Why a Database File System?

The Oracle Database has been commonly used to store files closely associated with
database applications including CAD, medical images, invoice images, documents, etc.
The SQL standard data type, BLOB (and CLOB) is used by applications to store files in the
database. The Oracle Database provides much better security, availability, robustness,
transactions, and scalability than traditional file systems. When files are stored in the
database, they are backed up, synchronized to the disaster recovery site using Data
Guard, and recovered along with the relational data in the database. This has made
storing files in the database an appealing option for many applications.
In Oracle Database 11g, Oracle introduced Oracle SecureFiles LOBs. SecureFiles LOBs
provide high performance storage for files, comparable to the performance of traditional
file systems. SecureFiles LOBs support advanced features of compression, deduplication
and encryption to files. Because SecureFiles LOBs maintain backward compatibility
to BLOB (and CLOB), applications written against BLOBs continue to transparantly work
against SecureFiles LOBs, even with the previously mentioned features.
Database File System (DBFS) leverages the features of the database to store files, and
the strengths of the database in efficiently managing relational data, to implement a
standard file system interface for files stored in the database. With this interface,
storing files in the database is no longer limited to programs specifically written to
use BLOB and CLOB programmatic interfaces. Files in the database can now be
transparently accessed using any operating system (OS) program that acts on files. For
example, ETL (Extract, Transform and Load) tools can transparently store staging files
in the database.
What is the Oracle Database File System (DBFS)?
The Oracle Database File System (DBFS) creates a standard file system interface on top
of files and directories that are stored in database tables. DBFS is similar to NFS in that
it provides a shared network file system that looks like a local file system. Like NFS,
there is a server component and a client component.
In DBFS, the server is the Oracle Database. Files are stored as SecureFiles LOBs in a
database table. A set of PL/SQL procedures implement the file system access primitives
such as create, open, read, write, and list directory. The implementation of the file
system in the database is called the DBFS Content Store. The DBFS Content Store
allows each database user to create one or more file systems that can be mounted by
clients. Each file system has its own dedicated tables that hold the file system content.
See Also:
Chapter 7, "DBFS Content API" for information about content stores
Figure 5-1 Oracle Database File System (DBFS)

Description of "Figure 5-1 Oracle Database File System (DBFS)"
The DBFS Content API is the PL/SQL interface in the Oracle RDBMS that lies at the core
of DBFS. It includes a programmatic interface that allows different types of storage to
be supported, including user-defined storage.
The DBFS SecureFiles Store is a DBFS Content Store that utilizes a table with a
SecureFiles LOB column to store the file system data. It implements POSIX-like
capabilities.
The DBFS Hierarchical Store is a DBFS Content Store that allows files to be written to
any tape storage units supported by Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN) or to a cloud
storage system. Currently, Amazon S3 is the only cloud storage system supported.
DBFS also has a client component that runs on each file system client machine
called dbfs_client. The dbfs_client provides a command interface to allow files to be
easily copied in and out of the database from any host on the network. It implements
simple file system commands like list and copy in a manner that is similar to the shell
utilities ls and rcp. The command interface creates a direct connection to the database
without requiring an OS mount of DBFS.
On Linux, the dbfs_client also has a mount interface that utilizes the Filesystem in User
Space (FUSE) kernel module to implement a file-system mount point that provides
transparent access to the files stored in the database and requires no changes to the
Linux kernel. It receives standard file system calls from theFUSE kernel module, and
translates them into OCI calls to the PL/SQL procedures in the DBFS Content Store.
The files in the DBFS store can also be directly accessed by database applications
through the PL/SQL interface. The PL/SQL interface allows database transactions and
read consistency to span relational and file data.
DBFS can migrate SecureFiles from existing tables to other storage using DBFS Links.
See "PL/SQL Packages for SecureFiles LOBs and DBFS" for information about
SecureFiles LOB DBFS Links.
Oracle Database (commonly referred to as Oracle RDBMS or simply as Oracle) is an object-
relational database management system
[2]
produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation.

MANILA, PhilippinesIsuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC), a leader in diesel-powered commercial vehicles, has
chosen Oracle automotive industry solutions to achieve management excellence and address complex
business processes. IPC has set out to integrate multiple business processes from operations to finance,
to support the markets growing demand for its products, and improve service to its distributors and
customers.
The products selected include: Oracle Inventory Management, Oracle Mobile Supply Chain
Applications, Oracle Configurator, Oracle Order Management, Oracle Advanced Supply Chain
Planning, Oracle Discrete Manufacturing and Oracle Financials. These products will help IPC accelerate
time to market, optimize demand-driven supply chain, gain competitive advantage and leverage
operational investments. With the Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1, IPC expects to increase productivity,
achieve seamless collaboration among business units and respond rapidly to the needs of its distributors
and partners any time of the day.
Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 streamlines internal processes, reduces costs, and improves the operating
environment by accelerating delivery to customers and monitoring stock levels. It also helps to support
IPCs build-to-order and build-to-stock process. Oracle Business Suite 12.1 covers the entire sales
process from placement of order, delivery to customer, invoice preparation and compensation to
distributors.
This project will be deployed by iOM Philippines, a service provider and a Gold level member of Oracle
PartnerNetwork (OPN).
With Oracles impressive track record in providing solutions specifically for the automotive industry, we
are confident that we will benefit from world-class IT systemsreliable, responsive and tightly integrated
to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs and gain more profit, said IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki.
Using the Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 will also provide us with the support that we need for our
growing business while protecting our plans for further investment and expansion.
We are pleased to work closely with Isuzu to provide them the best automotive solutions available in the
market today, said Mina Lim, acting managing director and finance director of Oracle Philippines. The
Oracle E-Business Suite 12.1 will help Isuzu maximize productivity by enabling collaboration among their
various business units.