There are numerous responsibilities involved when doing database administration. The DBAs are generally in charge of the overall design, layout, and implementation of the database itself, and need to plan for any changes or future growth needed.
- They monitor performance of the database and related applications, tuning and making modifications as needed to ensure everything is working optimally.
- They establish and document database security policies and procedures, as well as those for backup and recovery.
- The DBAs need to have a thorough understanding of database software, features, and products, how to troubleshoot them, and how to install, configure, and upgrade them.
Using a database management system (DBMS) software package greatly enhances the ability of the DBA to effectively support the database. It allows the data in the database to be easily managed, organized, and retrieved.
- They can interact with different types of database models, such as network or relational models.
- They provide a convenient means to query the data stored there, as well as an easy method for inserting, updating, and deleting records.
- Database management systems also help maintain data integrity and control access.
Variations of Database Administration Jobs
The three main variations of the basic database administration job include:
- Systems DBA – Responsible for physical aspects of database administration, such as upgrades, backups, and performance monitoring/tuning.
- Development DBA – Responsible for activities involved in designing and implementing a new database.
- Applications DBA – Ensures that outside vendor software interacts properly with the database.
A database administrator may specialize in one of these types or may be responsible for all of them depending on the size of the organization and its needs.
Concept of Database Administration
The term database administration states how the databases are handled properly, how they can be manipulated, and how they can be kept secure. The person who cares for the entire database is called a database administrator.
A database administrator (DBA) is a person responsible for the installation, configuration, upgrade, administration, monitoring, and maintenance of physical databases.
The role includes:
- Development and design of database strategies.
- Monitoring and improving database performance and capacity.
- Planning for future expansion requirements.
- Planning, co-ordinating, and implementing security measures to safeguard the database.
Each database requires at least one database administrator (DBA). A database system can be large and can have many users. Therefore, database administration is sometimes not a one-person job, but a job for a group of DBAs who share responsibility.
Responsibilities of a DBA
The database administrator (DBA) is the person (or group of people) responsible for overall control of the database system.
The DBA’s responsibilities include the following:
- Deciding the information content of the database – identifying the entities of interest to the enterprise and the information to be recorded about those entities.
- Deciding the storage structure and access strategy – how the data is to be represented by writing the storage structure definition.
- Liaising with users – ensuring that the data they require is available and writing the necessary external schemas.
- Defining authorization checks and validation procedures.
- Defining a strategy for backup and recovery. Example: periodic dumping of the database to a backup tape, procedures for reloading, and use of log files.
- Monitoring performance and responding to changes in requirements.
Types of DBAs
There are different types of DBAs:
- DBAs who specialise in logical design.
- DBAs who specialise in physical design.
- DBAs who specialise in system development.
- DBAs who specialise in system maintenance and tuning.
- Specialist DBAs and general-purpose DBAs.
Some businesses choose to break DBA tasks into individual roles, while others simply engage DBAs to handle all of the work involved in designing, creating, documenting, tuning, and maintaining the organization's databases.
System DBA Responsibilities
A system DBA is primarily concerned with technical rather than business challenges in the field of system administration. Typical responsibilities include:
- Installing new DBMS versions and implementing maintenance updates provided by the DBMS vendor.
- Configuring and fine-tuning system parameters.
- Configuring the operating system, network, and transaction processors to work with the DBMS.
- Ensuring appropriate DBMS storage.
- Allowing DBMS to interact with storage devices and management applications.
- Interfacing with other technologies required by database applications.
- Setting up third-party DBA tools.
System DBAs are rarely involved in real database and application implementation. They usually become involved only when OS parameters or DBMS parameters need to be changed.
Role of Database Administrator
A database administrator (DBA) directs or performs all activities related to maintaining a successful database environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Designing, modeling, implementing, and maintaining the database system.
- Establishing policies and procedures for management, security, and use of DBMS.
- Training employees in database management and use.
- Staying aware of emerging technologies and new design approaches.
A DBA is usually expected to have experience with one or more major DBMS products, such as SQL, SAP, or Oracle.
Typical DBA Tasks
- Installation, configuration, and upgrading of Microsoft SQL Server/MySQL/Oracle server software.
- Evaluating DBMS features and related products.
- Establishing and maintaining backup and recovery policies.
- Taking care of database design and implementation.
- Implementing and maintaining database security.
- Database tuning and performance monitoring.
- Application tuning and monitoring.
- Setup and maintain documentation and standards.
- Planning growth and changes (capacity planning).
- Technical troubleshooting and consultation.
- Interfacing with DBMS vendors for support.
Importance of DBA
The DBA has a very important role in the company, but it is often not clearly defined.
- In small companies, DBAs may handle all aspects of database administration.
- In large enterprises, DBA roles are often divided into specialised tasks.
With SQL server availability at affordable prices and growing information needs, many small companies are also hiring database administrators.
Tracking DBA Work
It is better to keep a diary or record of tasks and their results:
- Can be a simple spreadsheet or web-based application.
- Each day new records are created and populated.
- Completed tasks are filled in with results.
- Unfinished tasks remain blank, helping track pending work.
Every server should have its own data column where individual data can be collected. Some information can even be automated as daily jobs to report server and job health.
These are the common tasks DBAs need to check on a daily or continuous basis.
