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Interview 2
1:What is a granule?
2:As a general guideline what should be the size of PGA.
3:How do you set the self tune SGA?
4:What are the memory areas automatically tuned with the self tune SGA?
5:How do you recover the unnecessary space occupied by a table?
6:What is the pre-requisite to run this command(shrink space command)?
7:How do you recover the space occupied beyond the high water mark?
8:How do you allocate database buffer cache in oracle 7?
9:What are the differences from oracle 7 to oracle 8 in the database buffer cache allocations.
10:What is the recommendation for defining to keep recycle and default buffer pool.
11:How the default buffer pool is maintained?
12:What is the other occassions when database buffer cache will be writing to the disk, other than disk?
13:Is it possible for us to not to define the java pool size. Is it possible that, we can run the database
without defining the java pool size.
14:What is the basic functionality of large pool?
15:How do you drop a tablespace?
16:What are the functions of SMON proces?
17:What is the function of PMON?
18:How do you drop a redo log file?
19:What is a segment?
20:Create a tablespace which is non-default block size.
21:How do you create OMF(oracle managed files)?
22:What are the creteria of the OMF tablespace?
23:What are the characteristics of OMF?
24:What is the meaning of PCT free.
25:What is PCT Used?
26:What is the meaning of LOGGING with the create table command.
Interview Questions 6
1:A tablespace has a table with 3D extents in it. Is this bad? Why or why not.
2:How do you setup tablespaces during an oracle installation?
3:You see multiple fragments in the SYSTEM tablespace, what should you check first?
4:What are some indications that you need to increase the SHARED_POOL_SIZE parameter?
5:What is the general guideline for sizing db_block_size and db_multi_block_read for an application that
does many full table scans?
6:What is the fastest query method for a table.
7:Explain the use of TKPROF? What initialization parameter should be turned on to get full TKPROF
output?
8:When looking at v$sysstat you see that sorts(disks) is high. Is this bad or good? If bad-How do you
correct it?
9:When should you increase copy latches? What parameters control copy latches.
10:Where can you get a list of all initialization parameters for your instance? How about an indication if
they are default settings or have
been changed.
11:Describe hit ratio as it pertains to the database buffers. What is the difference between instantaneous
and cumulative hit ratio and which
Interview Questions 5
1:How can variables passed to a SQL routine.
2:You want to include a carriage return/linefeed in your output from a SQL script, how can you do this.
3:How can you call a PL/SQL procedure from SQL?
4:How do you execute a host operating system command from within SQL?
5:You want to use SQL to build SQL, what is this called and give an eg.
6:What SQLPLUS command is used to format output from a select.
7:You want to group the following set of select returns, what can you group on Max(sum_of_cost),
Min(sum_of_cost), count(item_no), item_no.
8:What special oracle feature allows you to specify how the cost based system treats a SQL statement.
9:You want to determine the location of identical rows in a table before attempting to place a unique index
on the table, how can this be done.
10:What is a cartesian product?
11:You are joining a local and a remote table, the network manager complains about the traffic involved,
how can you reduce the network traffic.
12:What is the default ordering of an ORDER BY clause in a SELECT statement.
13:What is tkprof and how is it used?
14:What is explain plan and how is it used?
15:How do you set the number of lines on a page of output? The width.
16:How do you prevent output from coming to the screen?
17:How do you prevent oracle from giving the informational messages during and after a SQL statement
execution.
18:How do you generate file output from SQL?
Interview Questions 4
1:Give one method for transferring a table from one schema to another.
2:What is the purpose of the IMPORT option IGNORE? What is its default setting.
3:You have a rollback segment in a version 7.2 database that has expanded beyond its optimal, how can
it be restored to optimal.
4:If the default and temporary tablespace clauses are left out of a create user command what happens?
Is this bad or good? Why.
5:What are some of the oracle provided packages that DBA's should be aware of.
6:What happens if the constraint name is left out of a constraint clause.
7:What happens if a tablespace clause is left out off a primary key constraint clause.
8:What is the proper method for disabling and re-enabling a primary key constraint.
9:What happens if a primary key constraint is disabled and then enabled without fully specifying the index
clause.
10:(On UNIX) When should more than one DB writer process be used? How many should be used.
11:You are using hot backup wihout being in archive log mode, can you recover in the event of a failure?
Why or why not.
12:What causes the "snapshot too old" error? How can this be prevented or mitigated.
