Bct2307 :Distributed Systems Question Paper
Bct2307 :Distributed Systems
Course:Computer Technology
Institution: Meru University Of Science And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2012
a. Briefly describe the following:
i. Primary Key (2 Marks)
ii. Null Values (2 Marks)
b. i. The following template defines a schema for an academic database. Define this schema using the
bracketing notation. (4 Marks)
Relation: Modules
Attributes:
ModuleName: ModuleNames
Level:Levels
CourseCode:CourseCodes
StaffNo:Staff Nos
Primary_Key ModuleName
ii. Define the term recursive relationship. Use a diagram to assist your definition. (3 Marks)
c. Describe the following key functions of a database management system (DBMS):
i. CRUD functions (4 Marks)
ii. Data dictionary (3 Marks)
iii. Concurrency control (2 Marks)
d. i. Define referential integrity in terms of a relational database. (3 Marks)
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ii. Outline three limitations of file-based systems. (3 Marks)
iii. Explain a the concept of data mining in database systems (3 Marks)
QUESTION TWO – 20 MARKS
a. Examination Scenario: DVD Rental Shop
Please read the following scenario carefully.
Below are two logical tables from a database system for a shop that hires out DVD films. The shop keeps
track of the availability of DVDs using data from the following table:
DVD TABLE
DVD No. DVD Title Age Category Type
10075 Toy Stony General Animation
10187 The Life of Brian Over 12 years Comedy
10347 Hot Fuzz Over 15 years Comedy
11142 The Ring Over 18 years Horror
CUSTOMER TABLE
Customer ID Customer Name Contact Number DVDNo.
C00125 Alan Were 163211 10187
C00235 Jane Mandu 163212 10345
C00441 Peter Kimani 163213 10845
C00528 Eddy Mwenda 163214 11142
i. Using SQL, write a CREATE TABLE statement for the customer table. (8 Marks)
ii. Using SQL INSERT command, populate the DVD TABLE with the given records. (8 Marks)
b. Briefly describe four components of a data warehouse. (4 Marks)
QUESTION THREE – 20 MARKS
a. Explain four main issues that are addressed by database security. (8 Marks)
b. Explain four actions that are commonly performed by a database administrator (DBA) (8 Marks)
c. Explain the following types of control in relation to database security and integrity:
i. Log controls (2 Marks)
ii. View controls (2 Marks)
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QUESTION FOUR – 20 MARKS
Produce a set of relations (tables) in third normal form from the document shown in figure:
Matulo Ltd International Job Sheet
Job Number
Customer Number
Customer Name
Customer Address
Customer Order Number
Customer Order Date
Required by
J44700
C3540
Juliet
Box 10036 – 00100 Nairobi
3456
30/7/2012
24/8/2012
Department Name Department Code Time for this
Job(Hrs)
Department Cost
per Hour (Kes)
Department
Total Cost (Kes)
Typesetting T
P
B
C
F
3
1
2
1
2
400.00
350.00
200.00
100.00
150.00
1200.00
350.00
400.00
100.00
300.00
Total Job Cost
2350.00
Figure 1: Matulo Ltd Internal Job Sheet
QUESTION FIVE – 20 MARKS
Please read the following scenario and answer the questions associated with it.
Mary Mwenda is a noted antique and collectable dealer. She specializes in giving valuations and restoring
fine art, antique furniture, books and other items. She then allocates them to an auction at one of the main
auction houses. Each customer can bring one or more collections to the house. Each collection is made up of
one or more objects. The auction that an object will be put in for is stored against the object as an attribute.
An object is defined by its type (painting, furniture, e.t.c). Object to give a valuation. Each object type also
has a resident expert. There can be only one expert for each object but a particular expert may be an expert in
more than one type.
Mary Mwenda also keeps a record of what is called the provenance of an object. Provenance is the history of
the object and contains details of where it was made and who has owned it over the years. A particular object
may have one or more provenance records attached to it. A provenance record is defined by type, such as
certificate of manufacture, “Hallmark”, “Letter with reference to object.”
Sometimes objects are sent to a restorer for restoration or repair. A restorer may give the object one or more
treatments.
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a. Draw the entity – relationship diagram for the above scenario. (10 Marks)
b. Using sensible assumptions identify all the primary and foreign keys for this diagram. (10 Marks)
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