Chapter 1. When to Step Away from the Keyboard

Once, while attending an Oracle conference, I overheard a heated cell phone conversation with the phrase "Step away from the keyboard!" Things were not going well back at their office: the backup Database Administrator (DBA) was attempting to fix a problem and there was a debate about what to do next. The database was down and the less-experienced DBA was attempting to bring it up without investigating why it was down in the first place. Just taking an extra minute to look at the database alert log before attempting to bring up the database might prevent the need to do a time-intensive restore process from a backup. In this chapter, we shall take on the philosophy as well as the motivation behind the DBA's role in the Enterprise, which can make or break a technical career.

A DBA will not know exactly how to fix every problem or issue that arises, but they should be well-versed in the tools available for diagnosing and eventual resolution. Attention to detail while not losing sight of the big picture is an important attribute to have. Focusing too much on the smaller, less essential items would be a waste of valuable time. All tasks and accomplishments should be centered on improving service to the client, so it makes sense that maximizing availability is a primary objective for a DBA. This chapter also includes a list of tips to avoid making a major blunder or a possible career-ending mistake such as the example above.