Getting maximum performance from an Oracle database requires careful attention to both configuration and tuning of the database. These terms are often used interchangeably, but in reality, they are two different tasks—admittedly, with a bit of grey area between them.

Configuration is the process of setting up the physical and logical components of the database and its host systems, while tuning is the process of modifying the internal behavior of the database so that operations are performed in a particular manner. The entire process can become somewhat circular, since proper tuning often includes modifying the configuration, which then requires another look at tuning. Figure 3.1 shows the basic steps in the configuration and tuning process.

Figure 3-1. The configuration and tuning process