| So you think you want to be an Oracle DBA? | | | | software under this license agreement). Use this |
| Well, first of all, let's examine the reality of the | | | | account to get access to the installation |
| profession... | | | | documents for the latest Oracle database release. |
| Yes, the salaries for a seasoned Oracle DBA can | | | | Pay specific attention to hardware requirements. |
| be very attractive. This has advantages and | | | | If the above is not possible, your next option is to |
| disadvantages for the DBA. 24X7 on-call duty is | | | | purchase some hardware to create a sandbox |
| the norm, getting calls during vacation, weddings, | | | | for yourself. If you can't afford very much, you |
| baptisms, surgery, etcetera, is to be expected. If | | | | might want to start with the Oracle XE database. |
| the DBA is saavy and automates much of their | | | | It's small and sleek and can be installed on most |
| job, they had better find other ways to *visibly* | | | | laptops. The administration is slightly different on |
| add value to the company, or they will be out of | | | | XE, but it's fine for learning SQL, stopping and |
| a job. | | | | starting a database, configuring listeners, etcetera. |
| On the upside, the profession is always changing | | | | Once you have your hardware, I recommend you |
| and always challenging, and that, for many keeps | | | | start with the 2-DBA document, the |
| it from ever being boring. The salary can be very | | | | "Adminstrator's Guide," "Concepts" and "SQL |
| good for an experienced database administrator | | | | Language Reference". |
| with specialized skills and a degree (six figures), | | | | Oracle Database Administration is one heck of a |
| and even better, leadership/management | | | | big elephant to eat. It's a large body of |
| credentials and experience. | | | | knowledge, and it's a moving target. You are not |
| A database administrator is not just a mechanic | | | | going to learn it two days, in spite of the title of |
| who keeps the database engine tuned and running. | | | | some of the documentation. Take it one small |
| She is involved with capacity planning, which has a | | | | bite at a time. When you encounter problems |
| financial impact for the company. In many cases | | | | during your self-training, do a websearch to find |
| the DBA has a lot of direct customer contact if | | | | how others have fixed the problem. If your |
| the company manages other companies data in | | | | company uses Oracle and has an Oracle Support |
| anyway, and thus has a huge role in the | | | | agreement, I highly recommend going to your |
| relationship the company has with it's customers. | | | | DBA team and asking them if you can be added |
| The DBA is responsible for safe-guarding the | | | | to the company's CSI as a metalink user. You'll |
| security and integrity of enterprise data. | | | | have to go to metalink and request an account |
| Negligence on the part of the DBA can tank a | | | | on a specific CSI, so you'll have to obtain that |
| healthy company very quickly. | | | | number from the DBA team. After you've made |
| Ok, ready to get started? If you have finished | | | | the request, Metalink sends an email to |
| school and Computer Science was not your | | | | whomever is the administrator for that CSI |
| degree, it's still possible to break into the field. I | | | | (Customer Service Identifier), and they have to |
| have a masters in animal physiology, and started | | | | approve it, so it's better to talk to the DBA(s) |
| studying Oracle because when I took over the | | | | first. Just tell them that you want to learn Oracle |
| environmental data management program at | | | | on your own and would like to be able to read |
| McNeese State University (mumble) years ago, | | | | Metalink Notes. |
| the budget I inherited did not Here are some initial | | | | If you have deep pockets, or your company is |
| steps: | | | | willing to pay for training, look into taking some |
| First, if possible, position yourself in your present | | | | courses with Oracle University. My experience is |
| job where you will have an opportunity to work | | | | that I get a lot more out of Oracle courses if I've |
| with the current DBA(s), or set up a small | | | | done a little legwork first to get some exposure |
| database environment from scratch. Perhaps you | | | | to what is being taught. Since the courses are not |
| can propose a small project that won't generate | | | | cheap, it's a good investment of your time. Oracle |
| so much data (at least at the outset) that a lot | | | | certification, by itself will *not* generally land you |
| of extra, expensive hardware will be needed. If | | | | a job as an Oracle DBA; however, in a pool of |
| you propose a pilot project, you may be able to | | | | equivalent candidates, it might be the "extra" thing |
| justify getting a small server nearing the end of | | | | that gets you to an interview. Most companies |
| it's warranty from the spare parts pool. Make | | | | perform a technical interview when hiring, often |
| friends with the company sysadmin(s). If you are | | | | the interview is fairly rigorous. Occasionally the |
| already familiar with Unix, get a Unix/Linux | | | | interview is overly-rigorous, that is, someone in |
| machine. If you are not familiar with Unix, try to | | | | HR who knows nothing about Oracle has a set of |
| get a Windows box to flatten your learning curve. | | | | questions they looked up on the internet, and |
| You'll eventually want to learn Linux though, as | | | | they neither understand the question, nor the |
| more Oracle databases run on Linux in the real | | | | answer. This can be in your favor in the sense |
| world than Windows. | | | | that you probably won't get many tough follow-up |
| Next, go sign up for an account (OTN) at Oracle | | | | questions... it can work against you though if there |
| Corporation's Technet site, (I am not affiliated | | | | is more than way to do something, and the HR |
| with Oracle and do not benefit from any traffic | | | | person only has one way listed in the expected |
| going there!). It's free, and you'll need this to | | | | answers. For example, there are many ways to |
| download software under Oracle's development | | | | clone a database... cloning from a cold copy, rman |
| license (training is a legitimate use of Oracle | | | | duplicate, export/import... etcetera... |