Re: What is a DBA?

"Sybrand Bakker" <postbus_at_sybrandb.demon.nl> wrote in message news:<ti4ifhqmrijp73_at_beta-news.demon.nl>...
> "Mike" <no_S_P_A_M_here_at_hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3jR5PHAb2jI7Ewge_at_ntlworld.com...
> > Is there a paragraph or a page on the web that describes what a DBA
> > does. I suppose specifically to Oracle, but once you're a DBA in one
> > technology your competent in another, aren't you
> > --
> > =========================== "From" is my valid spam ============
> > Mike |\__/,| (`\ trap. Use "reply-to" when replying
> > _.|o o | ) ) via email (any newsreader will do
> > ========(((===(((========= this automatically) ================
> >
>
> OMG.
> DBA = DataBase Administrator
> The work of a DBA is described in the Oracle Server Administrators Manual
> *NOT* on a single web page!
> And, no, once you are a competent Oracle DBA (which would typically take
> several years), you are *NOT* automatically competent in another. You will
> be competent in another technology only when you manage to think
> conceptually. From this group it appears like many people switching from
> sqlserver to Oracle can't do that, as they expect everything to be the same.
>
> Regards,
>
> Sybrand Bakker, Oracle DBA

I agree with the three catagories above as a start. Here is a quick list of what I do on Oracle instances where I am not the architect or the developer (I am sure I've missed a few):

Design/implement a backup stategy using hot, cold or preferably RMAN.

Test/Verify the backup method works

Verify Operations department is backing up my backup and the host machine in general

Write dozens of scripts to monitor database space and performance and look for other misc errors such as segments that can't extend, empty/unused blocks, tablespaces to coalesce. I also analyze tables, make sure tablespaces and devices are online, run checks for corruption, look for invalid objects, check for chained rows, etc. and so on.

Troubleshoot performance problems for developers or end users.

Manage user security.

install Oracle upgrades.

Move Oracle to new bigger/better platforms as a product grows.

Work with developers or product specialists to plan for future database capacity requirements.

Install OEM to provide automated 24 x 7 monitoring of the system and run all the scripts mentioned above. Received on Wed Jun 20 2001 - 17:02:55 CDT