The discipline of Operational and Architectural Management of Database Systems.
41
votes
9answers
8k views
Why is Database Administration so hard?
I know a lot of Database Administrators and they are all over 28-29 years old.
Is all database administration like that? I mean, is this about getting experience more than at least 7-8 years?
Or is ...
31
votes
11answers
2k views
How could DBAs be more 'programmer friendly'?
The answers and comments on the dba.se version and programmers.se version of the question "What are the arguments against or for putting application logic in the database layer?" are very revealing ...
21
votes
20answers
716 views
How to dive into an ugly database?
I'm sure many of you are/were dealing with a ugly database. You know, that database that isn't normalized at all, that database where you have to do a large painfully query to get the most trivial ...
18
votes
2answers
3k views
What does a DBA have to know about SSAS?
I've seen a lot of material covering the business aspect of SSAS, but not really much about the important aspects of administration and management.
From the point of view of administering an instance ...
16
votes
7answers
386 views
Where can I find some guidance on index strategies?
Most of us will probably agree that using database indexes is good. Too many indexes and performance can actually be degraded.
As a general rule, which fields should be indexed?
Which fields should ...
15
votes
7answers
11k views
How can I tell if a SQL Server database is still being used?
We're looking to decommission a SQL Server instance which has a couple databases still remaining on it.
How can I tell if they are still being used by users or a web application?
I found a forum ...
14
votes
2answers
1k views
How to make a transition from SQL Server DBA to Oracle?
As an interest, if I would to transition from a SQL Server DBA to Oracle what will be the major learning or unlearning that I would have to do?
I would assume the concepts are the same and the ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
SQL Server 2008 R2 “Ghost Memory”?
We have a dedicated SQL Server 2008 R2 machine that is experiencing some strange memory issues.. The machine itself has plenty of resources including two quad-core processors, 16gb of RAM and 64bit ...
10
votes
4answers
7k views
How do you identify InnoDB table corruption?
I have some tables that are partitioned and have several indexes on a replicated slave. After copying the snap shot (verified safe) to a new slave and upgrading mysqld from 5.1.42 to 5.5.15 and ...
9
votes
3answers
181 views
How to tackle a large undocumented database
I recently got hired as the only IT Guy in a certain Company X and I am tasked to fix their applications, and in my opinion, the best way to start is by understanding the database.
Their current ...
9
votes
1answer
329 views
Are there reasons why I should not set my db owner to [sa]?
Yesterday I asked this question regarding changing the dbo of multiple databases that I have. The change makes sense, but I want to be clear.
Is there any, good reason or circumstance why I should ...
9
votes
1answer
258 views
What does a SQL Server DBA need to know about Windows Server?
Analogous to my previous question What does a DBA have to know about SSAS?, which generated a really wonderful answer (thank you, @ConcernedOfTunbridgeWells!), I now ask a similiar question:
What ...
9
votes
2answers
303 views
Which areas of a DBA's knowledge should a developer delve into? [closed]
I must admit the question is quite broad, so I'll try narrowing it down a bit. In our company we are 3-4 developers and have some SQL Server based installations running at our customer's sites ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Handling growing number of Tenants in Multi-tenant Database Architecture
Handling a modest number of customers (tenants) in a common server with separate databases for each tenant's instance of the application is relatively straightforward and is normally the correct way ...
8
votes
2answers
489 views
Recovering logical space from a tablespace
I have a tablespace called DATA, and it is setup with auto-extend as false. This tablespace has two datafiles and is set up so it takes up 350 GB of physical space.
A week ago I queried ...
7
votes
2answers
434 views
SQL Server schema intact but every record from every table is gone
We recently set up a new virtual machine running Windows Server 2008 and slapped a copy of SQL server 2005 on it. The server had running and in use without a hitch for about two weeks. The only real ...
7
votes
2answers
730 views
100 TeraBytes Capacity Database - Resources and Time Estimates
I am working on a 'back of the envelope' calculation for a 100TB reporting database setup. I am seeking out thoughts from the experts here. Proposed environment:
Storage Capacity ~ 100TB
Tables ~ ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Are there any good and free tools for managing a PostgreSQL database?
Before, I have used phpmyadmin to manage an MySQL database, but now I would like to manage a PostgreSQL database. The PostgreSQL database is on a server, but not a webserver, so I don't use PHP.
Are ...
7
votes
2answers
18k views
oracle - list users with access to certain tables
I'm sure this has been asked before but I can't seem to find the relevant details for the following.
Is there some sort of pre-built table that can do the following (I have used dba_tab_privs but it ...
7
votes
3answers
4k views
How to detect any changes to a database (DDL and DML)
There are a lot of databases on my client's sql server. In common, these databases is under development, so developers can design, refactor, do data modifications and so on. There are some databases ...
6
votes
5answers
458 views
How do I rule out SQL Server as the reason for a slow website
A website we host has recently been experiencing slow load times. It's been ruled out that the problem lies with the web server and it maybe database related.
What steps or procedures do I take to ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
Why using innodb_file_per_table?
There are many articles exaggerating (IMHO of course) the need for innodb_file_per_table. I understand that with innodb_file_per_table, there should be a better control over the individual tables; ...
6
votes
2answers
139 views
Automation of backups of Large Number of Database
In a multi-tenant web application where a database is set up for each tenant, the database can be backed up and restored manually through a fairly conventional approach.
I am considering this type of ...
6
votes
3answers
162 views
Can I check the services currently running through SSMS?
I want to check which services has started and which has not by running a script/query on SSMS.
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Database Administrator vs Database Architect?
In terms of job responsibilities and activities, what is the difference between a Database Administrator (DBA) and a Database Architect?
