To perform database maintenance tasks in a single-user environment, you need to access the database in single-user mode.

A single-user client can start a database by establishing one of these two sessions:

• Single-user interactive session—which enables a client to interact with the database.

• Single-user batch session—which processes a batch of commands at a scheduled time. This does not involve any user interaction.

In a single-user session, brokers are not involved. When a client starts a single-user database session, the database also starts, allowing only the client to connect directly to the database. When the client stops the session, the database shuts down.

You will learn about each of these sessions next.