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Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> RE: 2nd DBA or ?
Sean - This is something my manager toys with. I have mixed feelings about adding a second DBA. On one hand there is the hope that a second person can help out. On the other hand, it probably isn't double the productivity, and you may end up doing more manager-like tasks.
My boss keeps nudging me to try out GUI tools, feeling that they will make the sole DBA more productive. However, after trying several, I find that they are probably great for novices or when you have to do a lot of the same task, but don't necessarily save you as much time as you would expect. Often you are trapped by what the designer of the tool thought you would be doing. Or it takes awhile for the tool vendor to incorporate new Oracle features. For example, tools to rebuild tablespaces were selling well, but now with Oracle Uniform extents and autoextend, defrag tasks are largely eliminated. And of course there is the overhead of selecting, purchasing, installing, training, upgrading, fixing the tool.
If anyone has found a GUI tool that has really made a portion of their job smoother, I would be very much interested in hearing about it. Especially if you were experienced at the task before purchasing the tool. If you are worried about criticism for promoting a tool, email me privately.
We have periodically used consultant DBAs, and often this has worked out well. However, you must spend time interviewing and qualifying their skills. They need to spend time becoming familiar with your organization and databases. Then the next time that person may not be available, so you must start fresh again.
Dennis Williams
DBA
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 11:30 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
I've been presented with an opportunity to justify requirements for a 2nd DBA at our site. As I see it there are an number of paths this presents:
1 - Justify and get a 2nd DBA.
Pro's: Gives me more time to get involved in other projects as a senior DBA.
Holidays and attendance at courses and seminars etc. easier to take
2 - Outsource this role and activate it when required and justify putting
money into investing in software and/or hardware to allow a single DBA
function to required levels.
Pros: New tools etc. to learn and broader experience gained. More
bargaining power if required.
I'd like to hear your feedback on which path you'd be inclined to take and why?. Also if going it alone what you'd look for software in hardware and other areas. Currently 6 NT servers, 10 databases and expanding...
Sean :)
Rookie Data Base Administrator
Oracle 7.3.3, 8.0.5, 8.1.7 - NT, W2K
[0%] OCP Oracle8i DBA
[0%] OCP Oracle9i DBA
-------------------------------- ------------Organon (Ireland) Ltd.
Visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oracle-OCP-DBA
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Author: O'Neill, Sean
INET: Sean.ONeill_at_organon.ie
Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists --------------------------------------------------------------------To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists --------------------------------------------------------------------To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). Received on Thu Sep 20 2001 - 17:09:42 CDT
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