Complete Newbie Needing Guidance...

Question

Complete Newbie Needing Guidance...

Jbrandonmay

Newbie

Points: 9
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October 18, 2009 at 5:10 pm

#215591

Good afternoon all. I'm a programmer who works primarily with SQL along with VB in an Access environment developing programs for a health insurance company. Now I am looking at transitioning to being a SQL DBA since there is higher pay and tremendous demand but I honestly do not know where to start. SQL Server 2005 seems to be the best to learn since most companies haven't transitioned to 2008 yet and I hear the differences between the two are minimal.
Knowing my knowledge set (only knowing the SQL program language) how would you recommend I proceed? There are classes but everything I hear is they aren't even necessary and they aren't made for true newbies but more refreshers. If you have book suggestions or anything I'd appreciate any input and obviously your immense expertise 😀 Thanks all.

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RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 1

First, get SQL Server Developer Edition, either 2005 or 2008. It has all of the features of Enterprise Edition, but you can get it for $65 or even less. If your employer wont buy it for you, then pay for it yourself.

Secondly, familiarize yourself with BOL (Books Online, SQL Server's Help system). Even without your own SQL Server installation, you can still use BOL free at MSDN's website (both 2005 and 2008). BOL will be your best friend throughout your career as a DBA.

Thirdly, try to get your company to send you to training. This is hugely helpful, so keep coming back to it as often as your boss will tolerate it.

Fourthly, start to study for the certification exams. Not those "cheater" aids, they're worthless if you really want to learn the material. Instead get the Microsoft study guides, and the self-paced learning kits for the exams. Don't worry if you don't know any of the answers at first, just study through them and learn the answers.

Finally, simultaneously with four, above, start to follow the forums here, or at Ask.SqlServerCentral.com[/url]. Try to figure out the correct answer to each question (in "Administration") by using BOL and your SQL Server (try stuff out). If you cannot figure it out, don't worry, read the answer(s) in the thread and then try to implement them yourself. Read BOL and try to understand why it's the correct answer. If you don't understand why then ask questions.

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004646 More actions · Answer 2

Well done, Barry... that should be a "sticky note".

--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.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks, Jeff. 🙂

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004646 More actions · Answer 4

You know, it would probably be the shortest article ever, but you should submit your post as an article. This question seems to get asked over and over and your answer is the best (short, to the point, absolutely correct) I've seen to date. I've put this link into my "goodie locker" and I believe I'm going to add it to my signature line.

--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.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 5

Huh, cool idea Jeff...

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Jbrandonmay Newbie Points: 9 More actions · Answer 6

Thank you very much Jeff those are all outstanding suggestions and a great gameplan. Also I agree with the other poster this really should be a sticky.

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 7

Jbrandonmay (10/18/2009)
Thank you very much Jeff those are all outstanding suggestions and a great gameplan. Also I agree with the other poster this really should be a sticky.

Heh, story of my life ... 🙂

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 8

Jeff Moden (10/18/2009)
You know, it would probably be the shortest article ever, but you should submit your post as an article. This question seems to get asked over and over and your answer is the best (short, to the point, absolutely correct) I've seen to date. I've put this link into my "goodie locker" and I believe I'm going to add it to my signature line.

Done.

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004646 More actions · Answer 9

Jbrandonmay (10/18/2009)
Thank you very much Jeff those are all outstanding suggestions and a great gameplan. Also I agree with the other poster this really should be a sticky.

Actually, if you look back, it was Barry that had all those outstanding suggestions... I'm the "other poster" that suggested it should be a sticky.

--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.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004646 More actions · Answer 10

RBarryYoung (10/18/2009)
Jbrandonmay (10/18/2009)
Thank you very much Jeff those are all outstanding suggestions and a great gameplan. Also I agree with the other poster this really should be a sticky.
Heh, story of my life ... 🙂

I'm telling ya, Barry... ya gotta put the helmet back on. 😛

--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.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004646 More actions · Answer 11

RBarryYoung (10/18/2009)
Jeff Moden (10/18/2009)
You know, it would probably be the shortest article ever, but you should submit your post as an article. This question seems to get asked over and over and your answer is the best (short, to the point, absolutely correct) I've seen to date. I've put this link into my "goodie locker" and I believe I'm going to add it to my signature line.
Done.

Dang! Heh... that was quicker than you eating a pork chop. 😛 URRRRRPPHHH!

--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.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 12

:Whistling: (me working the chewy bits...)

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

jcrawf02 SSC-Insane Points: 24198 More actions · Answer 13

RBarryYoung (10/18/2009)
:Whistling: (me working the chewy bits...)

Chewy bits? Jeff gone soft in his old age and thawing and deboning them now?:hehe:

---------------------------------------------------------
How best to post your question[/url]
How to post performance problems[/url]
Tally Table:What it is and how it replaces a loop[/url]

"stewsterl 80804 (10/16/2009)I guess when you stop and try to understand the solution provided you not only learn, but save yourself some headaches when you need to make any slight changes."

Jbrandonmay Newbie Points: 9 More actions · Answer 14

DOH! Sorry Barry, this is why I usually don't try and type and watch a football game at the same time.