John W. Colby
jcolby at colbyconsulting.com
Tue Feb 25 12:09:12 CST 2003
>(not that I'm naming my dba from where I work at };o) heh heh heh). ROTFL. What I wouldn't give to get a Jr DBA position working on big SQL Server DBs. As you say, there are some things that only experience can buy. John W. Colby Colby Consulting www.ColbyConsulting.com -----Original Message----- From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Francisco H Tapia Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 1:00 PM To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com Subject: Re: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA I hear you. I am not certified... heck the only degree I have is an AA in Liberal Arts...my major was going to be in Architecture, but I found computers that much more "fun", I guess I'm a different type of architect now ;o). My work did send me to a Horizon's SqlServer Admin Class that only took 1 week. While I've been tinkering with SQL for a year now, and learning many things form going online to great sites like SqlServerCentral.com or even SWYNK.com there are certain experiences that even in a classroom environment you just won't learn. The other truth about SQLServer or any large DBMS is that you really don't want a *poser* working on them... in larger environments the newer dba's (JRdba's) usually get teamed up with a SR dba and must follow in his direction, but could you imagine what would happen on a new hire that passed the Interview and knew very little of SQL Server and ended up wiping out a production DB! (not that I'm naming my dba from where I work at };o) heh heh heh). Because they are *Mission Critical* DB's I think most companies want to make sure they get the most they can for their dollar w/ next to 0 risk. -Francisco http://rcm.netfirms.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "John W. Colby" <jcolby at colbyconsulting.com> To: <dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 9:43 AM Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA : I hear what you are saying, but what that implies is that the tests don't : measure what a person knows. : : If a person knows enough to pass the test, whether or not he took a class, : then he knows as much as the person who took the class and got the same : score (more or less). : : Or the tests suck and can't measure what they are supposed to so we will : force everybody to take a class since that's the only way to ensure they : know the stuff. In which case, why the test? : : John W. Colby : Colby Consulting : www.ColbyConsulting.com : : -----Original Message----- : From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com : [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Francisco : H Tapia : Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 12:37 PM : To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com : Subject: Re: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA : : : FWIW, IMNSHO SQL Server is leaps and bounds over typical Access Database : administration. There are DBA's I email with that can script out procedures : to take care of a full restore plans in case of a catastrophe. So besides : server A going down or HDD 3 of the Log Raid, is down, They often manage a : Farm of SQL Servers that take care of mountains of data. It's one thing to : know "how" to do something and I have great respect for these DBA's as they : always seem to have a minute or two to answer any of my "dumb" questions : :oD. I belive the same thing holds true for System Admins... We have a : "good" System Admin here at my current job, but he is by no means GREAT... : there are many mistakes he makes and many more things he doesn't know. If : for example he were a certified CISCO engineer, perhaps he'd be able to have : a better idea of subnetting our entire large collision domain network. This : is true for our own in-house Sql Server DBA, poor guy tries his damndest, : but still comes up short on many DBA specific duties... he is not too : familiar for example with SQL backup and restore process... or even SQL : Server Agent Alerts... ouch!... I am a Programmer/Developer by title, but I : dabble in everything, from software to hardware. : : -Francisco : http://rcm.netfirms.com : ----- Original Message ----- : From: "John W. Colby" <jcolby at colbyconsulting.com> : To: <dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com> : Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 9:07 AM : Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA : : : : Steve, : : : : Whine away, I feel the same way. No, actually knowing how to DO something : : is not enough! : : : : What a crock. : : John W. Colby : : Colby Consulting : : www.ColbyConsulting.com : : : : -----Original Message----- : : From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com : : [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Steven W. : : Erbach : : Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 11:56 AM : : To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com : : Subject: Re: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA : : : : : : Allan, : : : : I can appreciate the structured learning bit. I was wondering because I : : had a conversation with a good friend who, in the past, always kept up the : : certifications that he had. He seems to be despairing of the cost and : : bother. Unless one is focused very clearly on one skill these days, : : certification can become very expensive very quickly. Some--Cisco, for : : example--require re-certification every two years. I just wonder what that : : buys you once you get it. Continued advancement? Better-paying jobs? : : : : I looked up MCDBA certification classes in my area and found some being : : offered by another old friend of mine in the Chicago area. The : certification : : tests apparently cannot be taken unless one also takes the courses. I : found : : that a bit of a put-off. : : : : I was also curious that, on the Microsoft site, the MCDBA is geared for : : those with big company experience and big servers and big databases. : Somehow : : I doubt that these required courses offer anything in the way of : simulation : : of huge databases or multiple platform connections...or do they? : : : : I've worked with PCs since 1982 and on mainframes for a bit before that, : : back to 1975. It seems demeaning somehow that I cannot take a : certification : : test without going through an approved set of courses for which I pay a : : large sum of money. I'm perfectly capable of learning SQL Server--or : : anything else, for that matter--just fine on my own or in connection with : my : : client experiences. I guess I'm whining about having to take those : courses. : : If I do and if I get an MCDBA, what does it mean? : : : : Regards, : : : : Steve Erbach _______________________________________________ dba-SQLServer mailing list dba-SQLServer at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-sqlserver http://www.databaseadvisors.com ---------------------------------------------------- Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. Try it free! http://www.eMailBoss.com -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: winmail.dat Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 5172 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://databaseadvisors.com/pipermail/dba-sqlserver/attachments/20030225/a746527c/attachment.bin>