Database Administrator

     In a very general sense, a database administrator is the individual responsible for maintaining the RDBMS system. The DBA has many different responsibilities, but the overall goal of the DBA is to keep the server up at all times and to provide users with access to the required information when they need it. The DBA makes sure that the database is protected and that any chance of data loss is minimized.

 

A DBA can be someone who, from the start, has concentrated in the area of database design and administration. A DBA can be a programmer who, by default or by volunteering, took over the responsibility of maintaining a database server during project development and enjoyed the job so much that he switched. A DBA can be a system administrator who was given the added responsibility of maintaining a database server. DBAs can even come from unrelated fields, such as accounting or the help desk, and switch to Information Systems to become DBAs. A DBA needs the following : 

• Knowledge of the operating system in which database server is running.
• Knowledge of Structured Query Language(SQL)
• Sound database design
• General Understanding of network architectures(for example, Client/Server, Internet/Intranet, Enterprise)
• Knowledge about the database Server.

DBA Responsibilities

• Installing and Upgrading an database Server : The DBA is responsible for installing database Server or Upgrading an existing database Server. In the case of upgrading database Server , the DBA is responsible for ensuring that if the upgrade is not sucessful, the Server can be rolled back to an earlier release until the upgrade issues can be resolved.

• Monitoring the Database Server's Health and Tuning Accordingly : Monitoring the health of the database Server means making sure that the following is done :                                                         The Server is running with optimal performance.

                                                                   The error log or event log is monitored for database errors.

                                                                    Databases have routine maintenance performed on them, and the overall system has periodic maintenance performed by the system administrator.

 

• Using Storage Properly:  Database Servers enables us to automatically grow the size of your databases and transaction logs, or we can choose to select a fixed size for the database and transaction log. Either way, maintaining the proper use of storage means monitoring space requirements and adding new storage space(disk drives) when required.           

 

•   Performing Backup and Recovery Duties : Backup and recovery are the DBA's most critical tasks: They include the following aspects :

                                 - Establishing standards and schedules for database backups

                                 - Developing recovery procedures for each database

                                 - Making sure that the backup schedules meet the recovery requirements

• Managing Database Users and Security : With any database Servers, the DBA works tightly with the network administrator to add network users to the database or the DBA adds user logins. The DBA is also responsible for assigning users to databases and determining the proper security level for each user. Within each database, the DBA is responsible for assigning permissions to the various database objects such as tables, views and stored procedures.
  

•   Working with Developers : It is important for the DBA to work closely with the development teams to assist in overall database design, such as creating normalized databases, helping developers tune queries, assigning proper indexes, and aiding developers in the creation of triggers and stored procedures. 
  

• Establishing and Enforcing Standards : The DBA should establish naming convention and standards for the database server and databases and make sure that everyone sticks to them.
• Transferring Data : The DBA is responsible for importing and exporting data to and from the database server.
• Replicating Data : Database servers have many different replication capabilities such as Merge replication(2-way disconnected replication) and queued replication. Managing and setting up replication topologies is a big undertaking for a DBA because of the complexities involved with properly setting up and maintaining replication.
• Scheduling Events : The database administrator is responsible for setting up and scheduling various events to aid in performing many tasks such as backups and replication.
• Providing 24-hour access : The database server must stay up, and the databases must always be protected and online. Be prepared to perform some maintenance and upgrades after hours. Also be prepared to carry that dreaded beeper. If the database server should go down, be ready to get the Server up and running.
• Learning Constantly : To be a good DBA, you must continue to study and practice your mission critical procedures, such as testing your backups by recovering to a test database. In this business, technology changes very fast, so you must continue learning database server, available client/servers, and database design tools. It is a never ending process.