1. So you want to be a DBA…

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

3. 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?

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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. What makes a good DBA?

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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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…

16. (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 ( )
Founded consulting practice (2008-present)
Brent Ozar
(Brent Ozar Unlimited)

17. 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)

18. 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 ( )
Application Analyst ( )
DBA Manager at ING ( )
“Head Geek” at SolarWinds (2010-present)
Thomas LaRock
(aka “SQL Rockstar”)

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

20. I’m a DBA. Now What?

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

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

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

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

25. Thank you!