DBA Operational Considerations

Three Operational considerations

1. Can you carry out your backup and recovery plan?
2. What could go wrong operationally?
3. If you have a plan, can your people carry it out?

While working as a DBA for a brokerage firm, I was responsible for implementing database changes and running test scripts from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every day. One Friday, I was running the scripts for a change and it bombed. Only then did I discover that the programmer had not provided a back out script to remove the changes. I called his residence and then his manager’s residence and no one was home. I ended up working until 2 a.m. restoring the database to the last backup because I didn't have a 5-minute script to undo the changes. I should have checked to make sure that both scripts were provided. Operationally, I messed up. Defining operational procedures is important, but make sure you have a fallback position. An alternative plan is vital since surprises can arise with even the best, most well thought out plan. Here are some of the operational concerns related to backup and recovery: ?

1. Can I bring the database down to do maintenance (OS, hardware, software, and so on)? ?
2. Do I store backups off site? ?
3. Can I support the business requirements with the current staff? ?
4. Is the database schema changing frequently? ?
5. Are my tables being updated heavily? If so, which ones? ?
6. If I get sick can the replacement DBA do my job?

As you can see, operational concerns play a major role in determining your backup and recovery plan. Just as you know that your database is only as powerful or stable as your technology allows, your plan is only as good as the ability of the people in your department who support the plan. Question your plan frequently to be sure it will function when you must use it.

An Oracle DBA must take several operational concerns into account in order to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of the database infrastructure. Some of these concerns include:

1. Database performance: Monitoring database performance and taking steps to optimize it, such as tuning SQL statements and adjusting memory and disk configuration.
2. Security: Ensuring that the database is secure and protecting sensitive data by implementing security measures such as encryption, access controls, and audit trails.
3. Data integrity: Ensuring that data is accurately maintained and free from corruption by implementing data validation, backup and recovery processes, and transaction management.
4. Capacity planning: Forecasting future resource requirements and taking steps to ensure that the database infrastructure can scale as needed.
5. Data backup and recovery: Implementing a backup and recovery strategy to ensure that data can be recovered in the event of a disaster.
6. Maintenance and upgrades: Performing regular maintenance activities, such as database patching and upgrading, to ensure that the database infrastructure remains up-to-date and secure.
7. Monitoring: Monitoring the database infrastructure for potential issues and taking action to resolve them before they become major problems.
8. User management: Managing user access to the database and ensuring that users have the appropriate level of access to perform their job functions