In article <zEyB2.1679$gU1.7772_at_axe.netdoor.com>,
Harry Boswell <hboswell_at_lance.netdoor.com> wrote:
> .. What exactly does a "consulting
> DBA" do? DBA work has always seemed involve more post-implementation
> work than anything else, once the app is running and being maintained.
> So, are "consulting DBAs" actually just contract DBAs that are there
> day in and day out?
As one who has been employed as a "consulting DBA", I have found myself
employed in several roles:
- Some organizations do use "Contract DBAs". In one org. I've worked with in
a totally unrelated area (Y2K), most of their Unix SysAdmins and Oracle
people (DBAs and developers) were on contract. In some environments with low
pay levels for regular staff, this is the only way to obtain experienced
staff.
- "Hard-Core" DBA skills can be VERY helpful when you are setting up a new
Database. This is especially true when you want to implement a database
"fast". I've been employed several times in this capacity, and hope to find
future employment here.
- DBA skills are also VERY helpful in Database Development. You have an
understanding of what a Database is all about, can design / create tables,
views, users, groups, etc. Especially helpful is the ability to create backend
Stored Procedures.
- Sometimes, the local DBAs are inexperienced/clueless. An experienced
"Consulting DBA" can setup scripts that can be used / maintained by less
experienced staff DBAs. For example, I was involved in developing an
application (MS-Access front-end, Oracle Back-end, and a "dash" of Perl <G>)
for a client. The client was having problems setting up daily/weekly back-ups
for their Oracle dbms. Their DBA was fairly smart, but she had little DBA
experience (she was a Unix SysAdmin, Oracle was only a "sideline") . I had not
done a lot with Oracle as a DBA, but had done a lot for Sybase and Microsoft
SQL Server. As the "one-eyed man" on the scene, I was drafted to implement the
backup scripts.
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Received on Fri Feb 26 1999 - 17:10:39 CST
