What do you guys do when not administering databases?

[sqlturbo]

I know this is not a technical question on SQL Server but as so many brains frequent this forum, I thought this is the place to get some answers.

I administer the SQL server database of a company with sales under $100 million and our database size is less then 100G . As far as the databases go, I have the maintenance plans in place, regularly check the heatlh of the dataabases, fine tune objects, keep the server upto date with the lastest security patches and also do the back up and all that that goes with administering databases. And yes, I have passed the certification exams as well.

For the level of opearations/transactions we do, after I finish all the above, I am left with ample time at hand. The company does not have big projects that will keep a DBA busy full 8 hrs day. That leaves me with time to read and catch up with all the technical developments in the field. I wish I was a DBA for the WalMarts or the GE's of the world just so that I keep getting hammered with database related problems all day long. I not a keen programmer else I would have coded my way to glory. I am more of a data person.

What do you guys do with downtime or am I the only one with lack of database problems?
Or if could you suggest me some projects that you have done on your databases?

I am just too eager to hear some stories/ suggestions and become more productive.

 

[SQLBill]

I review this site and Microsoft's SQL Server site to keep up with the latest.

I work on improving my programming.
I create new programs that come to my mind.
I go over old programs and try to improve them.

I am building a new database on a separate machine. I found a need for storage of certain data and decided to create the database to hold it. You could also create a 'play' database. On this database you can play with creating scripts and overloading a database so you can practice fixing it.

Do you use DTS?
Do you use XML?
Are there other things you don't use that might be beneficial to learn?
Those are good uses for a test or 'play' database (preferably on a stand-alone server).

Lastly, is there another part of the job that you can learn? Do you have over-worked sys admins? Network admins? Maybe you can offer to lend them a hand and learn something new. I do this and it's a real bonus when I have problems...the other admins are always willing to lend a hand to me.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[sqlturbo]

Thanks SQLBill for your suggestions.

I like your suggestion to create a play database. I'll go ahead and create one.
- try and do some programming but not the one who would take to it willingly.
- do a lot of DTS but mostly for just migrating data from one source to another.
- use XML now and then but I guess I could sharpen my skills on it a little bit.
I guess I could do more of the above.

Networkd admins are not over worked. I wish they were as that would have been a sign good business times but that aint the case now. But I get your point. The more skills one has the better off one his.

 

[SQLBill]

Programming. This is almost a need to know for DBA's - in my opinion.

WHY? I have users that run Crystal Reports and ask why's my query so slow? Because I can program, I can run their query on SQL Server via Query Analyzer and check it out. Most of the time I can make it run better. Sometimes I have turned it into a stored procedure and just have them execute it via Crystal Reports.

Do you do backups? How do you do them, via Maintenance plans (wizard) or do you write the script?

I try to do as much as I can via programming so I understand what is actually happening.

But you are correct, programming isn't for everyone.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[sqlturbo]

I do daily backups using backup exec from Veritas. That apart, on a weekly basis I backup all the data on disc. I use the Maintenance plans to do that. Maybe I should try to do it thru a C# application using SQLDMO.

Just to get a perspective, how many databases and database servers do you administer? Do you use any audit tools like Log Explorer?

A good hand at coding definitley gives the DBA an extra edge. And knowing a langauge may become necessary with Yukon. What are your thoughts on Yukon giving programmers a step-in into the world of writing queries the way they want to?

 

[SQLBill]

I don't know anything about Yukon, the chance of us going to it is very slim. Our main use of SQL Server is built around one specific vendor's product.

I DBA three servers and five instances of SQL Server (all are Enterprise Edition). It's a total of four databases not counting any of the system databases (Master, Model, MSDB, TEMPDB) and we remove Northwind and Pubs immediately upon install. One database is currently 180+ GB.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875