October 7, 2010 at 11:14 am
Hello all!
I recently was offered a position to fill in as an emergency DBA for a small firm who is losing their existing administrator on short notice. I have not worked as a DBA for around two years, just earned my MBA and was not looking for another DBA gig. However, job market as it is required me to take this temp role to get some cash flow while I continue to search for my post-MBA job.
Here is the situation: they're actually still running SQL 7! Now, I learned most of my skills through SQL 2000, got certified on 2005, but never have been exposed to 7. My question here revolves around how to dive in to this environment (besides pushing for an upgrade!). Links to literature on differences I need to know about, and even general plans on how to immerse myself into the new environment.
Thanks for any help you all can provide!
October 7, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Prayer and living sacrifices to the gods...
Barring that... It's not that bad. It could be worse. It could be SQL Server 6.5.
Standard stuff. Make sure you have backups in place. Make sure that you set up a maintenance routine to rebuild indexes as needed, update statistics, standard stuff.
Really, your best friend is the Books Online. Most of everything you need is there. You could try picking up an old copy of Kalen Delaney's Inside SQL Server for 7.0. It's a must. Other than that, I'd push for the upgrade.
"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
October 7, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Ya SQL 7 is really a beta for sql 2000. It just has less features.
Since the system is already running you won't be bothered much by that.
The only snags you'll hit is when you'll try building aan index on a computed column and then you'll realize you can't.
Rince repeat for all the "new" features in 2000 and that's about it.
I wouldn't lose sleep over that if I were you.
October 7, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I'm not sure I'd consider v7 a beta. Some features were not completely baked, but it was a decent product. If it's still running, chances are it works.
You can work on it, the main thing being you won't have as much insight into how things work. No DMVs, less tuning options.
October 7, 2010 at 2:04 pm
IMHO you are better off going into an enviornment where they still use SQL Server 7 than a shop that uses Access for everything.
I liked SQL Server 7 and have been well pleased with every version of SQL Server that has released since. Some might say that 2000 was a beta for 2005 or 2005 a beta for 2008. Each version is exponentially better. Good luck with the new job, I bet you can find books on SQL 7 in used book stores or even at places like the goodwill for cheap.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Use Full Links:
KB Article from Microsoft on how to ask a question on a Forum
October 7, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Could be much worse 😀
SQL Server 7 was the first version written from scratch by Microsoft, as somebody poiinted out in a previous post SQL Server 2000 is kinda of everything that was promised for SQL Server 7
It is a solid and reliable version, it will do the job while you push for an upgrade which will make life easier for whoever comes after you get your MBA related position 😉
_____________________________________
Pablo (Paul) Berzukov
Author of Understanding Database Administration available at Amazon and other bookstores.
Disclaimer: Advice is provided to the best of my knowledge but no implicit or explicit warranties are provided. Since the advisor explicitly encourages testing any and all suggestions on a test non-production environment advisor should not held liable or responsible for any actions taken based on the given advice.October 7, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Search Amazon .... Karen Delaneys Inside Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 (Mps)
Hard Cover available as new for 0.01 .. thats right for 1 penny. Plus my search returned 30 additional books on SQL Server 7 prices ranging from $36 to $0.96 new to 0.01 for used
October 9, 2010 at 8:50 am
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll grab a book to thumb through and have for reference. Considering that 2000 is the version I had the most experience with previously, hopefully I won't run into too many situations where I try and do something that hadn't become a full feature yet in 7.
October 9, 2010 at 10:43 am
One thing I remember about SQL 7 was that DBCC Checkdb was much more intrusive than on SQL2000 and up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply