virtualization
Check relevant drivers and adjust configuration settings
DLL version check and effects
Effects and adjustments Antivirus, backup and image software
Trojan-safe configuration
Operating systems recommendations for Firebird and dependencies

4. Backup/Restore

Data backup with gbak and other solutions
The most important backup/restore parameters
Partial backup of the database
IBExpert tools for backup, restore, e-mail message in case of errors, database dump
IBExpert tools for automating database comparisons, data and metadata using scripts
Shadow copy as a turbo backup
Suitable measures to prevent errors from the outset
Concurrent incremental backup
Basic replication knowledge

5. Troubleshooting

Detect errors in the database
Troubleshooting strategies and tools
Correct errors using transaction counter limit
Detect and correct incorrect metadata
Recognize and correct faulty data
Combine databases from different scripts
Errors opening the database and gfix
Errors after opening the database when accessing certain table data
IBExpert repair tools, Database Inside, if nothing else helps
IBExpert services and Hotline support for repairs

6. Interfaces

Automatically generate reports with IBExpert Scripting and store them as PDF files or send them by e-mail
Set up data interfaces for ODBC
Data export to ODBC, CSV, Excel, HTML, etc. using IBExpert Scripting
Data import from ODBC, CSV, Excel, HTML, etc. using IBExpert Scripting
Read or write access to SMTP, POP3 and IMAP e-mail
Automate data synchronization with script directly to MSSQL, Oracle, MySQL, etc.
Convert data tables from or to other platforms
Direct connection using additional tools to PayPal, Sharepoint, SAP, Salesforce, Magento, Dropbox, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, JSON, REST, XML etc.

7. Users and groups

Create, change and delete users with password
Create, change and delete roles
Differences users, roles and permissions in Firebird 2.x and Firebird 3.x
Transfering the user database when updating Firebird

8. Database performance

System tables and tools to detect long-running SQL queries
Identify and eliminate the impact of long-running transactions
Trace API and MON$ tables
Detect and create missing indices
Comprehending and using Expression Indices
Understanding and updating index statistics
Optimize index structures and avoid duplicates

9. Monitoring and Audit

Log database changes with IBExpert log tools
Log slow SQLs around the clock
What's it doing now? External tools at operating system level for file system and process logging