13:How can you tell if a database object is invalid.
14:A user is getting an ORA-00942 error yet you know you have granted them permission on the table,
what else should you check.
15:A developer is trying to create a view and the database won't let him. He has the "DEVELOPER" role
which has the "CREATE VIEW" system privilege and SELECT grants on the tables he is using, what is
the problem.
16:If you have an eg table, what is the best way to get sizing data for the production table implementation.
17:How can you find out how many users are currently logged into the database? How can you find out
their operating system id.
18:A user selects from a sequence and gets back two values, his select is : SELECT pk_seq.nextval from
dual; what is the problem.
19:How can you determine if an index needs to be dropped and rebuilt.
Interview Questions 3
1:Describe the difference between a procedure, function and anonymous pl/sql block.
2:What is a mutating table error and how can you get around it?
3:Describe the use of %ROWTYPE and %TYPE in PL/SQL.
4:What packages(if any) has oracle provided for use by developers?
5:Describe the use of PL/SQL tables.
6:When is a declare statement needed?
7:In what order should a open/fetch/loop set of commands in a PL/SQL block be implemented if you use
the %NOTFOUND cursor variable in the exit when statement? Why?
8:What are SQLCODE and SQLERRM and why are they important for PL/SQL developers?
9:How can you find within a PL/SQL block, if a cursor is open?
10:How can you generate debugging output from PL/SQL?
11:What are the types of triggers?
Interview Questions 2
1:Explain the difference between a hot backup and a cold backup and the benefits associated with each.
2:You have just had to restore from backup and do not have control files. How would you go about
bringing up this database?
3:How do you switch from an init.ora file to a spfile?
4:Explain the difference between a data block, an extent and a segment.
5:Give two egs of how you might determine the structure of the table DEPT.
6:Where would you look for errors from the database engine?
7:Compare and contrast Truncate and delete for a table.
8:Give the reasoning behind using an index.
9:Give the two types of tables involved in producing a star schema and the type of data they hold.
10:What type of index should you use on a fact table?
11:Give two egs of referential integrity constraints.
12:A table is classified as a parent table and you want to drop and re-create it. How would you do this
without affecting the children tables?
13:Explain the difference between ARCHIVELOG mode and NOARCHIVELOG mode and the benefits
and disadvantages to each.
14:What command would you use to create a backup control file?
15:Gve the stages of instance startup to a usable state where normal users may access it.
16:What column differentiates the v$ views to the gv$views and how?
17:How would go about generating an EXPLAIN plan?
18:How would you go about increasing the buffer cache hit ratio?
19:Explain an ORA-01555.
20:Explain the difference between $ORACLE_HOME and $ORACLE_BASE.
Interview Questions 1
1:What are the components of physical structure of Oracle database?
2:What are the components of logical database structure of Oracle database?
3:What is a tablespace?
4:What is a system tablespace and when it is created?
5:Explain the relationship among database, tablespace and datafile.
6:What is a schema?
7:What are schema objects?
8:Can objects of the same schema reside in different tablespaces?
9:Can a tablespace hold objects from different schemas?
10:What is Oracle table?
11:What is an Oracle view?
12:Do a view contain data.
13:Can a view based on another view?
14:What are the advantages of views?
15:What is an Oracle sequence?
16:What is a synonym?
17:What are the types of synonyms?
18:What is a private synonym?
19:What is a public synonym?
20:What are synonyms used for?
21:What is an Oracle Index?
22:How are the index updates?
23:What are clusters?
24:What is cluster key?
25:What is Index cluster?
26:What is Hash cluster?
27:When can hash cluster used?
28:What is database link?
29:What are the types of database links?
30:What is private database link?
31:What is public database link?
32:What is network database link?
33:What is data block?
34:How to define data block size?
35:What is row chaining?
36:What is an extent?
37:What is a segment?
38:What are the different types of segments?
39:What is a data segment?
40:What is an index segment?
41:What is rollback segment?
42:What are the uses of rollback segment?
43:What is a temporary segment?
44:What is a datafile?
45:What are the characteristics of data files?
46:What is a redo log?
47:What is the function of redo log?
48:What is the use of redo log information?
49:What does a control file contain?
50:What is the use of control file?
51:What is a database instance? Explain.
52:What is parallel servers?
53:What is a schema?
54:What is an index? How it is implemented in Oracle database?
