March 31, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Hi Folks,
I'm new to this forums. I currently work in System/Network support role and find it to be stressful. I want to move on to SQL administration OR Programming(I dont know yet whats the difference)? I'm new to SQL and needed to start somewhere. I've been digging through material(youtube, cbt nuggets etc) from various places and feel confused, where and how to jump into any of this. I've been looking into some part-time courses in a community college, but I honestly feel I should read more and confirm my long-term interest to pursue this before I spend anything.
I would like a easy read given I've limited programming background but I've strong understanding of Microsoft server/Exchange and network etc
I would sincerely appreciate some guidance.
March 31, 2014 at 3:14 pm
I used Appdev DVD's when i stared 6 years ago.Paid $1200 for 7 DVD 's.very helpful.
March 31, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Today, you have everything on the i-net, you only need to know how to search for something and how to develop an approaching strategy to suppress it . There are giga-tons of materials on the i-net.
However, live-show transmitting experience is something different for what you can pay (e.g. the sql summit, or so...).
Igor Micev,My blog: www.igormicev.com
March 31, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Ummm... You might not want to move to working as a DBA if network admin was stressful. DBA work becomes hyper-stressful. Think about it, one of the single most important assets in a modern business is the information that drives that business. A pretty hefty portion of that information is usually stored in relational databases... SQL Server.
Development has a lot less stress. Very few people I know who work in development are on-call like a DBA is.
But, for just getting started, I'd recommend two books, Database Administration by Craig Mullins, and if you really want to learn SQL Server, I co-authored a book called Beginning SQL Server Administration.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning
March 31, 2014 at 4:18 pm
maniplusa 9705 (3/31/2014)
Hi Folks,I'm new to this forums. I currently work in System/Network support role and find it to be stressful. I want to move on to SQL administration OR Programming(I dont know yet whats the difference)? I'm new to SQL and needed to start somewhere. I've been digging through material(youtube, cbt nuggets etc) from various places and feel confused, where and how to jump into any of this. I've been looking into some part-time courses in a community college, but I honestly feel I should read more and confirm my long-term interest to pursue this before I spend anything.
I would like a easy read given I've limited programming background but I've strong understanding of Microsoft server/Exchange and network etc
I would sincerely appreciate some guidance.
Check these books too for good systematic understanding ..
http://www.brentozar.com/best-sql-server-dba-books/
--
SQLBuddy
March 31, 2014 at 5:49 pm
For DBA, be aware that having no experience will make this a very difficult transition. Most employers don't hire completely inexperienced DBAs.
For DBA, download SQL Express, 2008 or 2012.
If you're serious about becoming a DBA, invest $40-$50 in the Developer Edition, which gives you all the Enterprise capabilities, and will be just like live production databases.
You must actually do things in the db rather than just read them in a book. From the book(s), you must pick up the basics yourself, including but definitely not limited to:
what is an instance;
what is a default instance vs a named instance;
what is a table;
what is a column;
what are data types and how/why are they used (incl. a minimum of bit; tinyint / smallint / int / bigint; decimal(n, n); date, datetime; varchar(nnnn), varchar(max));
what is a stored proc;
what is a trigger;
SELECT statements: SELECT / FROM / WHERE / GROUP BY / HAVING / ORDER BY;
Aggregation functions in SELECT statements: OVER(), MAX(), AVG(), etc..
Use Express to create tables, NOT just from the gui, but using scripts too!
Try creating and restoring db backups.
After that, I'd say you simply must have a teacher or mentor who's already a DBA. Otherwise, it will take you far too long to learn what you'll need to know, and you won't have a deep enough knowledge to get hired.
SQL DBA,SQL Server MVP(07, 08, 09) A socialist is someone who will give you the shirt off *someone else's* back.
March 31, 2014 at 7:14 pm
Hi again,
I appreciate all your input in this thread. I'm still young and wanted to try something else in IT which would be more interesting. I don't see this as a easy task but I will work hard. As far as experience goes, there is basic SQL challenges at my current job. I want to end up practicing everything in my lab environment.
I will try some of these links and hope they make the subject interesting for me as much as I m excited to learn from them.
Thanks.
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