So you want to be a DBA…

SQL Server Consultant at UpSearch Blog – http://colleenmorrow.com About Me Colleen Morrow SQL Server Consultant at UpSearch Blog – http://colleenmorrow.com Twitter – @ClevelandDBA

What does a DBA do? What makes a good DBA? How do I become a DBA? Agenda What does a DBA do? What makes a good DBA? How do I become a DBA? I’m a DBA. Now what?

What Does a DBA Do? Q: When did God create the DBA? A: The day before He had His rights revoked.

Production DBA (aka System DBA, DBA System Administrator) Types of DBA Production DBA (aka System DBA, DBA System Administrator) Development DBA (aka Application DBA) Database Architect (aka DBA Database Designer)

Routine database maintenance Security/Auditing Capacity Planning Production DBA Installing, configuring, maintaining production/test/development instances Monitoring Performance tuning Backups/restores Routine database maintenance Security/Auditing Capacity Planning Scripting

Specialized DBA for an application Writing code Development DBA Specialized DBA for an application Writing code TSQL, stored procedures, CLR, etc. Maintenance, tuning for that application

Translate user requirements Develop logical database design Database Architect Translate user requirements Develop logical database design Develop physical database design

What makes a good DBA? http://dilbert.com/strip/1995-11-17

Key qualities of a Successful DBA Curiosity Logical thinking Analysis of “symptoms” Problem solving Communication skills Detail oriented Independent Flexible

How do I become a DBA? Q: What did the DBA say to the Developer? A: It doesn’t matter, he wasn’t listening anyway.

Specialized training - Week-long immersion classes Structured Learning College Degree in Computer Science (CS) or Information Technology (IT) Provides good foundation, not deep on any one RDBMS (i.e. SQL Server vs Oracle) Major not necessarily important Specialized training - Week-long immersion classes

Unstructured learning Local user groups (e.g. Rochester PASS) Regional events (e.g. SQLSaturdays) Conferences (e.g. SQL PASS Summit) Videos (e.g. PluralSight) Blogs Books

Get your foot in the door (if lacking experience) Sometimes required Certifications Pros Cons Broadens knowledge Get your foot in the door (if lacking experience) Sometimes required Somewhat expensive Time consuming Cannot replace experience

Most DBAs don't start as DBAs Experience Most DBAs don't start as DBAs Prior experience as developers, tech support, sysadmins, network engineers “Accidental DBA” Once upon a time…

(Brent Ozar Unlimited) Guess the DBA Started logging into BBSes with a Commodore 64 Majored in Accounting, dropped out Hotel manager for “distressed properties” Network Admin, then Web developer , then DB Architect Database Administrator (2005-2008) Founded consulting practice (2008-present) Brent Ozar (Brent Ozar Unlimited)

Majored in Math and Computer Science Guess the DBA Majored in Math and Computer Science Marketing Support Assistant at IBM Created an ad that was so successful, it needed a database Trainer at LAN/Mind, then at Microsoft Founded consulting/training business (1995-present) Kimberly Tripp (SQLSkills)

Learned to love math while scoring bowling, age 7 Guess the DBA Learned to love math while scoring bowling, age 7 MS in Mathematics (constructed a model representing the interstellar radiation field of a globular cluster using FORTRAN-77) Software Engineer (1998-2000) Application Analyst (2000-2001) DBA Manager at ING (2001-2010) “Head Geek” at SolarWinds (2010-present) Thomas LaRock (aka “SQL Rockstar”)

Kalen Delaney (Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Internals ) Guess the DBA BA in Linguistics, MS in Computer Science College professor Technical Support at Sybase (1987-1989) Trainer at Sybase (1989-1992) Consultant (1995-present) Kalen Delaney (Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Internals )

I’m a DBA. Now What? https://xkcd.com/327/

High Availability/Disaster Recovery Performance Business Intelligence Specializations High Availability/Disaster Recovery Performance Business Intelligence Reporting Services Cloud platform Virtualization platforms

Virtualization platforms Windows administration Jack of all Trades Virtualization platforms Windows administration Active Directory administration Hardware management Other RDBMS

Consulting Management Teaching Other? Independent or firm What’s next? Consulting Independent or firm Management Team lead, manager, director Teaching Other?

Questions? Q: What did the Developer say to the DBA? A: It doesn’t matter, the answer was no.

Thank you!