RE: OT: Oracle + Other DBMS's

From: Richard Ji <richard_at_letsplay.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 12:49:33 -0500
Message-Id: <10745.127029@fatcity.com>

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I agree with Lisa. Without getting into the argument of which DB is better. I think the key here is the trade off you are making between breadth (learn many DBs) vs depth (learn one DB really well - a leading one hopefully). I personally had a opportunity of managing Red Brick, Sybase, and Oracle. But I elected not to cause I want to focus on Oracle.

Richard Ji

-----Original Message-----
From: root_at_fatcity.com [mailto:root_at_fatcity.com]On Behalf Of Yttri, Lisa Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2001 12:01 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Subject: RE: OT: Oracle + Other DBMS's

Lisa,

I was an Oracle DBA for several years, then took a job with my current company. We support Sybase, SQL Server and, for the last 2 years, Oracle. They also have plans to bring in DB2. For about 3 years I learned Sybase and was primarily a Sybase DBA. For the last 2 years (fortunately) I have been able to get back to Oracle. I don't plan to change again.

Supporting multiple databases is difficult. Sybase and SQL Server, of course, are very similar and once you understand one, you can pretty much apply that thinking to the other - making changes for the different operating system platforms as necessary. Oracle is very, very different than either of them. You find yourself constantly trying to stay on top of all of them - how they work, how to tune them, disaster recovery procedures, debugging application issues, connectivity issues, new releases and features, etc. In addition, when working with multiple platforms, you have issues there to stay on top of. I found, that after a while, I got to a point where I felt like I was just doing a mediocre job at all of them, because there's so much information and so many differences.

I, personally, would rather get back to knowing one really well.

Lisa

From: Koivu, Lisa
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Subject: OT: Oracle + Other DBMS's
Date: Thursday, January 18, 2001 6:46AM

Good morning everyone,

I've been job hunting as of late. I interviewed at a place that wants an Oracle DBA to run one Oracle database (on NT), one problematic Informix database/application (on HP/UX) and a whole slew of SQL Server databases. The people are very nice, which is a good change, I've interviewed places where the dba's there were just nasty, maybe they felt threatened. But, if I decide I am interested in this position, I'm afraid of losing touch with my Oracle skills and spending all my time learning NT, Informix and SQL Server. The benefits for this position are incredible (never receiving a traffic ticket again is a real possibility).

My question is: How many of you are responsible for databases that run on multiple DBMS's? Do you see that as a good thing or bad thing?

Lisa Rutland Koivu
Oracle Database Administrator
Qode.com
4850 North State Road 7
Suite G104
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33319

V: 954.484.3191, x174
F: 954.484.2933
C: 954.658.5849

http://www.qode.com

"The information contained herein does not express the opinion or position of Qode.com and cannot be attributed to or made binding upon Qode.com."

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<TITLE>RE: OT: Oracle + Other DBMS's</TITLE>

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN =

class=3D015175517-18012001>I=20
agree with Lisa.  Without getting into the argument of which DB is=20 better.  I think the key here is the trade off you are=20 making between breadth (learn many DBs) vs depth (learn one DB = really=20
well - a leading one hopefully).  I personally had a opportunity of =

managing Red Brick, Sybase, and Oracle.  But I elected not to cause = I want=20
to focus on Oracle.</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20 class=3D015175517-18012001> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN=20 class=3D015175517-18012001>Richard Ji</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV align=3Dleft class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr>-----Original Message----- From: root_at_fatcity.com=20 [mailto:root_at_fatcity.com]On Behalf Of Yttri, = Lisa Sent:=20
 Thursday, January 18, 2001 12:01 PM To: Multiple recipients = of list=20
 ORACLE-L Subject: RE: OT: Oracle + Other =

DBMS's<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>

Lisa, 
I was an Oracle DBA for several years, then took a =
job with my=20
 current company.  We support Sybase, SQL Server and, for the last = 2=20
 years, Oracle.  They also have plans to bring in DB2.   = For=20
 about 3 years I learned Sybase and was primarily a Sybase DBA.  = For the=20
 last 2 years (fortunately) I have been able to get back to = Oracle.  =20
 I don't plan to change again.
Supporting multiple databases is difficult.  =
Sybase and=20
 SQL Server, of course, are very similar and once you understand one, = you can=20
 pretty much apply that thinking to the other - making changes for the=20 different operating system platforms as necessary.  Oracle is = very, very=20
 different than either of them.  You find yourself constantly = trying to=20
 stay on top of all of them - how they work, how to tune them, disaster =

recovery procedures, debugging application issues, connectivity = issues, new=20
 releases and features, etc.  In addition, when working with = multiple=20
 platforms, you have issues there to stay on top of.   I = found, that=20
 after a while, I got to a point where I felt like I was just doing a = mediocre=20
 job at all of them, because there's so much information and so many=20 differences.
I, personally, would rather get back to knowing one =
really=20
 well. 
Lisa  ---------- <FONT=20 size=3D2>From: Koivu, Lisa To: Multiple = recipients of=20
 list ORACLE-L Subject: OT: Oracle + Other=20 DBMS's Date: Thursday, January 18, 2001 = 6:46AM=20

Good morning everyone, 
I've been job hunting as of late.  I =
interviewed at a=20
 place that wants an Oracle DBA to run one Oracle database (on NT), one =

problematic Informix database/application (on HP/UX) and a whole slew = of SQL=20
 Server databases.    The people are very nice, which is = a good=20
 change, I've interviewed places where the dba's there were just nasty, = maybe=20
 they felt threatened.  But, if I decide I am interested in this = position,=20
 I'm afraid of losing touch with my Oracle skills and spending all my = time=20
 learning NT, Informix and SQL Server.  The benefits for this = position are=20
 incredible (never receiving a traffic ticket again is a real=20 possibility).
My question is:  How many of you are =
responsible for=20
 databases that run on multiple DBMS's?  Do you see that as a good = thing=20
 or bad thing?
Lisa Rutland Koivu Oracle =
Database=20
 Administrator Qode.com 4850=20
 North State Road 7 Suite G104 = <FONT=20
 size=3D2>Fort Lauderdale, FL  33319 
V: 954.484.3191, x174 F:=20
 954.484.2933 C: 954.658.5849 = <FONT=20
 size=3D2><A href=3D"http://www.qode.com"=20 target=3D_blank>http://www.qode.com</A> 
"The information contained herein does not express =
Received on Thu Jan 18 2001 - 11:49:33 CST