Re: I'm the new DBA... what now?

If you're the DBA, the first thing you need to learn is how to care and feed the database, so you have to find out how to do backups and restores, how to add datafiles and so on.

There is a good Oracle Press book on the subject, which I think is called "Oracle Database Administraion" -- anyway there is only one; if you go into a computer bookstore you'll find it easily.

The second most important thing is to learn SQL and PL/SQL. You can learn this from a book; you can even learn it from the manuals that come with Oracle.

After that, you will know for yourself what you need to learn and what you want to learn.

Oracle offers I think three classes in DBA stuff and two classes in SQL and PL/SQL. You can also get these classes on what they call CBTs, which is Computer Based Training. The great thing about the CBTs is that you can run through them quickly. They say that each one takes 8 hours, but they really only last two.

The great thing about the classes is being with the other people, not being at work, GETTING FEEDBACK. You would be surprised how you can miss things and skip over them when you study alone.

One thing to remember is that you learn most of what you'll learn by having problems.

Kevin Kelleher Received on Fri Jun 06 1997 - 00:00:00 CDT