Database Performance Tuning - Techniques and ConsiderationsIntroductionSystem performance is one of the most critical issues facing businesses dealing with large amounts of data. Businesses use database systems and their applications to store, retrieve and manage this data. Almost all commercial database systems available today are designed to provide a high level of performance to their users. However, optimizing database performance for large volumes of data is a challenging task. Even minor changes can have a substantial impact (positive or negative) on system performance (KOCH, 2014). This white paper identifies some of the considerations and techniques that can significantly improve the performance of systems processing large amounts of data. .Literature Review There are many causes that degrade the performance of a database system. Some of the most common causes may be one or a combination of the following problems:1. Hardware issues: These may include limited amount of available disk space on the server or clients, older client operating systems, slow processing speed of the client or server, detected and undetected viruses on a client or server computer, network problems, excessive network traffic, network problem. bottlenecks or database traffic. (Troubleshooting Guide: Known Causes of Slow Database Performance, 2014).2. Poor database application design: Poor database design can lead to serious performance issues. An application that uses large tables (for example, a table with 100,000 rows and 100 columns), poorly formed and unoptimized queries, inappropriate use of database connections, etc. The design of the database application can be improved in several ways, as described below. :A. Normalize the Database From...... middle of paper ......Five Simple Database Design Performance Tips. Taken from an experienced DB2 training and consulting site: http://davebeulke.com/big-data-five-simple-database-design-performance-tips/2. Bhandari, S. (April 11, 2014). Reasons for slow database performance. Retrieved from DZone: http://java.dzone.com/articles/reasons-slow-database3. Dilman, M., Hu, W., Loaiza, J., & Jernigan, K. (April 11, 2014). Guide to developing high performance. From an Oracle white paper: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/performance/perf-guide-wp-final-133229.pdf4. KOCH, R. (April 11, 2014). SQL database tuning for developers. Retrieved from toptal: http://www.toptal.com/sql/sql-database-tuning-for-developers5. Troubleshooting Guide: Known causes of slow database performance. (April 11, 2014). Retrieved from IBM: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21174563