Is it boring yet?

Is it boring yet?

Is it boring yet? February 17, 2009
Filed under: musing — prodlife @ 3:11 am Filed under: musing - prodlife @ 3:11 am

unbored

Two years ago I’ve read an interesting post by Paul Vallee. Two years ago I've read an interesting post by Paul Vallee. He was explaining the business case behind Pythian and other IT outsourcing services, and made the point that in-house DBAs automate themselves out of work and into boredom. He was explaining the business case behind Pythian and other IT outsourcing services, and made the point that in-house DBAs automate themselves out of work and into boredom.

It made lots of sense when I’ve read it, and since I’ma good DBA, and I try to automate everything, I’m waiting for my job to become boring. It made lots of sense when I've read it, and since I'ma good DBA, and I try to automate everything, I'm waiting for my job to become boring. Somehow it does not quite happen. Somehow it does not quite happen.

The very scientific graph above explains part of the reason - In the last year our business nearly doubled (it was an amazing year!), while the DBA headcount was reduced by 30%. The very scientific graph above explains part of the reason - In the last year nearly doubled our business (it was an amazing year!), While the DBA headcount was reduced by 30%. No one was fired. No one was fired. Actually two excellent DBAs were promoted. Actually two excellent DBAs were promoted. But they are no longer DBAs and there will be no replacements. But they are no longer DBAs and there will be no replacements.

There are other things that keep me from getting bored. There are other things that keep me from getting bored.

* We are doing load tests now (I could swear it was QAs job last year). We are doing load tests now (I could swear it was QAS job last year). Load tests are non-boring by definition - after you have the right tools and scripts there is still tons of non-automatable brain work involved. Load tests are non-boring by definition - after you have the right tools and scripts there is still tons of non-automatic brain work involved.
* We are planning to switch to new storage systems (maybe). We are planning to switch to new storage systems (maybe). This means that everything changes - from backups to DRP. This means that everything changes - from DRP to backups.
* We keep evaluating new tools. We keep evaluating new tools. Confio or Grid Control? Grid Control or trust? UC4 or Opsware Orchestrate or Patchlink? UC4 or Opsware or Patchlink Orchestrated?
* There are more and more exceptions to our standard procedures. There are more and more exceptions to our standard procedures. In this economy it is risky saying “we don’t do this”, so we have to make our tools more and more flexible. In this economy it is risky saying "we do not do this, so we have to make our tools more and more flexible.
* Oracle Streams. Oracle Streams. We had it automated from day one. We had it from day one automated. But it keeps breaking and we keep discovering new bugs/limitations. But it keeps breaking and we keep discovering new bugs / limitations. This product is complex and buggy enough to keep me un-bored for years. This product is buggy and complex enough to keep me un-bored for years.
* Integrations. Integrations. Until this year we had seperate databases for seperate applications and we liked it that way. Until this year we had separate databases for separate applications and we liked it that way. Now everyone wants their peopleware to talk to their project management tool, their monitors to their bug control, and of course everything should be integrated with the CMDB. Now everyone wants to talk to their Peopleware their project management tool, their monitors to their bug control, and of course everything should be integrated with the CMDB. Finding good solutions for this integrations and supporting them is a challenge. Finding good solutions for this Integrations and supporting them is a challenge.
* Process improvements. Process improvements. We are an ITIL shop (and proud of it!), and big part of ITIL is the process improvement process. We are an ITIL shop (and proud of it!), And big part of ITIL is the process improvement process. Release management processes are the big target this year. Release management processes are the big target this year.
* Simple things sometimes fail. Simple things sometimes fail. Just last month I’ve seen 2 DBAs, with over 30 years of experience between them, take over a week to install 10.2.0.2 RAC. A bug, of course. Just last month I've seen 2 DBAs, with over 30 years of experience between them, take over a week to install 10.2.0.2 RAC. A bug, of course. But bugs still exist. But bugs still exist.

So, I did not automate myself into boredom. So, I did not automate myself into boredom. Maybe next year. Maybe next year. What about everyone else? What about everyone else? Are you bored yet? Are you bored yet?

PS - the graph above is part of the latest trend of visualization. PS - the above graph is part of the latest trend of visualization. If you want to be a cutting edge and trendy DBA, read Tanel Poder and Alex Gorbachev and learn how. If you want to be a cutting edge and trendy DBA, read Tanel Poder and Alex Gorbachev and learn how.
Comments (8) Comments (8)

8 Responses to “Is it boring yet?” 8 Responses to "Is it boring yet?"

1.
chet Says: Chet Says:
February 17, 2009 at 6:20 am February 17, 2009 at 6:20 am

i’ma new DBA (well, the developer who knows more than he should variety, let’s just say Junior OK?). I'ma new DBA (well, the developer who knows more than he should variety, let's just say Junior OK?).

i haven’t hit nor do i expect to hit the boredom factor anytime in the near future. i have not hit nor do i expect to hit the boredom factor anytime in the near future. working both sides of the fence has been fun especially in relation to security. working both sides of the fence has been fun especially in relation to security. i’ve always kept on eye on security, but from a developer perspective, not a DBA. I've always kept on eye on security, but from a developer perspective, not a DBA. Who has access? Who has access? Who can do what? Who can do what? All the questions related are fun right now. All the related questions are fun right now. I suppose that will go away after awhile… I suppose that will go away after awhile ...

