Does Big Data Make Oracle DBAs Irrelevant—or Irreplaceable?

Profiting from big data means changing how your organization views data. Big data is often unstructured, and wringing value from it demands advanced analytics. Does this mean that conventional Oracle DBAs, with their relational database focus, are irrelevant in this new world order? Or do big data challenges make the Oracle DBA role more vital […]

5 Reasons—Besides Cost—to Outsource Your Oracle DBA

Even in this “age of outsourcing,” Oracle database administration (DBA) outsourcing is still often overlooked. Despite some predictions to the contrary the overall percentage of organizations outsourcing their DBA has remained relatively small and stable in recent years. Perhaps this is because Oracle DBA outsourcing is most often treated as a cost-based, tactical decision rather […]

Privileges missing after Oracle full import

While performing a migration from Oracle 10g to Oracle 11g (on new hardware) recently,  we encountered a familiar frustration that I am surprised is not resolved yet. Privileges missing after Oracle full import. There are multiple ways to migrate a database from one version to another. One of the oldest and easiest ways is to […]

Oracle In-memory Database—Speed and Simplicity Meet Up. Have you tried it out yet?

One of the major announcements Oracle made during the Open World was the launch of Oracle In Memory Database Option. The In-Memory option to Oracle Database 12c is 100 percent compatible with existing applications and leverages all existing Oracle Database functionality. At first look, some key benefits jump out: Though this is a paid option, […]

Using the Data Dictionary to find hidden data in SQL Server

A client asked me recently how he could find a string in his SQL Server database without knowing what table or column it was in. The string was a translation of a code that appeared on one of the UI screens. This was a packaged CRM database and he had no documentation on the schema. […]

MySQL Parser Deficiencies

MySQL is a very popular database for many applications. But the parser has some important deficiencies that developers need to be aware of. The parser is inconsistent and not robust in the way that it enforces statement syntax. This may lead to ambiguity and application defects that are very difficult to find. I include one […]

Oracle Editioning — Upgrading database applications while in use

Among the features introduced in Oracle 11g is Edition Based Redefinition. This feature enables us to have multiple active versions of database objects in order to facilitiate online application upgrades. Prior to this release, if an application used stored procedures or triggers, upgrades required database downtime in order to redefine database objects. This new feature […]

Critical Oracle Security and Stability Flaw Discovered

Infoworld today announced that they have been researching a flaw in oracle that can result in the inability to restore your database. Large oracle shops with interconnected databases are most at risk. The problem revolves around oracle’s SCN (system change number). The number has a limit that if exceeded, can render a database unusable, even […]

Total System Failure: Why you should validate your database backup

Every now and then things happen that make us realize how important double checking things can be. I had a recent experience in which four unrelated parties (including me) did the wrong thing regarding one business transaction. If any one of us had done the right thing, there would have been no problem. But all […]

Database Downtime: Prepare For The Unexpected

Test your Assumptions: Database Backup and Recovery Every now and then something happens that really drives home the need to test and validate the assumptions that we have about the availability of our IT assets. I had an experience this week that brought to mind the importance of testing backup and recovery and business continuity plans. […]