Dynamic integrated database index management

A computer-readable medium configured with data and instructions for performing a method for dynamically managing database indexes, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying a relational database index management action to a user;
• receiving from the user at least one threshold for each of at least five relational database index management metrics, the threshold and the metric associated with the identified index management action, the metrics being among the following possible metrics, not all of which need be present:
• average total user cost of executing a query without a specified missing index,
• average user impact of executing a query without a specified missing index,
• number of times a specified missing index could have helped in scans,
• number of times a specified missing index could have helped in seeks,
• amount of time a lock was held on objects without a specified missing index,
• amount of CPU used without a specified missing index,
• amount of memory used without a specified missing index,
• number of reads per disk sector without a specified missing index,
• size of disk queue length without a specified missing index,
• number of query timeouts without a specified missing index;
• elapsed time since a specified index was last used;
• automatically collecting at least one respective value for each of the metrics within a relational database management system;
• determining that the collected values each satisfy the respective threshold;
• and then
• seeking an explicit user authorization to implement the identified index management action.

A computer system comprising:

• a logical processor;
• a memory in operable communication with the logical processor;
• a relational database configuring the memory;
• and
• a relational database management system configuring the memory and including at least:
• an index metrics collection module configured to automatically collect relational database index management metric values based at least in part on queries to the relational database by non-administrative users;
• an index metrics analysis module configured to automatically determine whether collected relational database index management metric values satisfy specified thresholds;
• and
• an index management action implementation module configured to implement index management actions, while the relational database remains available to non-administrative users, in response to a determination by the index metrics analysis module that metric values satisfy specified thresholds.