It's not quite so "hard and fast"
I'm considered a development DBA here. I design the schemas, the
database layouts, the initialization parameters that are set etc
I work with a hosting company to manage the staging and production
databases. I create scripts for ALL changes to any of these
environments.
Because we use a hosting company for our production data center, I'm
also involved in creating and maintaining runbooks.
I control all "emergency" fixes to the databases, no matter what the
environment. I handle data problems (yea, I know, I don't WANT to but
for the ecommerce website, sometimes we can't wait for the corrections
to flow through the system)
I work with all developers, helping to tune their code. I monitor and
help tune the production databases. I manage the move of databases from
one data center to another.
- "Boivin, Patrice J" <BoivinP_at_mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca> wrote:
> A "development DBA" is a developer who wants to design the schemas
> his/her
> application will rely on. I prefer calling them application
> designers,
> because that's what they are. Sometimes you have another role, that
> of
> "Application Administrator." This second group is for larger
> applications
> that sometimes require constant attention, esp. if user accounts have
> to be
> created, or custom views etc. ... or if the application wasn't ready
> for
> production and was placed into production anyway -- then it will
> require
> constant babysitting.
>
> Consultants come in usually to implement new projects, or to add
> features to
> an existing system. That makes them application designers or
> application
> developers. Sometimes (rarely) consultants are hired to tune
> systems, that
> would be a blend of DBA and application designer. This is rare
> though,
> usually the database layer is working properly it seems to me, if the
> DBA
> has been there for more than a year, has read a book or two, and has
> at
> least the echo of a conscience.
>
> A "production DBA" is responsible for ensuring that the structure
> beneath
> the application stays up and is tuned properly. He/she works with
> the
> system administrator(s) to ensure that the hardware and the Oracle
> software
> (rdbms, developer server, iAS, networking,...) are all working
> properly and
> as expected.
>
> I don't fully understand why developers (some developers) strive to
> be
> called a DBA. Here is my guess:
>
> Perhaps this distinction stays fuzzy in organizations because there
> is a
> constant tug-of-war for control over resources between the
> development and
> production groups. If an overlap can be created, then there is an
> opportunity to take over some of the other group's resources. Also,
> when
> responsibilities are not delineated clearly, there is an opportunity
> for one
> side to blame the other and management can never figure out who is
> doing
> what. I worked in a lab where we were implementing Good Laboratory
> Practice
> (GLP) for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there was supposed
> to be
> no overlap between positions. I noticed that the managers who played
> games
> and only thought about their own advancement didn't like GLP at all,
> they
> fought it tooth and nail. I liked the idea of separate each person's
> circle
> of responsibility myself. Why can't IT shops strive to do the same?
>
> Speaking as a DBA, it is my perception that developers tend to be
> project-oriented. That's fine, it's why they are there. But that
> tendency
> also means, when they see their deadlines coming, that they sometimes
> aren't
> keen on thinking long term. Perhaps it's not their fault, it's
> because of
> the way projects are funded. Which client wants to hear that for
> every
> project, money will have to be allocated for ongoing costs of
> maintenance,
> operation, upgrades every 2-3 years? No one wants to think about
> that when
> they only want to think about the great new things they will be able
> to do
> with the new application.
>
> Also, no one wants to spend more money than necessary, so there is a
> tendency to try to cut corners to get to the end of the project.
> That is
> probably why projects tend to be rushed into production. Once the
> projects
> are in production mode funding to finish the product dries up. That
> sometimes leaves the application designer off the hook and leaves the
> "production DBA" holding the bag.
>
> Finally, if you are designing a new project, the tendency is to try
> to
> retain control over as much of it as possible. If you declare
> yourself to
> be a "development DBA", then people are less likely to insist that
> you
> consult the DBA(s) during the design phase of a project. "What a
> bother
> that is, having to listen to other people -- it's "my" project! It
> will
> only slow us down... Worse, I will have to share the credit once the
> application works properly. That won't be as good for my career."
> If you
> know that the DBA in the organization is stubborn and intractable,
> then this
> is the route the application designers will try to take.
>
> I could draw up a list of things that can go wrong when DBAs are not
> involved in the design phase of a project, but I think all people
> need to do
> is brainstorm for ten minutes to get a list of 10 or more things that
> can go
> wrong... Then try to put a cost value to each of these items.
>
> Can you think of any examples from your work place?
>
> ; )
>
> Regards,
> Patrice Boivin
> Systems Analyst (Oracle Certified DBA)
>
> [this is my opinion, not the opinion of my employer... etc. etc.]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> [mailto:Ranganath.Krishnaswamy_at_blr.hpsglobal.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 4:29 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
> Hi Listers,
>
> I would like to know the differences between Development and
> Production DBA w.r.t. Roles and Responsibilities, Scope etc. Is
> there any
> difference in the role(s) played by a DBA in OLTP and DSS
> environments?
> Your invaluable viewpoints in this regard is most welcome.
>
> Thanks and Regards,
>
> Ranganath
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> Author: Krishnaswamy, Ranganath
> INET: Ranganath.Krishnaswamy_at_blr.hpsglobal.com
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Received on Tue Jan 28 2003 - 08:29:27 CST
