Steve's SQL Server Blog

DBA: what to know

It came accross my mind today what a dba needs to know to do his job.
Many have written about this but so has half the globe about SP2 for SQL Server 2005.

Not only do you need to master general sql server dba stuff but also

• You need to have a very good understanding of hardware (RAID, SAN, ...)
• Windows Server administration
• IIS when you're dealing with Reporting Services for SQL Server 2000
• Master security (IIS, SQL Server, Reporting Services)
• Excel in clustering, load balancing
• DTS, SSIS (ETL in general)
• Very often SSRS. Maybe not that much when it comes to developing reports but certainly the setup, configuration and administration
• SQL
• Programming skills for T-SQL
• At least some basic database design skills
• Visual basic.NET since SQL Server 2005 came out (try to do some descent work in SSIS if you don't know how to program...)
• Scripting (VBScript)
• Troubleshooting performance issues (SQL Server, OS, hardware, applications,...)
• You need to know how to handle projects
• Be commmunicative with other departments

In my opinion, being a dba is one of the most dificult occupations you will find in a IT department. I still wonder where people find the time to master all this knowledge.

Steve

I'm a geek

I found out today I'm a geek by reading this excellent post from NOMADISHERE

Or maybe I'm just intelligent as he put it...
I'm not sure what I have to do with this information. It can't be a bad thing I guess (I hope).

Anyways

A 102 kg DBA which is about to loose 20 kg

Yes, spring has finally started. Time to put the car in the garage and go to work with my bike mostly to loose some weight.
I weight 102 kg (I'm normally at 80 Kg).

I'm afraid I will have to get up around 05:30 AM to get at work in time. By car it usually takes about 10 minutes but I guess it will take me about an hour or so by bike because I live on the other side of the river and bikes are not allowed in the tunnels. So I need to ride along the left bank all the way down to the bottom until I reach Aartselaar on the right bank. I was told there are two boats crossing the river every 15 minutes.

So I guess I will loose about 20 kg in no time.
No more laughing at the fat dba anymore!!!!!
Moehahahahahahah!!!!

I will post a picture of me in my speedo's when I'm at 80 kg :o)

Anyways

Custom date formats

Some DB2 twat in China thought he had it going all the way with a custom date format which is nowhere used on this crap ozon - too much CO2-globe. I had to set up a DTS (yes, I'm still using 2000) which imports enough data to keep the job running for 10 hours.

The query I had to write was complex enough it had to be debugged on...DB2. You see, I'm familiar with T-SQL but not with what I had to write today.

Yes, it's quite possible by writing standard SQL but I mean, what the frack! I'm a SQL Server dba. Can't they just use normal standard date formats like anyone else??!!

Even als a SQL Server dba you have to deal with DB2 and Oracle and don't get me started when you need to talk to one of those dba's! It usually ends up in screaming.

Anyways

SQL Server 2005 Performance Dashboard Reports

A new toy to explore: SQL Server 2005 Performance Dashboard Reports for monitoring and resolving performance problems. Keep in mind it needs SP2

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1D3A4A0D-7E0C-4730-8204-E419218C1EFC&mg_id=10111&displaylang=en

SQLUG.BE exclusive chalk talk by Bob Beauchemin

Yes! You read it right! http://sqlug.be/blogs/official_sqlugbe_blog/archive/2007/03/08/553.aspx

Enterprise Manager slow when expanding databases

Someone of the BI gang came up to my desk the other day complaining the Enterprise Manager was deadly slow when opening a database. We both went to his desk and yes indead, it took ages whilst looking at the status bar which said: "Establishing connection and checking security settings" or some sort.

Well folks, for the ones who din't know yet (as myself), check out this KB: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/889696

That's what I call a superb KB!

Anyways....