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Featured Article(s)
Troubleshooting SQL Server 2005 performance counters problems
In this article, Alexander Chigrik explains some problems that you can have with SQL Server 2005 performance counters. He also tells how you can resolve these problems.
Tweaking and Tuning…Your Skill Set
One thing I can say is very clear – our skills as DBAs, as database professionals, are in need of constant guidance and massaging. Perhaps an odd statement, but I have to say, in so many of the interviews, emails and interactions I’ve had of late it’s really becoming clear that those roles that we’ve talked about (for forever) for database professionals are changing.
I wanted to ask though – if you were working with someone just now entering the DB field (whatever that means – something different for lots of different people), how would you advise them in terms of what they needed to learn, what they needed to be familiar with vs. what they needed to be expert with when it comes to working with SQL Server? Sure, you can say it depends on the position they’re looking to work within, but if you take a step back and all things were both equal and possible, what would you suggest?
My (Initial) List Includes:
– understand the fundamentals of backup/recovery
– understand troubleshooting performance
– understand monitoring
– understand security – both access security and data security
– master "how things work" – design, tuning, access approaches
– master analysis of information – not even necessarily Analysis Services, but free-form TSQL to pull information and build data marts and the like – understand how data relationships are discovered and exposed.
– Get exposed to lots of different types of applications, how they work, how they’re used, things that have happened with them in the past where something had to be fixed.
There is more, but I’d definitely be leaning more toward mastering the data design elements, effective use of information and the like.
What do you think? What would you recommend? How would you coach someone looking for where to get involved?
Drop me an email, let me know your thoughts.
Featured White Paper(s)
Six Secrets to SQL Server Availability
Microsoft SQL Server has become the data management tool of choice for a wide range of business critical systems, from electr… (read more)