Continuing career with SQL

  • Hello,

    I hav just joint this forum.

    I have to ask few things.

    I have worked with SQL 2000 and basic 2005.database design.

    I've planned to work as a DBA ,but not sure where to start my education for a DBA.

    plannign to do some certifications too.

    Can anyone help me here?

  • Personally I like the certification route. Even if you don't actually take the tests (and the 2008 exams will no longer be given after the middle of next year) if you study to the requirements you will get a very nice overview of SQL Server.

    I used Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Implementation and Maintenance Self-Paced Training Kit published by Microsoft press to prep for the 70-432, and I'm currently using the Joes 2 Pros books for the 70-433. It's a 5 book set but there is a lot of information and they do a nice job of teaching the information.

    Neither is going to give you everything but they do give you nice grounding in Administration & Development respectively.

    Kenneth FisherI was once offered a wizards hat but it got in the way of my dunce cap.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------For better, quicker answers on T-SQL questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/[/url]For better answers on performance questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/SQLServerCentral/66909/[/url]Link to my Blog Post --> www.SQLStudies.com[/url]

  • rukhsar1101 (9/18/2012)


    Hello,

    I hav just joint this forum.

    I have to ask few things.

    I have worked with SQL 2000 and basic 2005.database design.

    I've planned to work as a DBA ,but not sure where to start my education for a DBA.

    plannign to do some certifications too.

    Can anyone help me here?

    Practice, practice, practice!

    Answer questions posted to this forum. Try out new ideas, concepts and techniques on your own.

    Book learning can be dry, so you need to spice it up with the occasional challenge.

    Most importantly, sleep with a SQL Server under your pillow. You'd be amazed what your unconscious mind can absorb. πŸ™‚


    My mantra: No loops! No CURSORs! No RBAR! Hoo-uh![/I]

    My thought question: Have you ever been told that your query runs too fast?

    My advice:
    INDEXing a poor-performing query is like putting sugar on cat food. Yeah, it probably tastes better but are you sure you want to eat it?
    The path of least resistance can be a slippery slope. Take care that fixing your fixes of fixes doesn't snowball and end up costing you more than fixing the root cause would have in the first place.

    Need to UNPIVOT? Why not CROSS APPLY VALUES instead?[/url]
    Since random numbers are too important to be left to chance, let's generate some![/url]
    Learn to understand recursive CTEs by example.[/url]
    [url url=http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/St

  • Thanks everyone,

    Many things are coming in my mind, like I have read on some pages that before giving exams I must have some knowledge of SQL server 2005 but what If I am new in this feild? however I have very basic knowledge of sql server.

    Other question is that I am tryn to learn sql server 2008 from some training center, is it good to get training from any training center or should I do it myself .One of the center has given me their outline(I'm writing the topics here) will these topics cover my exam or Not?

    And last, is there any criteria of giving exam 70-432 like I must have experience in sql server ?

    Outline is here

    ------------

    Installing SQL Server 2008

    Planning to Install SQL Server 2008.

    Installing SQL Server 2008.

    Post-Installation Tasks.

    Module 2: Managing SQL Server 2008

    Managing SQL Server.

    Metadata Retrieval.

    Module 3: Database Management

    Disk Configuration.

    Databases and Filegroups.

    Managing Databases.

    Data Compression.

    Module 4: Security

    Overview of Security.

    Accessing SQL Server.

    Advanced Security.

    Module 5: Disaster Recovery

    Disaster Recovery Overview.

    Disaster Recovery Using Full Database Backups.

    Disaster Recovery Using Differential Database Backups.

    Disaster Recovery Using Transaction Log Backups.

    Disaster Recovery Using File and Filegroup Backups.

    Advanced Disaster Recovery.

    Module 6: Automation and Maintenance

    SQL Server Agent Automation.

    Advanced SQL Server Automation.

    Database Maintenance.

    Module 7: Indexing

    Optimizing Data Retrieval.

    Types of Indexes.

    Creating, Altering, and Deleting Indexes.

    Index Maintenance.

    Module 8: Monitoring and Performance Tuning

    Areas to Monitor.

    Monitoring Tools.

    Data Collection.

    Resource Governor.

    Module 9: Auditing SQL Server 2008

    Triggers.

    Service Broker and Event Notifications.

    Policy-Based Management.

    Change Data Capture.

    Change Tracking.

    SQL Server Audit.

    Module 10: Upgrading to SQL Server 2008

    Pre-Upgrade Tasks.

    Upgrade Options.

    Post-Upgrade Tasks.

    After completing this module, students will be able to:

    Understand upgrade options.

    Identify pre- and post-upgrade tasks

    ----------------------------

    Would appreciate your reponses ,

    Thanks

    Raza

  • They do recommend that you have a few years of experience but it certainly does not have to be SQL 2005. In fact if I remember correctly they want 2-3 years of 2008 experience not 2005. You can also manage without any experience but it is more difficult. Also please remember that a certification does not replace experience. The skills required are an excellent overview of SQL Server and passing the certification means that you have at least a reasonable knowledge of each (or most) of the subjects. I look at certifications like a 4 year degree. It doesn’t replace experience but it can supplement it.

