The Multifunctioning DBA » Learning http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:01:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 More of what I am reading http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/more-of-what-i-am-reading/ http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/more-of-what-i-am-reading/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:00:44 +0000 Colin Smith http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/more-of-what-i-am-reading/ I also picked up a more advanced Techical book and I am looking forward to dive into it, but I have not started reading it just yet. This book is Professional SQL Server 2008 Internals and Troubleshooting. While I have not opened up to page one and started reading it, I have used this book already 4 or 5 times to look things up to help me troubleshoot some issues. So far I would say that the book has already paid for itself just in the time saved looking things up in it and not sifting though hundreds of Google Hits and then looking for good information on the issue.
While I still consider myself new to SQL Server I do think that I am ready for a book of this caliber and I look forwared to getting into it and trying out many of the tips and tricks that I am sure the book holds. I think that understanding more about how SQL Server works under the flashy clicky gui pages will really help me be a better DBA and make my servers better for customers. Also I know that Brent Ozar (Blog | Twitter) is a co-author of the book and I read his site everyday and find myself disappointed when he does not have a new post. I like his wit, his writting and his knowledge level so him being one of the authors was a big selling point for me.

After I dive in I will give a full review on the book but I am sure it will be good. Most books that I have read from the Wrox publisher have been very good and I only expect more from this book.

]]> http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/more-of-what-i-am-reading/feed/ 1 What I am Reading http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/what-i-am-reading/ http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/what-i-am-reading/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:00:17 +0000 Colin Smith http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/dba/?p=395 I recently picked up a few books and I thought I would mention them here and let you know what I think about them. First I picked up DBA Survivor: Become a Rock Star DBA

 I kind of fell into being a DBA after being a Windows Admin and thought this might shed some light on things that I should be doing. I have not finished the book yet, but I am more than half way through it. First let me say that it is written in a way that makes you want to keep reading. It is not dry like most Technical books, but in all fairness, it has not been terribly technical to this point. The Author does a great job lalying out what is going to be expected of you as a DBA and how to get in the job and grabbing the reigns and taking control. He talks about producing a server list and determining what servers you are and are not responsible for. This was great for me. When I started I did generate a server list of all the SQL Servers but I just assumed that I was the man for them all. Wow was that daunting!! This book lets you know that you may not need to care for all the servers and so I went to my boss with the list and he helped me weed out what I was and was not responsible for. Great tip. My boss also helped me prioritize some of the servers so I knew what to look at first.
I do not want to give out any more of the Authors secrets but the book is full of them. I had already been a DBA for a while and I had done and do many of the things that the book talks about, but I have learned many things from it as well. I recommend this book for anyone that wants to be a DBA or anyone that just wants to be a better DBA. Great book this far and I am looking forward to finishing it up.

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