Re: training for new DBA's
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 10:32:10 -0600
Message-ID: <CAO9=aUy_KRnCqke-1nb7_z69OqEWNB++5ea7-mjcw+V7TURPRA_at_mail.gmail.com>
It is brutal but it sounds good to me. I think a lot about being successful as a DBA is to be able to read lots of documentation, understand documented concepts, and apply them to real-world tasks. This ability, along with (as many others have mentioned) interest in Oracle and databases in general, will go a long way towards succeeding as a DBA.
On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 at 10:26 AM, Maris Elsins <elmaris_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I've been involved in training new DBAs. The company I used to work for
> usually hired 6-8 students simultaneously (from computer science studies)
> and the target was to keep 1 of 3 (and it was not easy to reach this goal).
> The method we applied allowed us to understand who's capable of being a
> good DBA in ~3 months and this is what we did:
> * Start with reading concept guide, give guidance on where the
> documentation is, discuss the most important topics.
> * Assign a mentor for each DBA, so the DBA can ask questions immediately
> if anything is not clear
> * Give each DBA a sandbox VM and a long list of tasks like: install a DB,
> create a hot backup, create a cold backup, restore from each backup,
> install a patch, install a patchset, duplicate the database, create a SQL
> query to fetch some data from the sample schemas (describe what to
> extract), create a PL/SQL procedure to i.e. receive value as an input and
> create a table named as the input variable, use exp and expdp to export
> data and import them in another database. Add more tasks as you go, make
> tasks more complicated by adding extra requirements if they are too easy
>
> This might sound a bit brutal, but I think, the DBA has to be able to
> survive the situation where there is much unknown information, be able to
> search the documentation and the internet for potential solutions and
> figure out how to apply the solutions that are found for the specific task
> they have been given. With this approach it's quite easy to see who is
> interested in DBAs' work, is capable of troubleshooting issues and
> understanding the documentation. And in fact ones who were not capable of
> this usually could be identified in 1-2 months time
>
> Maris Elsins
>
> On 4 Feb 2014 15:03, "Ric Van Dyke" <ric.van.dyke_at_hotsos.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Jeff,
> >
> > As I always joke "Everyone really wants to be a DBA!" J The interest
> is the key, seems like he is someone worth investing in.
> >
> >
> >
> > - Ric
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Jeff C [mailto:backseatdba_at_gmail.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 1:12 AM
> > To: Ric Van Dyke; oracle-l_at_freelists.org
> >
> > Subject: Re: training for new DBA's
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Rick,
> >
> > I agree that classroom training is the best. But at this point I just
> need to find out if this person has the potential to be a good DBA. I need
> to give him some stuff to read and practice on and then test him. He is
> showing a lot of interest which is good.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 12:56 PM, Ric Van Dyke <ric.van.dyke_at_hotsos.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > >> Consider that you want your trainee to succeed, but s/he may not want
> to be a DBA in 6 months or a year ... have your time and company money been
> totally wasted?
> >
> >
> >
> > Gee, then why train anyone eh? Seriously LACK of training can be just
> as much a deterrent on retention. Giving good training on a regular bases
> is likely to keep folks around not the opposite.
> >
> >
> >
> > Being in the education world as I am, I believe in classroom training,
> next online and then very last self-training like books and CBT type.
> Books and CBTs are excellent for refresher or "feature" type training.
> (Like, how to I use virtual columns?) But to learn something "new" it's
> quite hard to do with that style of training.
> >
> >
> >
> > I know from personal experience when I was a neophyte DBA that just
> taking 2 DBA/SQL classes back then shot me way up the curve. I had been
> struggling for 18 months or so before my first class. Sure the databases
> "worked" but wow! Once I had some formal training things really got going
> much better and I had a much better idea of what to even look at.
> >
> >
> >
> > Training might appear to be expensive, but ignorance is far more.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
> >
> > Ric Van Dyke
> >
> > Education Director
> >
> > Hotsos Ltd.
> >
> >
> >
> > Hotsos Symposium March 2-6 2014
> >
> > Make your plans to be there now!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org [mailto:
> oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Wayne Smith
> > Sent: Monday, February 03, 2014 2:48 PM
> > To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
> >
> >
> > Subject: Re: training for new DBA's
> >
> >
> >
> > Wow, I think I disagree with just about every response here, except for
> the need of sandboxes. (Sorry!)
> >
> > I think you should look at what you need from your new DBA(s).
> >
> > DBAs come in all shapes, interests and skills, as will your would-be DBA
> trainee(s)s. Figure what your company needs from its DBAs and this(these)
> DBA(s) in particular. Make a plan for each one that will get them
> functional, useful and independent as quickly as possible with a plan of
> skill development over the coming months, with a look at progress and needs
> every 3-6-12 months.
> >
> > Consider that you want your trainee to succeed, but s/he may not want to
> be a DBA in 6 months or a year ... have your time and company money been
> totally wasted?
> >
> > Cheers, Wayne
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 6:11 PM, Jeff C <backseatdba_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > We are looking at training a new DBA from scratch (hiring from within)
> and I am looking for any opinions on where/how/what to train this person
> on. I was thinking of starting with just basic SQL and relational database
> design then onto some pl/sql. After that move on to dba stuff.
> >
> > Is there any good free or cheap places to get this kind of training?
> >
> > And how would you test a very beginner candidate to know if they would
> be a good fit for this position. Any questions or tests I good give them?
> What would you look for?
> >
> >
> >
> > This is new to me as I have been mainly the lone dba for years and also
> trained on the job.
> >
> > Thanks for any input.
> >
> >
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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