Re: Newbie to Oracle

The Raven wrote:

> Hi,
> I'll try to keep this short and (bitter)sweet.
>
> I'm an experienced technical person with lots of hands on exposure to
> relational databases. I'm not an IT guru but have done reasonably well over
> the last few decades supporting small networks, databases, and cutting code
> in simple languages.
>
> My boss has decided I'm going to support a major application our company
> produces and I'm going to be the national Oracle expert for installation and
> support of our product to the clients.
>
> I know nothing of Oracle and have had zero training, however; I can do a
> basic Oracle 9 installation and configuration of our product. Problem is I'm
> being lumbered with installing 9i Application Server and have been
> struggling with it for months. I'm yet to get halfway through an install
> without killing the whole thing.
>
> Our international corporate Oracle experts are of no help to me, they are
> half way around the world and speak Oracle jargon I cannot fathom. Of
> course, they have their own jobs to do and couldn't be bothered trying to
> teach a ignorant beginner via late night phone calls.
>
> My boss is a technical vacuum and cannot understand why
> installing/configuring/maintaining Oracle is so difficult. He thinks it's
> simply a matter of using an install disk. As such, he refuses to send me on
> any training courses because it's either expensive or he can't afford to
> have me out of the office. Undertaking training in the evenings is going to
> fail as I am constantly out of town to do installation and training at
> client sites.
>
> Given that I have no knowledge or training in Oracle and, have no coporate
> assistance to call on, is there a quick method to get up to speed on Oracle
> installation and configuration basics? In particular, I'm looking for
> resources that are free and in plain English (remember my employer isn't
> funding this so why should I fund it myself).
>
> I'm happy to take on the task but only if I can get to a competent level
> with it.
>
> Any advice or assistance welcomed.

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-- 
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace 'x' with 'u' to respond)