I could see the boredom factor coming into play though. I could see the boredom factor coming into play though. Especially if you’re “just” a Production DBA. Especially if you're "just" a Production DBA.
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2.
PaulM Says: PaulM Says:
February 17, 2009 at 10:41 am February 17, 2009 at 10:41 am

Paul might as well have been describing my DBA work before Pythian. Paul might as well have been describing my work before Pythian DBA. You start as a full time DBA and end as a fractional DBA. You start as a full time DBA and end as a fractional DBA.

Your boredom won’t occur until your application(s) stop growing or the number of databases you support stops. Your boredom will not occur until your application (s) stop growing or the number of databases you support stops.

Another way I found to relieve boredom is learn another database. I found another way to relieve boredom is learn another database. Soon you find that whilst the syntax and architecture (and tools) are different many things remain the same and are open to similar automation. Soon you find that whilst the syntax and architecture (and tools) are different many things remain the same and are open to similar automation. Especially when there are never been a DBA ever look at the said database. Especially when there are never ever been a DBA look at the said database. This is especially true for MySQL and even some SQL server shops. This is especially true for MySQL SQL server and even some shops.

Have Fun Have Fun
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3.
prodlife Says: prodlife Says:
February 19, 2009 at 5:49 pm February 19, 2009 at 5:49 pm

@chet Chet @
Yes, I expect to get bored eventually, but it is taking longer than expected. Yes, I expect to get bored eventually, but it is taking longer than expected.
I do wonder whats the next career step for bored DBAs. I do wonder whats the next career step for DBAs bored.

@PaulM Funny, I find SQLServer and Oracle so different, that it is difficult for me to be proficient in both at the same time. @ PaulM Funny, I find Oracle and SQLServer so different, that it is difficult for me to be proficient in both at the same time. After 3 month of doing intense SQLServer work, I forget some Oracle basics. After 3 months of doing intense work SQLServer, Oracle I forget some basics.
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4.
Log Buffer #136: A Carnival of the Vanities for DBAs Says: Log Buffer # 136: A Carnival of the vanities for DBAs Says:
February 20, 2009 at 5:00 pm February 20, 2009 at 5:00 pm

[...] DB’s days are numbered, you will be glad to hear that it ain’t necessarily so that DBA work is doomed to get boring. [...] DB's days are numbered, you will be glad to hear that it is not necessarily so that DBA work is Doomed to get boring. So explains Chen Shapira, illustrating her thesis with a sophisticated [...] So Chen Shapira explains, illustrating her thesis with a sophisticated [...]
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5.
Eric Gross Says: Eric Gross Says:
February 23, 2009 at 10:12 pm February 23, 2009 at 10:12 pm

Chen - Chen --

I really enjoy your blog - it’s great to see content out there on the internet from the perspective of a proactive thinking DBA who cares about how a company’s strategy plays with the database. I really enjoy your blog - it's great to see content out there on the internet from the perspective of a DBA proactive thinking who cares about how a company's strategy plays with the database.

I would like to mention that I think GridApp Clarity should be one of the tools that you evaluate because we have extensive content specific to the database space that can improve both the productivity of staff as well as increase the consistency across your environment. I would like to mention that I think GridApp Clarity should be one of the tools that you evaluate because we have extensive content specific to the database space that can both improve the productivity of staff as well as increase the consistency across your environment.
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prodlife Says: prodlife Says:
February 24, 2009 at 5:02 am February 24, 2009 at 5:02 am

@Eric @ Eric
I usually don’t like letting self-advertisements on my blog, but Gridapp Clarity does look like a useful tool, and we will probably add it to the list of products we’ll evaluate this year. I usually do not like letting self-advertisements on my blog, but Gridapp Clarity does look like a useful tool, and we will probably add it to the list of products this year we'll evaluate.
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6.
Ben Prusinski Says: Prusinski Ben Says:
March 4, 2009 at 4:08 pm March 4, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Hi Chen, Hi Chen,

Nice post- fortunately, backup and recovery is never ever the same which keeps my life interesting and challenging! Nice post Fortunately, backup and recovery is never ever the same which keeps my life interesting and challenging! Especially when you have missing archive logs and have to do a search for these during a restore! Especially when you have missing archive logs and have to do a search for these during a restore! Plus RMAN is not a four letter dirty word. Plus RMAN is not a dirty four letter word.

Cheers, Cheers,
Ben Ben
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7.
prodlife Says: prodlife Says:
March 5, 2009 at 3:55 am March 5, 2009 at 3:55 am

@Ben @ Ben
This is probably because you are a consultant? This is probably because you are a consultant?

In our environment backup and recovery are considered mostly a “solved” problem. In our backup and recovery environment are mostly considered a "solved" problem. Our procedures didn’t change much in few years, we practice regularly, we know what to do. Our procedures did not change much in few years, we practice regularly, we know what to do.

Now I must knock on wood, because having said that, I probably activated Murphy’s law and in few days you’ll see a post with a recovery horror story… Now I must knock on wood, because having said that, I probably activated in Murphy's Law and you'll see a few days after recovery with a horror story ...
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