How To Avoid Data Collisions On Networks

How to Prevent Data Collisions in Databases

Tamara Wilhite is a technical writer, industrial engineer, mother of ii, and published sci-fi and horror writer.

Overview

Data collisions in databases occur when the same identifier is used for ii different pieces or types of data. Data collisions can occur when ii systems are being merged into one system or during data imports from ane database into some other.

When a data standoff occurs, administrators or the software itself must determine which number and meta information are correct or if a new identifier must be assigned to i of the entries.

Data collisions become database errors when not resolved quickly. — Information collisions get database errors when not resolved quickly.

Tamara Wilhite

How to Prevent Information Collisions

Assign different "seeds" used in databases to create the first part of a unique identifier. When systems are merged, all records volition have different "seeds" and thus volition not disharmonize.
Review the rules used for resolving data collisions. While the default solution is to take the newest record as the one to proceed, some records should non exist over-written but combined. This is especially true for medical records, insurance records and financial records.
Test the database merger prior to the production run and gear up database monitoring tools to report data collisions. Review the data collisions that occur and whether the rules for resolving the data collision are appropriate for the database. While labor intensive, information technology prevents loss of information in the database merger. Testing besides reduces the risk of having to migrate the data again because data collisions were not properly taken into account.
If you are going to upgrade a database from 1 awarding to another, verify that the naming scheme that will be used for new records won't create record identifiers that could conflict with one-time ones - or overwrite the existing files.
Compare the unique identifiers in two databases to be merged to expect for potential data conflicts earlier the systems are merged. Combine the information in a single test database prior to go live. Alter records in at least ane system if collisions are identified in a standardized mode so that the newly renamed records don't end up with the same, new name.
Limit the ability to create a unique identifier not based upon the "seed". When users can select generic titles similar "my report 2012" or "September sales pitch", the risk of data collisions increases.
If unique identifiers for records are tied to projection names or file owners, ensure that combinations of various projects and user names cannot accidentally create a shared UID.
Add a letter of the alphabet or seed to imported vendor office numbers so their part numbers do non conflict with your ain function numbers. Adding additional characters to the record identifiers of the incoming arrangement makes them unique, preventing a data collision.
Use two or more sources of information to create a unique identifier. A unique identifier system based on a part number and cage lawmaking volition rarely disharmonize compared to systems based on function numbers alone.
Assign unique identifiers based on a value that volition rarely over-lap. A unique identifier arrangement based on employee numbers will non conflict equally often equally a arrangement based on first and last names. A unique identifier based on social security numbers will non collide as oft as records based on initials and birth dates.
Ensure that new records existence imported into the database don't disharmonize with existing record identifiers before y'all import the data en masse.