Whats is the main characteristics/skills of a DBA? [part 2]

This is a second round about this post.

In the first part, I listed the top 8 “Personal Characteristics” of a DBA, to me and 7 other authors. Now, let’s do the same about the “Technical Characteristics”, or just “Skills”…

As I said in the first part of, it’s not an usual subject, so, identify and select these skills was not an easy task. Also as in the first part, I made my own list before the search. And I believe in something like that…

# Top 8 DBA Skills:
(By Matheus)

1) Database Architecture

Components, pools, events, basic flow and structure, reports, logs, traces, views, SQL concepts… In a nutshell, how to use a Database. 

2) Logic and some Programming Skills

Basic programming skills/logic is needed. Programming best practices, techniques and logics base in, at least, 2 different paradigms.

3) Infrastructure Knowledge

Components that surround or are basic services to DB : Networks, Computer Architecture / processors , Storage , Application Server operation , etc.

4) Data Structs and Database Design/Modeling

After all, it’s what database means: understand about structure of objects, partitioning, indexes, statistics, transactions, data modeling, manipulation tools and data migration.

5) Solid SQL and PL/SQL

As a base of data, you must know where data is, how to get it, how to manipulate it efficiently and aligned with good development practices. Isn’t it?

6) Database and SQL Performance Tuning

Wide and the hardest to archive in my opinion. For archive excellence on it, you’ll need all items above. Database operating knowledge, their pools, optimizers, available resources, development/programming and SQL to find gaps in the code, and infrastructure knowledge to understand possible external interference in the functioning of the DB.

7) Security and Oracle Support Interacting

Knowing good patching management practices, how to apply them, techniques and strategies for patch, upgrade and migration, openness and interaction on SRs, navigation Metalink, seraching and understanding of bugs, backup/recovery (DRs) management, access and possible security gaps in infrastructure, systems, or credentials.

8) Knows the Environment / Applications

To know the main applications of the company where you are, it implementation language, some business rules, the environmental behavior, most normal events, peak hours, the operation of legacy applications, people, company practices and their major gaps is essential.

What do you think about my list?
Here is the lists of 5 important references I found, just to have in mind:

# Burleson
– System analisys and design skills
– Database design skills
– Physical disk storage skills
– Databa Secutiry Skills
– Backup and Recovery Skills
– Change Control Management Skills
(http://www.dba-oracle.com/oracle_tips_dba_job_skills.htm)

# Craig Mullins
– Data modeling and database design
– Metadata managements and respository usage
– Database schema creationg and management
– Backup and recovery
– Ensuring data integrity
– Performance management and tunning
– Ensuring availability
– SQL code reviews and walk-thru
– Procedural skills
– Data security
– Capacity planning
– General database management
– General system managements and networking skills
– ERP and business knowledge
– Extensible datatype administration
– Web-specific technology expertise
– Storage management technics
(http://www.craigsmullins.com/dbta_085.htm)

# Mark Spenik and Orryn Sledge
– 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 itself
(http://www.developer.com/db/article.php/718491/What-Is-a-Database-Administrator.htm)

# Oracle
– Installing and upgrading the Oracle server and application tools
– Allocating system storage and planning future storage requirements for the database system
– Creating primary database storage structures (tablespaces) after application developers have designed an application
– Creating primary objects (tables, views, indexes) once application developers have designed an application
– Modifying the database structure, as necessary, from information given by application developers
– Enrolling users and maintaining system security
– Ensuring compliance with your Oracle license agreement
– Controlling and monitoring user access to the database
– Monitoring and optimizing the performance of the database
– Planning for backup and recovery of database information
– Maintaining archived data on tape
– Backing up and restoring the database
– Contacting Oracle Corporation for technical support
(http://www.developer.com/db/article.php/718491/What-Is-a-Database-Administrator.htm)

# Wikipedia
– Communication
– Database theory
– Database design
– Technology knowledgements
– SQL & PL/SQL
– Computing architectures
– Operating Systems
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_administrator)

What do YOU think about it?

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