April 7, 2010 at 11:32 am
Again, this is a topic that I generated more out of curiosity than anything else.
I lurk on SSC pretty regularly. I enjoy reading the discussions, articles, and editorials. Every once in a while, if I see a question where I think I can contribute something useful, I'll respond. And I'm sure many of you have seen me contribute to a lot of the banter! 🙂
However, the fact remains that SQL is not my primary job focus. It is a significant part of what I do, but I'm not anything close to a full-time DBA. Most of what I do revolves around data analysis, some technical writing and communication, and some development (mostly web development and maybe the occasional .NET app).
Because I deal with data, I do work with SQL quite a bit. I know quite a bit about T-SQL (probably enough to get into trouble ;-)), I can build tables and infrastructures, and I have a pretty good grasp about keys and indexes. (I've even installed the occasional SQL Server here and there.) However, I probably couldn't tell you the first thing about backup and recovery, how to utilize transaction logs, or database memory allocation.
Granted, I have learned quite a bit lurking around here, but I'm not a true DBA in the sense of the word (even my own manager has woken me up to this reality).
So, is there anyone else like me here? I am not talking about SQL newbies; rather, I'm talking more about people who've been using SQL for a long time, but their primary focus may be elsewhere.
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April 7, 2010 at 11:38 am
Me! (Okay, that's a lie.) 😀
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April 7, 2010 at 11:44 am
I'll answer this, but it isn't to say I am not a DBA. My primary focus is being a DBA. I also help developers with writing T-SQL, and have had a significant part in developing an overall infrastucture for our PeopleSoft HR and Finance systems as we moved to our blade servers recommending which servers could be virtualized (web, app, file servers) and which should be physical (database servers; actually with the move to SQL Server 2008 EE, I would have been okay with virtualize but the sysadmin felt it easier to set up the database servers as physical servers). I am currently looking at how we can move our SIS (Student Information System) to the blade servers and restructure its various components as well.
On the back burner is the Data Warehouse project, I was the initial evangilist for SharePoint (using WSS 3.0 within our department).
April 7, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I'm working in project management, sometimes as a project manager, sometimes as a "link to translate" between business reps and software vendor.
Since I'm focused on SQL Server projects, I decided to learn more about the stuff our vendors actually present. That's why I'm here at SSC.
The result:
There are vendors that actually like to deal with a customer that understand (at least to some degree) what they do leading to some very interesting discussions usually ending up in a better (more robust / better performing) software.
And, I admit, sometimes there are vendors seeing me as a real PITA if they show up trying to tell me what they came up with is the absolute state-of-the-art and cannot be improved at all. Especially, if I disagree and prove it with just a few lines (e.g. turning a cursor into a set based solution or shuffling around an index or two... 😀 )...
April 7, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Well, I most definitely am not a SQL Server DBA, even though SQL Server is my primary focus. I am a SQL Server Developer and (even worse :-)) a SQL Server Consultant (both development and administration).
But even being a SQL Server DBA Consultant isn't the same as being a DBA, it's easier IMHO, at least for me it is.
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April 7, 2010 at 12:35 pm
I play a DBA on TV?
Seriously, I am a data architect/senior developer/jack of several trades. I've performed the functions of a DBA in the past, and I tend to help out in that area on occasion these days, but I've never actually held the title of DBA.
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
April 7, 2010 at 12:41 pm
That depends on the "A"'s definition.
I'm a SQL Database ArchitecAdminAlyst 😀
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Jason L. SelburgApril 7, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I've always been mostly a DBA, at least since I left the sysadmin stuff behind.
However I'm certainly not one now :w00t:
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April 7, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I have held the title of DBA in the Admin sense. I have also held the title of DBA in the Architect sense. I have never been a Database Developer but in my duties as an Architect and Admin it was required. I would say that those Developer duties though more mostly in a peer review sense. I have had to develop code and such, but I wouldn't call that a developer, just doing my job ;-).
Now, if we go back to how I got my start as a DBA - then I have had positions where my primary responsibility was not as a DBA. I migrated toward this role due to a like of what it involved. I first started out as a Net Admin then a LAN Admin with the additional subtitle of DBA and the duties held therein.
Maybe it was an Accidental DBA type thing, but I prefer to think that I intentionally chose this path.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
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April 7, 2010 at 8:37 pm
What's a "true DBA"?
April 8, 2010 at 6:29 am
Michael Valentine Jones (4/7/2010)
What's a "true DBA"?
Shouldn't your screen name be "PPilate" if you're going to be asking that kind of question? 🙂
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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April 8, 2010 at 6:53 am
I'm with Michael, define the "True DBA" and I'll tell you if I meet that requirement.
I know that a lot of my tasks fall into traditional DBA areas. I also know that a lot of my tasks fall into database development, architect, report writer, designer... My title at the company is DBA if that helps.
----------------------------------------------------The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood... Theodore RooseveltThe Scary DBAAuthor of: SQL Server 2017 Query Performance Tuning, 5th Edition and SQL Server Execution Plans, 3rd EditionProduct Evangelist for Red Gate Software
April 8, 2010 at 8:48 am
GSquared (4/8/2010)
Michael Valentine Jones (4/7/2010)
What's a "true DBA"?Shouldn't your screen name be "PPilate" if you're going to be asking that kind of question? 🙂
I wash my hands of this thread.
April 8, 2010 at 8:58 am
There is woman behind every successful person.
There is DBA behind every successful application. 😉
April 8, 2010 at 9:02 am
I am extremly happy to say that I am now a full time DBA! That was not always the case. In my previous job I was Local IT support, IT Helpdesk Lead, Lead programmer on several packages, Technical section supervisor and a DBA. My quality of life is now a 1000 times better now that I can say I am just a DBA. I also now actually have time to contribute to forums such as this where as before I did not have time to do anyhting.
Dan
If only I could snap my figures and have all the correct indexes apear and the buffer clean and.... Start day dream here.
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