Louis Davidson explains why DBAs often need a healthy dose of selective, enforced amnesia about the pain of previous failures.  Read more...

It is often recommended that system tables should not be updated directly. Presenting a case in point built around nightly job configuration in order to demonstrate the possible issues with updating system tables directly.  Read more...

In most organizations, the DBA team is seriously outnumbered by headstrong developers and clock driven managers, and "great" DBAs will often be outnumbered by...well...the not so great. In order to be heard in this environment, a DBA will not only need to be very skilled, but will also need a healthy dose of ego.  Read more...

The story of how Shawn McGehee's journey to becoming a DBA started is just one among many thousands, so let's hear yours too!  Read more...

Find out what you need to learn for the SQL Server 2008 Administration certification exams.  Read more...

SQL Server Essentials Part 1: A look at the key responsibility of a DBA and why it is so vital.  Read more...

This wraps up the last of the free training the PASS Virtual Chapters are providing in October.  Read more...

The DBA and Virtualization Virtual Chapters hope that last weeks 24 Hours of PASS got you in the mood for more free training. Here's what they have on tap for you this week:   Read more...

So you want to be a DBA, but don't know where to start learning what you need to know? R. Barry Young brings you a sixty second guide for how to get moving.  Read more...

With Halloween so near, we thought it would be a good time to find out more about the so-called Scary DBA, Grant Fritchey, who's been working in IT for 20 years now. He writes for SQL Server Central, Simple-Talk and SQL Server Standard, and was awarded MVP status earlier this year. We sent Richard Morris to meet him.  Read more...

Today we have a guest editorial from Rodney Landrum. Rodney and his team of DBAs manage 110 active servers, throughout a regionally dispersed organization. How many DBAs would you expect to be on Rodney's team...?  Read more...

Many DBAs have heard about the new scripting technology from Microsoft, but have yet to really dive right in. You...  Read more...

SQL Server Essentials Part 1: A look at the key responsibility of a DBA and why it is so vital.  Read more...

Rodney Landrum describes in his own unique style how he, as a working DBA, goes about troubleshooting problem queries, and investigating various types of locking and blocking problems. In the process, he passes on valuable tips learned from practical, and sometimes stressful, experience.  Read more...

To mentor or to protect data, what is the role of the DBA? A guest editorial from Matt Simmons.  Read more...

Brad engages in a little Summer daydreaming, and wonders what the Ideal DBA job would look like...  Read more...

During a "difficult period", a developer often sinks from view. When things are going well, suddenly they are the gunslinger, the hotshot. The DBA often looks on wistfully. For him, the "fame trajectory" seems to work in reverse.  Read more...

Backup verification is a vital part of a well-designed database maintenance plan and yet some DBAs neglect to do it. Brad McGehee ownders why.  Read more...