So You Want to be an Oracle DBA?: Still more useful information, scripts and suggestions for the new and experienced Oracle DBA. (Paperback)

by Stephen Ashmore (Author)
Key Phrases: telnet session, wellness script, table mytab, Modification History, Oracle Corporation, Ashmore Initial (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Newly updated for Oracle 9i, this compact easy to read technical guide is a must for every Oracle DBA's library. It includes information on creating an Oracle Database, backup recovery, tuning and new SQL features. It then moves onto several more advanced features. Included are several new and updated UNIX and SQL scripts that are easy to use and simple to understand. With over 45 mini lessons it is great starting point for a new DBA and a must have for all DBAs.

About the Author
Stephen C. Ashmore is a native of Calgary, Canada. A graduate of the American College of Computer and Information Sciences, he also holds the designation of Certified Computing Professional (CCP) from the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals. Stephen has been in the data processing industry since 1981 and has been an Oracle DBA since 1992. He presently resides in Bellevue, Nebraska with his wife Donna, and two children Stephen and Cassandra. Analysts International currently employs him as a consultant in Omaha, Nebraska, where he has worked and instructed at several client sites in the Omaha area.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: IUniverse (April 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595223273
• ISBN-13: 978-0595223275
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,488,118 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best intro for the new DBA - will get you quickly started, June 25, 2002

By	Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

First, you need to know that this book is based on version 9i and is focused on the UNIX environment. If you're using Oracle 8i and have no immediate plans to upgrade you will find that the previous edition (ISBN 0595174485) to be more suitable.

The ideal audience for this book is the new Oracle DBA or UNIX system administrators who have either inherited DBA responsibilities or who want to gain cross-functional skills. Experienced DBAs will find much of this book too basic, and may complain that it doesn't cover the full range of database administration topics.

In my opinion the relatively narrow scope of this book is one of its strengths. Instead of overwhelming the new DBA with hundreds of pages it sticks to the essentials. Another point in its favor is that the author doesn't attempt to go into gory details about how things work (information that you can get from other books as your comfort level and self-confidence improve), but remains focused on what you need to do in order to effectively manage and support an Oracle 9i instance.

While I liked the Getting Started and Some DBA tasks (Sections I and II) that start this book, I especially liked Section III, which covers tuning. This is the essence of what a DBA does, and the basics are well covered. This section also gives some excellent scripts that the new DBA will find invaluable. Section IV, is somewhat useful, but Section V is another favorite because it shows how to begin building your own set of tools, which is the hallmark of an experienced DBA. The scripts that are provided in this section are the foundation of database administration, and will spark ideas for additional and more specific scripts. The value is that you can learn much from what is provided.

Each topic in this book is given a brief 2-3 pages, which makes it somewhat terse. In many cases you'll have to go to other books for deeper explanations, but at least you'll be quickly functional.

If I had to choose a single book with which to get started this would be it. Of course you'll outgrow this as your skills and experience evolve, but it will get you started and does so using good practices and workable techniques.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent 'How to Guide', December 17, 2002

By	A User (Canada) - See all my reviews

This book is an excellent Oracle how to guide. It is quick and to the point on several DBA topics. It keeps the theory to a minimum so as to be concise as possible. It is an excellent resource for a junior DBA.
I use this book a companion to my other Oracle books, and keep a copy within easy reach.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Low quality.. plain and simple, December 11, 2002

By A Customer

If you are used to books from oracle press,Wiley,Osborne or other publishers, This book is not readable at all..