Oracle DBA Prerequisites and Demands

It is very demanding to be a database administrator, or DBA. You first need to be an expert on the database software itself, in this case the database is Oracle 19c. The primary mission of a database is to store information on a disk, and retrieve it when needed. So you will soon find that you need to learn about disk storage, including such things as

1. RAID,
2. disk mirroring, and
3. striping.

The efficient use of memory is critical to Oracle's performance, giving you another subject area to learn about.
You will need to back up your database, which might lead you into the world of tape drives and backup software. Users will want to connect to your database. Usually that is done over a network. Another characteristic of a DBA is, you have to constantly be in a learning mode.
There are many types of Oracle databases, and there are many types of Oracle database administrators. This module discusses the role of the Oracle DBA as well as the training that Oracle DBAs typically need to be successful. You will look at the daily routine of a typical DBA, which will give you an idea of what to expect if you are new to the field. This chapter also covers ways you can improve your skill level as an Oracle DBA and prepare to keep the databases under your stewardship performing optimally.

The main responsibility of a DBA is to make corporate data available to the end users and the decision makers of an organization. All other DBA tasks are subordinate to that single goal, and almost everything DBAs do on a day-to-day basis is aimed at meeting that single target. Without access to data, many companies and organizations would simply cease to function.
Scenario: Imagine the chaos that would ensue if a company such as Walmart no longer had access to its customer database, even for a short time. The entire company could cease to function. At a minimum, it would lose perhaps thousands of online orders. As a DBA, your job is to ensure access to your organization's data. You are also responsible for protecting that data from unauthorized access.
DBA Responsibilities:
DBAs are also responsible for other areas, including the following, all of which further the key goal of making data available to users:

1. Security: Ensuring that the data and access to the data are secure
2. Backup: Ensuring that the database can be restored in the event of either human or systems failure
3. Performance: Ensuring that the database and its subsystems are optimized for performance
4. Design: Ensuring that the design of the database meets the needs of the organization
5. Implementation: Ensuring proper implementation of new database systems and applications

In a small organization, a DBA could be managing the entire information technology (IT) infrastructure, including the databases, whereas in a large organization there could be a number of DBAs, each charged with managing a particular area of the system.
You can put the tasks you will perform as an Oracle DBA in the following three categories:

1. Security
2. System management
3. Database design

I discuss each of these broad roles in more detail in the following sections, outlining what you could consider the bare minimum level of performance expected of a DBA. Although the lists in each section may seem long and daunting, the tasks are really not that difficult in practice if you follow certain guidelines. Proper planning and testing, as well as automating most of the routine tasks, keep the drudgery to a minimum. All you are left with to do on a daily basis are the really enjoyable things, such as performance tuning or whatever else may appeal to you.

This course is designed for professionals who want to become certified Oracle database administrators. Managing an Oracle database requires a broad range of technical knowledge. In order to take this course, you need to be very comfortable working in your current operating environment. Specifically, you should:

1. Be comfortable installing and configuring software.
2. Know your operating system reasonably well. You must be comfortable navigating to different directories, editing text files, copying files, running programs, and so forth.
3. Have access to a text editor, such as NotePad++ on a Windows machine or nano on Linux.
4. Preferably have access to an Oracle or Oraclei database, so that you can follow along with the examples and create the course project. You can still take the course if you do not have access to Oracle; you will just have to skip the hands-on exercises.
5. Have a basic understanding of relational databases and how they are used.
6. Be reasonably familiar with Structured Query Language (SQL). You do not need to be an expert, but you should be able to write simple SELECT statements. You need to understand what it means to join two tables, and know how to do that.
7. Be comfortable using command-line utilities rather than using a graphical user interface (GUI).

• Platform Requirements:
  Database Creation and Architecture is supported on MacOS, Linux, and Windows platforms. Any computer, tablet or mobile device that has a browser.
  Any operating-system-specific examples will be provided in both Windows and Linux versions.

You have made the right decision to pursue certification, because being certified in the latest version of Oracle, Oracle Database 12c, will give you a distinct advantage in this highly competitive market. Many readers may already be familiar with Oracle and do not need an introduction to Oracle databases. Oracle created the first commercial relational database and is now the world’s leading database company and second-largest independent software company with revenues of more than $37 billion, and is headquartered in Redwood City, California.
Oracle databases are the de facto standard for large Internet sites, mission-critical enterprise applications, and cloud solutions. With the acquisition of Sun Microsystems, Oracle offers complete enterprise business solutions with engineered systems capable of running world-class databases and applications. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application suites, data warehouses, and business applications at many large and medium-sized companies rely on Oracle. The demand for DBA resources remains higher than others during weak economic times.
This course is intended to help you on your path toward becoming an Oracle Database Administrator Certified Associate (OCA) which is the first step on the path toward Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) and Oracle Certified Master (OCM) certification.
Oracle 19c Certification