Arthur Fuller
artful at rogers.com
Tue Feb 25 20:35:08 CST 2003
If you want one of those, I nominate myself! -----Original Message----- From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com] Sent: February 25, 2003 1:11 PM To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA >To me, an equal score without taking the test also suggests an intuitive learner with great comprehension skills and/or breadth of real-world experience. Yep. Wouldn't you love to hire "an intuitive learner with great comprehension skills and/or breadth of real-world experience"? Particularly if it were "AND breadth of real-world experience"? John W. Colby Colby Consulting www.ColbyConsulting.com -----Original Message----- From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 1:01 PM To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA John, the tests can ONLY measure one's current knowledge of the limited material in question. To me, an equal score without taking the test also suggests an intuitive learner with great comprehension skills and/or breadth of real-world experience. Perhaps an added point system for non-course takers is needed (not to be confused with a handicap or Affirmative Action)? Ron Moore Sr. Database Administrator Comtech PST Corp. Melville, NY www.comtechpst.com -----Original Message----- From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 12:44 PM To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com 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 : Scientific Marketing : Neenah, WI : : "Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits." - Mark Twain : : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- : ---- : : Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. Try it free! : http://www.eMailBoss.com : _______________________________________________ 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 ---------------------------------------------------- Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. 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