6
votes
3answers
188 views
How do you protect against malicious PREPROCESSOR attacks in Oracle External Tables?
I'm a new DBA and I recently found out about the option of External Tables in Oracle using the PREPROCESSOR feature ( ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
On-the-fly query/command modification
I'm responsible for administrating an instance of SQL Server 200x which has the misfortune of serving as a backend to a turnkey application written with a disgusting performance problem. It repeatedly ...
6
votes
1answer
188 views
Role of Database Administrators
I am currently working as an application developer on a project which involves the creation of a new SQL Server database. I am actively working with a group of DBAs who will play some role in the ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
What is a good way to determine the performance I should expect from a PostgreSQL server?
Trying to figure out how I should expect my database to perform. Basically, I need to determine when the server I have set up is reaching its performance limits - which would help me plan server ...
5
votes
3answers
533 views
Software Engineers and DBAs
What are main difference between these twos? Up to which extend, a SE need to know about databases? Should they(SE) know the details of underlying db?
Where is the border between those two?
5
votes
3answers
205 views
How do you approach refactoring an ugly procedure/query?
I've inherited a database which contains several procedures which are 1000-1500 lines long, with complex nested sub-selects going up to 7 or 8 levels deep in places. I desperately need to refactor ...
5
votes
2answers
195 views
Running each SQL Server service under different Windows accounts
Besides the Database Engine, SQL Server has some additional Services, namely:
SQL Server Integration Services
SQL Server Analysis Services
SQL Server Reporting Services
SQL Server Agent
Should ...
5
votes
2answers
6k views
What is the Best Way to create MySQL Master-Slave Replication Setup and Troubleshoot it?
I am very new to Database Administration.
I face a lot of problems while setting up mysql master-slave replication.
I also face regular mysql replication troubleshooting issues.
Can anybody helps ...
5
votes
1answer
5k views
Is there any best way to reduce the size of ibdata in mysql.?
I have some Production servers whose ibdata increases in size day by day.
It has already consumed 290GB of space.
The tables in the servers are mostly InnoDB and there are high read and write ...
5
votes
1answer
320 views
Does dropping a Primary Key constraint from a Partitioned Table break the partition?
We have a table partitioned on a date column. The Primary Key for the table is a composite key of this date column and 4 other columns.
We are thinking about dropping the Primary Key constraint from ...
5
votes
2answers
840 views
Is there an Open Source Metadata Management Solution?
Is there an Open Source Metadata Management Solution? I'd like to create a Metadata Repository that will hold the details of the metadata of database schemas, tables and data items of hundreds of ...
5
votes
1answer
404 views
Stored Procedures Best Practices: Fenced or Unfenced?
I believe I understand the reasons behind fenced and unfenced stored procedures.
Fenced run "outside" of the database (in our case DB2) so as to prevent possible corruption of the database engine ...
5
votes
1answer
3k views
What exactly is binding in DB2?
I recently crossed over from being a Java developer to an actual DBA in our company. I am learning the ropes, so to speak, about being a DBA (which is actually somewhat of a new position for our ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Is it possible to synchronize two ms access db?
We have a flower store where we use MS Access and a client program to work with the database. But this program can work only with one database.
We are going to open a new store, so now we have to ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
How to reduce the log file size without shrinking it in SQL server
In SQL server, how do you reduce the log files size without (DBCC) shrinking it. I know shrinking the log file will free up some space, but will also cause fragmentation. Doing a checkpoint in simple ...
4
votes
4answers
186 views
Recommendation for free event monitoring software
I'm seeking recommendations for free / open event monitoring tools. HPOV costs continue to multiply like so many wet gremlins, and we've had enough.
There are some interesting suggestions in this ...
4
votes
2answers
415 views
Creating partitions on a production database
I have a production MySQL 5.1 database that is running well but I want to improve query performances. I have never used Partitions and just going through the manuals.
I have two tables that involve a ...
4
votes
3answers
9k views
Oracle 11g - Create Database fails?
I've just installed Oracle 11g and linked it to SQL Developer.
I want to create a database for my django install.
CREATE database 'django';
Error starting at line 1 in command:
create database ...
4
votes
3answers
116 views
Can anyone describe the step by step process of recovery , backup and restore in sql server
Can anyone describe the step by step process of recovery via backup and restore in SQL Server 2008.
If possible please include some examples.
4
votes
2answers
163 views
How to Correctly Estimate the Average Number of I/O Operations my RAID 10 disk can offer?
The average Input/Output Operations per Second a disk can sustain is a very important factor in the tuning of MySQL / InnoDB databases, as it drives the speed with which Dirty InnoDB Buffer Pool pages ...
4
votes
1answer
425 views
Appending backups while overwriting expired sets
I've been reading up on this, but the online documentation is a bit difficult to understand and seems awkwardly written. For example the INIT, NOINIT. One says it will try to overwrite everything. ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Expanding a partitioned table
I have a table that holds four years of data, where for each month I have a partition that is based on a filegroup with two files. Unexpectedly, I received eight more years of data and prepared the ...
4
votes
2answers
147 views
Isolation Level for a Data Warehouse
We are building out a data warehouse (and also some data marts as well) in our organization. My DBA skills have mostly been on OLTP type applications, but I am moving into supporting OLAP for our ...
4
votes
1answer
120 views
Is there a standard approach to rolling out database schema changes?
A developer said I should simply wrap all my database upgrade scripts in a transaction. If it fails, just roll back all changes. All my instincts tell me this is wrong, especially when it comes to ...
4
votes
1answer
32 views
High amount of Read Misses and Pages To Be Flushed
I am running a mysql database backend for a Moodle installation, and after a few months performance really starts to suffer (Up to 30 seconds for some pages to load). Under investigation in the InnoDB ...
