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Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> RE: Guys: Is this worth $1,749 for 8 year Oracle veteran DBA
As with any tool, they are very valuable when properly used and when you
know the limitations. The key is that you are able to function without them,
though perhaps not as effeciently. Case in point, many databases with few
dbas. Logging in each morning to each database and checking status and
metrics is very inefficient. By the time all the databases are checked, the
day is over. This leaves no time to diagnose and repair problems. Scheduled
jobs (cron/AT/dbms_job) that query the database/logs and send email is more
effecient. At this point you have a tool. A monitoring tool, properly
architected and configured, can assist greatly by allowing the dbas to focus
on preventing problems and not wasting time determining that there is
nothing to worry about.
Any tool is limited by the original design. The tool monitors, reports, allows only certain conditions and actions. How many tools still focus on buffer cache hit ratio? To the person with a hammer, every problem is a nail. When confronted with a phillips-head screw, the hammer is less than useful. No tool is a substitute for knowledge or skill. In fact, it can prevent the acquisition of knowledge. I have also seen people so dependent on a single tool that they cannot handle any situation that the tool does not directly address. I always tell junior dbas to learn sql and sqlplus. Why? Sqlplus will be on every oracle database server. It is the least common denominator. OEM is nice, but what happens when you can't use the network to attach to the db server and you have to use good old command line?
I'd say that any tool is useful if:
A) it promotes effeciency in your daily tasks and
B) you are able to properly deal with situations in the absence of the tool.
Just my $.02.
Dan Fink
--
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
--
Author: Fink, Dan
INET: Dan.Fink_at_mdx.com
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