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RE: The Value of A DBA

veer — Fri, 13 May 2005 15:22:00 GMT

Next time anyone asks me this questions I will send him this URL....

Thanks a lot for putting all ideas Crisp and Clear

RE: The Value of A DBA

Scott E. Davis-192229 — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 16:10:00 GMT

As a production DBA I also have two main reaponsibilities, however I see them as data availability and data integrity. I see restores, like backups, security actions, performance tuning, and all of the other DBA activities as a means to fulfill those responsibilities. I need to to provide my end-users their data when they need it without any unauthorized additions, changes, or deletions. If do this then I have done my job.

Good article... awaiting the next installment

Scott E. Davis, JPATS-TIMS DBA Lead (Go NAVY!)

RE: The Value of A DBA

David Lu — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 14:55:00 GMT

Great article! Just want to add one bite on data is more important issue.

I think the data integrity is the most important of data, instead of G in G out. However, in reality, how many time have to break my heart to create new tables without establish FK link to its parent table, and how many time have to drop validation check constraint!

There might not be much to do in performance tuning with a bad designed db. Every one knows that we should do it right at the very begining in desigin phase. But in reality, in my career, 90% of employeers gave least attention in design mode. Right now, I am in a delima with increasing tables build up, so are the losing of relationship enforcement.....

If there is a choice, I prefer to be a data modeler to build the foundation of any project...., a virtual one?

-D

RE: The Value of A DBA

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:10:00 GMT

Too short, yikes it took awhile to try and easily summarize things.

I'd love to delve in deeper, and maybe I will, but if anyone wants to dive into a specific slice of what a DBA does, please feel free. Send me an article and we'll get it posted. Maybe we can get a whole series on what a DBA does

RE: The Value of A DBA

rgrimmel — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:56:00 GMT

I wish my boss and his boss would realize the value of a DBA. I think that they take a DBA for granted.

RE: The Value of A DBA

Brian — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:41:00 GMT

FANTASIC Article! My boss will be getting a link to this. Maybe his boss too.

RE: The Value of A DBA

DCPeterson — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:11:00 GMT

"Tim O'Reilly wrote last year "We're entering a new world in which data may be more important than software.""

Welcome to the real world Tim! That statement betrays a deep ignorance on his part. Data has ALWAYS been more important than software it's just that the ignorant are...well...ignorant, and there are so many of them! That a technology "luminary" such as Mr. O'Reilly shows himself to be so ignorant of the basics is telling.

Anyway, I agree that it was a good article generally, but I would have liked to see more emphasis placed on the data integrity aspects, as always...

RE: The Value of A DBA

bessebo — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:07:00 GMT

I think you constantly have to prove that your backups work and the way we do that here is to constantly restore our production backups to our test environment. It is very comforting to know that our backups can be restored effectively instead of HOPING that they can be restored should the need arise...

RE: The Value of A DBA

paulmazur — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:02:00 GMT

Great article!

I liked the part about restores. So true. You can back up religiously, but if you can't restore, what's the point.

In my experience a DBAs hidden value is that they know the business. They know the relationships of the different departments, what's important, what's not. When I start a gig, I spend a lot of time learning the business and applications. Personally, that is one of the fulfilling aspects of my job. I get to learn about all the different industries: manufacturing, retail, health-care... The only industry I can think of that I haven't worked in is finance/banking.

-Paul

RE: The Value of A DBA

John Clausen — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:49:00 GMT

DBA rule the world. Well that and bartenders. Everyone knows that (or should).

RE: The Value of A DBA

finaltable — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:38:00 GMT

I can only reiterate that this article was too short. I actually felt disappointed when I reached the end. A smooth running SQL Server is akin to a basic utility; one doesn't really think about water, electricity or gas until one must do without one of them. Given the processes and productivity that depend on a reliable store of data the SQL DBA should be something that no company is without either on staff or on retainer with a responsibility for maintaining current SQL server patches. It may be an expensive position but the data unavailability alternative is much more expensive in the long run.

RE: The Value of A DBA

bessebo — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:26:00 GMT

Frank,

I already took that class about 3 months ago in anticipation of moving to SQL2000. If you can start looking into DTS (Data Transformation Services) it is a very powerful tool for ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load) and you can end up automating a lot of activities that you may manually do now. You will also start learning VBScript (or JScript) which will allow you a lot of flexibility in what you can do in DTS.

Just running and starting to delve into Performance Monitor will help make you aware of all of the various Objects that you can monitor. As I said, I have learned a lot over the past two years or so just trying to figure out why we were/are having performance issues. The web has a lot of information also so never fail to use your Google searches on topics you want to learn more about...

RE: The Value of A DBA

Frank J. Estevez — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:20:00 GMT

Bessebo,

Thanks for the encouragement. We are on SQL2000 so that would probably be a good place to start as I don't really see us going to 2005 anytime real soon.

I am planning to take the SQL Server Admin class this spring or summer which I take it would be a good jump start to preparing and taking the test.

Again, thanks for the input and if you think of anything else be sure to let me know.

Thanks - Frank

RE: The Value of A DBA

bessebo — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:12:00 GMT

Frank,

My role over the past few years has kind ov 'evolved' into a DBA role. I am certified as an MCP in SQL 7 administration but haven't gone as far as working toward an MCDBA. I do think that would be helpful. We are just transitioning over to SQL2000 within the next 2 months so we are a bit behind. I realize that 2005 is coming out shortly but our ERP vendor will probably not support it right off the bat. SQL7 and 2000 are similar and I have really gotten into performance tuning over the past year or 2 since we were running into a lot of performance issues with our ERP system.

My recommendation to you is to study an pass the Administration test in the SQLServer software that you have. I'm not even sure they offer the SQL7 test anymore. I will probably try to pass teh SQL2000 administration test in the near future. You will be surprised how much you will learn when forced to pass a test. You will learn more when you fail it once or twice... Good luck.

RE: The Value of A DBA

Frank J. Estevez — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:01:00 GMT

I too wanted to read more. My experience over the last 10 years has been primarily as a developer and in some projects I have had to design the database and all the work that follows that to develop an application. More recently my role has expanded and is even leaning more towards the DBA role which is an area that I don't know a whole lot about, so articles like this just "wet my whistle". I welcome any suggestions and recommendations relating to literature or anything that would help me develop my skills.

RE: The Value of A DBA

bessebo — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 06:30:00 GMT

I liked the article but wanted to read more. In the role of database administrator at my work this involves not only making sure that the data is recoverable but also on getting data out of the database efficiently and accurately. Writing stored procedures or queries to get information quickly out of the database is what occupies most of my time. These stored procedures may be in association with a Crystal Report so users can access the data regularly. Performance tuning is always an issue and monitoring the database environment is a full-time activity (especially with an ERP system). If you like data, the role of a database administrator is for you...

RE: The Value of A DBA

Jeff Moden — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 05:45:00 GMT

Great lead-in article, Steve. I sat across from our two DBA's and it's amazing with what they have to put up with and what they have to do on a daily basis. Your statement about the data becoming more important than the software is already true. The software can fail and it's inconvenient... loose critical data (heck, all data is critical to somebody) and you're dead meat.

RE: The Value of A DBA

Kishore-132325 — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 03:57:00 GMT

This article is excellent. I agree with wht Steve said.

Infact the life of a DBA is more hectic as he is dealing with data and data is the core of a organisation. Without data, no organisation can function.

Its like blood in human body.

--Kishore

The Value of A DBA

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:11:00 GMT

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