Background documentationWhat Is an SAP MaxDB Database? Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

An SAP MaxDB database is a set of data with a regular structure. The data in a database is comprised of the application data (data records in tables) and the database catalog (meta data). Every database has a unique name.

When installing you have the following two options:

  • To install the database software without a database

    This is useful if, for example, you only need some database tools to manage databases on other computers.

  • To install the database software with a database

    In a standard installation of SAP MaxDB with SAP MaxDB Installation Manager, the entire database software is installed with a database. When you install the software, you can also load the demo data.

    More information: Demo Database

Important Database Properties

Property

Restrictions

Modifiable

Database name

Conventions for Database Names

No

Database System Administrator: Name and password

Conventions for User Names and Passwords

Name: No

Password: Yes

More information: Managing Users

Data area (data volumes): Size (=database size), directory, automatic extension

Log area (log volumes): Size and directory

General database parameters MaxDataVolumes and MaxLogVolumes

More information: Planning Databases

Yes

More information:

Size of the data cache and converter

General database parameter CacheMemorySize

Yes

Number of CPUs

General database parameter MaxCPUs

Yes

Maximum number of parallel database sessions

General database parameter MaxUserTasks

Yes

Maximum number of locks

General database parameter MaxSQLLocks

Yes

More information: Configuring Locks

Automatic update of the SQL optimizer statistics

For SAP systems, see SAP note 927882.

Yes

More information: Automating Administration Tasks

Automatic log backup

-

Yes

Automatic database start

Only available on Microsoft Windows

Yes

More information: Activating Automatic Database Start

Log settings

-

Yes

More information: Configuring Logging

For users to be able to log on to a database, it must be in ONLINE operational state.

Database Operational States

Operational State

Icon

Description

ONLINE

The database is running. Database users can log on and execute SQL statements. The database system administrator and DBM operators can perform administrative tasks.

STANDBY

-

For standby databases in hot standby systems only.

Note that you cannot connect to a standby database. It is in a constant restart state.

ADMIN

The database is only available for administration tasks.

OFFLINE

The database is not running.

More information:

To query or change data in a database, you use the Structured Query Language (SQL). Using SQL, you can also display, change and delete database objects in the database, for example tables or indexes. You use schemas to logically group database objects.

More information: Data Definition, Query, and Manipulation

The database system uses page chains and B* trees as logical structures for accessing the data stored in the database. More information: Logical Access Structures

More Information