    Personally I think training centers are like anything else. Some are better than others, and you get out of it what you put into it. I will say some people learn better from training centers, and some from books. There are also a large number of free training videos you can find through Pass.

    Kenneth FisherI was once offered a wizards hat but it got in the way of my dunce cap.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------For better, quicker answers on T-SQL questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/[/url]For better answers on performance questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/SQLServerCentral/66909/[/url]Link to my Blog Post --> www.SQLStudies.com[/url]

  • Ahann..and what abt the outline i wrote above..is.it.covering the certification?

  • Have a look at the list of skills measured on the MS site.

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sql-server.aspx

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • What I did to help some people gather some basic experience was to motivate them to run labs on their personal VMs. Practice every detail in your exam outline (if that's the primary route you're looking at) by actually doing stuff. The exam outline seeks to guide you to a well rounded fundermental understanding of SQL Server as a whole. follow that guide, not necesarily to take the exam, but to help you know how to start learning about the whole of SQL server. So, install SQL server yourself (practice the GUI & scripted versions), create tables, run backups, do all High Availability options, etc., follow through on every thing you can, wish for errors so you troubleshoot them and learn, understand how to use "books online" for quick reference, and confront your most challenging topics. You should feel confident (not at expert level) about SQL server after a couple of weeks.

  • There are many paths to becoming a DBA and you see several of these routes when reading SSC regularly, so don't worry that your path might not be 'correct'.

    Over the past few years, with my current employer I have studied SQL Server as best as I can. This has involved the use of VMs, watching an inordinate number of free webcasts on areas of interest to myself, purchasing a large number of text books and spreading the knowledge gained within the company.

    The upshot of this is that I can demonstrate an interest and enthusiasm in SQL server where the lack of qualifications and 'real-world' experience would be a disadvantage.

    And the result of this is that next month (after I attend SQLPass - mainly at my expense, yet another example of how keen I am) I start with another company which utilises SQL Server to a far higher degree than my current employer. I will make the move I was planning to - from a Visual Basic Developer and "Accidental DBA" to an 'official' DBA. My new employer knows the gaps in my knowledge, but was more interested in how much I wanted to learn and how willing I am to share what I learn.

    The Microsoft exams are a good framework - I used the study materials to at least have knowledge of the areas, so I understood the terminology. You may not be able to actually use some areas (for example, clustering simply isn't possible where I work now, but is essential in my next job), but you should at least know which features exist and some basic information about them.

    If you're interested in the subject, willing to learn, willing to share and willing to admit when you don't know or understand then that will put you in an excellent position for future development.

    Ask questions and supply all of the relevant information. Answer questions where you believe that you can, and be patient. I'm still horrified at times by the amount that I don't know, but I can look back and see how much I have learned.

  • any book to reffer me?

    i am tryn to learn sql server to get a job first later i will go for certificatn

    pls reffer me a book which can heelp me givig some knowledge of sql 2008 for a job.

    Thanks

  • rukhsar1101 (11/10/2012)


    any book to reffer me?

    i am tryn to learn sql server to get a job first later i will go for certificatn

    pls reffer me a book which can heelp me givig some knowledge of sql 2008 for a job.

    Thanks

    see

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/books/65833/

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/books/76296/

    -------Bhuvnesh----------
    I work only to learn Sql Server...though my company pays me for getting their stuff done;-)

  • Just google "top SQL books", you'll find plenty. No one can tell you which one is the best for you. You'll have to decide youself. You could alway get another one if the current one isn't clear enough for you. πŸ™‚

    You could also work you way through this list:http://www.katieandemil.com/katie-and-emil-tutorial-to-70-461-querying-microsoft-sql-server-2012

    And you can download SQL 2012 (Evaluation or Express) here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/get-sql-server/try-it.aspx

    I'm working my way through this aswell.

    Goodluck!!



    For better, quicker answers on T-SQL questions, read Jeff Moden's suggestions.[/url]

    "Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten." ― Terry Pratchett, Mort

  • Personally I like Joes 2 Pros[/url]. Their books are for the development path rather than the administrative one but still quite good.

    Kenneth FisherI was once offered a wizards hat but it got in the way of my dunce cap.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------For better, quicker answers on T-SQL questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/[/url]For better answers on performance questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/SQLServerCentral/66909/[/url]Link to my Blog Post --> www.SQLStudies.com[/url]

  • A DBA position is usually the last technical position of a much larger IT career.

    Certifications are good in two senses, #1 You get to learn the general topics you are supposed to master, don't expect the certification per-se to do that for you and, #2 You show to prospective employers that you are serious enough to inverst time and treasure on it. Also, when hiring for an entry level position certifications might be the tie breaker that puts your resume on top.

    Practice, build your own home lab, get a job as a sql developer, show interest, ask for dba related responsibilities.

    Hope this helps.

    _____________________________________
    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.
  • Sir,

    U made me confuse ,,i was trying to get into sql admin job and u are telling me to go with sql developer ,,, :S

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