Use All of the Resources at Your DisposalRemember that you do not have to do everything yourself. Use the resources at your disposal. We have talked about some of those resources, such as articles and books, Web sites and scripts, user groups and conferences. But there are others. Do not continue to struggle with problems when you are completely stumped. Some DBAs harbor the notion that they have to resolve every issue themselves in order to be successful. Sometimes you just need to know where to go to get help to solve the problem. Use the DBMS...
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Understand the Business, Not Just the TechnologyRemember that being technologically adept is just a part of being a good DBA. Although technology is important, understanding your business needs is more important. If you do not understand the impact on the business of the databases you manage, you will simply be throwing technology around with no clear purpose.Business needs must dictate what technology is applied to what database—and to which applications. Using the latest and greatest (and most expensive) technology and software might be fun and...
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Here we are at the end of another year and on the brink of a shiny New Year. Let's take this time to look back on the successes of 2013... and to examine our failures with an eye toward avoiding them in 2014.Celebrate safely tonight... and let's all meet back here later this week to continue our series on DBA Rules of Thumb!Happy New Year everybo...
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Friday, 20 December 2013
Part 7 of our ongoing series on DBA Rules of Thumb is a short one on being accessible and approachable... in other words, Don't Be a Hermit!Sometimes DBAs are viewed as the "curmudgeon in the corner" -- you know the type, don't bother "Neil," he'll just yell at you and call you stupid. Don't be like Neil!Instead, develop a good working relationship with the application developers. Don’t isolate yourself in your own little DBA corner of the...
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Measure Twice, Cut OnceBeing prepared means analyzing, documenting, and testing your DBA policies and procedures. Creating procedures in a vacuum without testing will do little to help you run an efficient database environment. Moreover, it will not prepare you to react rapidly and effectively to problem situations.The old maxim applies: Measure twice, cut once. In the case of DBA procedures, this means analyze, test, and then apply. Analyze your...
Monday, 9 December 2013
Way back in the early 1990s when I was working as a DBA I had a button pinned up in my cubicle that read in large letters “DON’T PANIC!” If I recall correctly, I got it for free inside a game from back in those days based on “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” When I left my job as a DBA to go to work for a software company I bequeathed that button to a friend of mine (Hello, Chris!) who was taking over my duties… for all I know, he still has...
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