55:What are clusters?
56:What of is a cluster key?
57:What are the basic element of basic element of base configuration of an Oracle database?
58:What is a deadlock? Explain.
59:What is SGA?
60:What is a shared pool?
61:What is mean by Program Global Area(PGA)?
62:What is a data segment?
63:What are the factors causing the reparsing the SQL statements in SGA?
64:What is Database Buffer?
65:What is dictionary cache?
66:What is meant by recursive hints?
67:What is redo log buffer?
68:How will swap objects into a different table space for an existing database?
69:Lsit the Optimal Flexible Architecture(OFA) of Oracle Database? How can we organize the
tablespaces in oracle database to have
maximum performance?
70:How will you force database to use particular rollback segment?
71:What is meant by free extent?
72:Which parameter in storage clause will reduce number of rows per block?
73:What is the significance of having storage clause?
74:How does space allocation table place within a block?
75:What is the role of PCTFREE parameter in storage clause?
76:What is the OPTIMAL parameter?
77:What is the functionality of SYSTEM tablespace?
78:How will you create multiple rollback segements in a database?
79:How the space utilization takes place within rollback segments?
80:Why query fails sometimes?
81:How will you monitor the space allocation?
82:How will you monitor rollback segment status?
83:List the sequence of events when a large transaction that exceeds beyond its optimal value when an
entry wraps and causes the rollback
segment to expand into another extent.
84:How can we plan storage for very large objects?
85:How will you estimate the space required by a non-clustered tables?
86:Is it possible to use raw devices as datafiles and what are the advantages over file system files?
87:What is a control file?
88:How to implement the multiple control files for an existing database?
89:What is a redo log file mirroring? How can be achived?
90:What is the advantage of disk shadowing/mirroring?
91:What is the use of rollback segments in oracle database?
92:What is a rollback segment entry?
93:What is hit ratio?
94:When will be a segment released?
95:What are the disadvanteges of having raw devices?
96:List the factors that can affect the accuracy of the estimations.
97:What is user account in oracle database?
98:How will you enforce security using stored procedures?
99:What are the dictionary tables used to monitor a database space?
100:What are the types of SQL statement?
101:What is a transaction?
102:What is the difference between Truncate and Delete?
103:What is a join? Explain the different types of joins?
104:What is a sub-query?
105:What is correlated sub-query?
106:Explain CONNECT by prior?
107:Difference between substr & Instr?
108:Explain union, minus, union all and intersect?
109:What is rowid?
110:What is the fastest way of accessing a row in a table?
111:What is an integrity constraint?
112:What is referential integrity constraint?
113:What is the usage of SAVE POINT?
114:What is on delete cascade?
115:What are the data types allowed in a table?
116:What is the difference between CHAR and VARCHAR2? What is the maximum size allowed for each
type?
117:How many LONG columns are allowed in a table? Is it possible to use LONG columns in WHERE
clause or ORDER BY?
118:What are the pre-requisites to modify data type of a column and to add a column with NOT NULL
constraint?
119:Where the integrity constraints are stored in data dictionary?
120:How will you activate/deactivate integrity?
121:If unique key canstraint on DATE column is created, will it validate the rows that are inserted with
SYSDATE?
122:What is a database link?
123:How to access the current value and next value from a sequence? Is it possible to access the current
value in a session before accessing
next value?
124:What is cycle/nocycle in a sequence?
125:What are the advantages of VIEW?
126:Can a view be updated/inserted/deleted?
127:If a view on a single base table is manipulated, will the changes be reflected on the base table?
Exports & Imports Questions
1:Try to reorganize the EMP table using export and import.
2:Is it possible to export a limited number of rows from a table?
3:Which parameter is used to export a full database?
4:You had taken a full database export. Can you import a single object from it?
5:How can you skip the constraints of a table during export?
6:What is the default value for the parameter commit?
7:Find out the importance of Resumable parameter of Import.
8:Try to export the database using FLASHBACK_SCN parameter.
9:What are the options we use in INCTYPE type parameter with EXPORT?
10:Why do we use IGNORE parameter?
11:Try to move several indexes from one tablespace to another using export and import.
12:Try to find out difference between 'FULL=Y' and 'INCTYPE=COMPLETE' options?
13:What are the views available to see the information about export?
14:Which view keeps track of the changes made by incremental export?
15:When do we use the DESTROY parameter of import?