Taking Risks

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Taking Risks

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bradmcgehee@hotmail.com

Posted Sunday, October 02, 2011 1:38 PM

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item Taking Risks

Brad M. McGehee
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Director of DBA Education, Red Gate Software
www.bradmcgehee.com

Post #1184212

Jeff Moden

Posted Sunday, October 02, 2011 2:01 PM

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Ah... sorry, Brad... I have to disagree with you on most of what you said except for "pushing a change to production without testing it first on a test server, should always be avoided".

First, I think that most DBA's that I know (and I know more than a hundred) do take the very risks that you speak of. The only thing they're not (and I'm not) willing to take a risk with is the safety of the data in a production database.

You want to upgrade a production box from 2005 to 2008 R2? Not a problem... build a parallel machine and work out all the bugs and faults first because experience tells me there's no such thing as a "transparent" migration. Then, do full regression testing of the apps because, sure as shootin', someone has embedded code somewhere and it can break during a rev change just like anything else (happend to us just about 3 months ago and our system DBA's had to migrate the data back to 2005.).

If you think all that's a bit cowardly, consider this... you know the risk of jumping out of an airplane with no parachute... so why don't you try it just based on someone's word or in the spirit of taking a risk? Heh... the answer, of course, is that you know better.

Same principle applies here... Wink

All good DBA's are secretly born in Missouri... the "Show Me" State. Tongue

And, remember... they don't call it the "bleeding edge" for nothing. Hehe

--Jeff Moden

"RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for "Row-By-Agonizing-Row".

First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
Stop thinking about what you want to do to a row... think, instead, of what you want to do to a column."

For better, quicker answers on T-SQL questions, click on the following...
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/

For better answers on performance questions, click on the following...
http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/SQLServerCentral/66909/

Post #1184215

Ben Moorhouse

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 2:12 AM

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In terms of personal risk taking/development, I love my motorbike. So the last week I arranged an Enhanced Rider Scheme course for the following day.
Whilst I was REALLY nervous about what I was going to have to do and the new speed of risk assessment that I was going to have to pick up (remembering that not only is this life and death stuff... it's my own!), I thoroughly enjoyed myself and this morning on the way into work I felt a lot safer and cut through the traffic a lot smoother/quicker.

Therefore, I partly agree.
I do however agree that as long as the precautions don't detract from your aim, some risks are acceptable.
Life after all, is a balance of risk vs. benefit and it's up to us to decide the ratio we're happy with.

Post #1184336

paul s-306273

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 2:21 AM

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Try professional gambling for a living - that sure teaches you a thing or two about risk taking.

Post #1184338

Schadenfreude-Mei

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 5:13 AM

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This coming Saturday i am having my first flying lesson. I have flown before but i have st myself the short term challenge of learning to fly and getting a private license within 18 months. And the then long term goal would be to get and maintain mmy own plain to fly the wife and kids around europe.

I volunteer at a RAF museum and look after the jets and bombers, so the mechanics are nothing new to me but learning to 'drive' them is. Its a natural progression really.

As for 'risk', well i guess there is risk involved but only if im really unlucky and a bit crap!

Adam Zacks

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Post #1184424

Ben Moorhouse

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 5:16 AM

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You lucky thing Adam!
I thought a motorbike was exciting! :P

Have fun

Post #1184427

Schadenfreude-Mei

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 5:20 AM

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Ben Moorhouse (10/3/2011)

You lucky thing Adam!
I thought a motorbike was exciting! :P

Have fun

Thanks

CANNOT WAIT.
Im also learning from the World, UK, European Micro-Light champion..... He's my instructor. So i think im in safe hands.
When you start looking into ways to 'own' its not as pricey as people think. Not really much more then a small family car.

Adam Zacks

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Post #1184429

Ben Moorhouse

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 5:23 AM

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Wow! Now that I hadn't expected!
Don't you have to pay for the airport etc?

Post #1184431

Schadenfreude-Mei

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 5:32 AM

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No/ Micro-lights and light aircraft generally operate out of private airstrips or airfields, so all you really pay is hangerage at the airfield where you keep it. Generally speaking, most strips are free to land in (given prior notice).

Its not like with jets and the like that need long runways and facilities. In fact if you go anywhere near a large airport your liable to face heavy fines and police action.

Adam Zacks

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Post #1184436

Jeff Moden

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 5:37 AM

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Ok... you good folks and "risk" takers that have posted so far... Wink

How many of you are actually willing to install a new product (or even "just" a switch from 2k5 to 2k8) on your production boxes without first testing it on a copy of the production or at least a subset-copy of production?

I hope the answer would be "none" but I have a feeling that's not going to be the answer.

--Jeff Moden

Post #1184438

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