Have you ever faced a database crash? The setup of a database is made of the software stack with the system server’s hardware where the OS and other software packages are needed for the database run. The server of the database and its linked plugins and containers operate along with it. When all of these components cater to both the internal and external business world with the network hardware and software like routers, switches, and firewalls, you can imagine what happens when the database server crashes!
It often is perceived as perfect when such a database system server operates 24/7 without flaws or downtime. However, this is not the case all the time, and you should be ready with data backup and disaster recovery strategies. Ask any DBA, and you will find that database system downtimes and issues persist, and no software or hardware is exactly 100 percent free from fault.
Why do server crashes take place?
No matter how much you take precautions, you cannot completely stop a database server crash. Skilled IT specialists tell you the reason why. There is always a constant change in the external and internal environments of a business. Fundamentally, when new software comes in, the present software is updated. There is a growth in the database, and memory is consumed along with caches, log files, and other challenges associated with the database in a dynamic environment.
The database, network, and host system are expected to be under some maintenance and security routines and protocols that often guarantee uptime. However, if something takes place unexpectedly, the in-house DBA should be able to restore the system as quickly as possible.
Now, you may wonder why do database servers crash and what can you do about them? Read on to find out.
Factors that lead to database server crashes
The following are the key factors that are responsible for server crashes. Experts from leading database management company, RemoteDBA.com state that to reduce these crashes, you first must know why they are caused. The following are the common causes of server crashes that you should be aware of-
- Poor maintenance of pre-deployment scripts
The following are some of the reasons as to why the above can take place-
- The database becomes destabilized when there are no keys and indexes needed for mitigating redundancy and the time for progress response
- The poor performance results because of the latest upgrades in the system software system and the poor performance of the database together
- There is mismanagement in the plans of the database configuration
- The database is located on the wrong server
There is intense competition in server hosting nowadays. On the part of business owners, there is always the urge to plan an upgrade or configure the database system at a cheap cost. Now, if you do not have a meticulous strategy planned out, both your data and system will land up on a shared server that often denies users access when the network is full in use on the shared resource. If the configuration is faulty or poor, the application or database is compromised; these are good reasons for your servers to crash. This will result in a deficiency in resources, including processing and memory.
- Queries and applications are not friendly to the database.
If there are several or slow queries, this means that the data server of your business application has not been programmed correctly. This often results in too many or slow queries being released. These queries arise when there is either an over or underutilization of database indexes and the joining of bi-directional tables. This results in faulty, wasteful, and indexes that are even absent. This is due to poor database design, bad codes, lack of quality standards, and poor optimization queries.
- Failures in hardware and software
In case of a hardware or software failure in the host server, your server will crash. The database server will also crash when there are power failures. This is a nightmare for your business. Hardware failures can range from problems in the memory disks, RAM, network hardware, motherboard, and more. Power failure will result in server crashes abruptly. This case is the same as a failure in the software that affects the processes for dependency packages and the database server’s associated threads. If you want to stop server crashes, it is prudent to invest in quality hardware, have a good backup plan for your power, and a robust system administration in the organization.
What should you do if there is a database server crash?
Now, if your server crashes, there are some immediate steps that you must do to get the database up and running again. They have been listed below-
- Identify the root cause is –For this, you need to look at the symptoms as they will give you important clues to the source of the problem. For example, decipher what the blue screen says, understand what the error messages mean, boot in the safe mode, and look for issues present in the device manager and the event viewer logs.
- Fix the problem –This is the next step that involves troubleshooting the server. You should address the failure of critical business services, often a complicated process. There could be another problem when the database system does not mount, and this is due to the presence of corruption in the database or inconsistencies in the system.
DBAs recommend you always keep the server room clean. Ensure that the cold air comes up in front, and the hot air is expelled from the back of the server. The doors of the server room should always be shut to stop dust from entering the room. The cold air in the server room should reach all the equipment inside. Finally, make sure you install a customized air conditioner in the server room that is equipped for the task of keeping everything in the room cool.
Addsion Is a Blogger and an SEO professional. Co-founder of dsnews.co.uk, I have 2 years of experience in SEO & 1 year of Successful blogging @ dsnews.co.uk. I have a passion for SEO & Blogging, Affiliate marketer & also interested to invest on profitable stocks.
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