DBAzine.com - Craig Mullins: Perspectives on Database Management

Free Database Archiving Webinar

cmullins — 2007-11-27T12:11+00:00

Attend a free webinar on database archiving on November 28, 2007 at 10:30 am CST.

What's Up

cmullins — 2007-07-25T14:57+00:00

A few random thoughts today.

Free DB2 Database Design Webinar

cmullins — 2007-07-09T13:16+00:00

Attend a free webinar on DB2 database design on July 25, 2007 at 10:30 am CST.

Managing DB2 Application Performance

cmullins — 2007-06-13T10:33+00:00

Assuring optimal performance for database applications can be a tricky thing. In today's blog I ruminate on the high-level issues involved in optimizing your DB2 for z/OS applications.

Some New Database Books to Consider

cmullins — 2007-05-28T22:26+00:00

If a book has anything at all to do with data, data management, or database systems, then I�??m interested in it. Since I gather and read (maybe not cover to cover for every one) many of the new database books on the market I thought I'd share my opinions on a few of my recent additions.

Free Database Archiving Webinar

cmullins — 2007-05-21T10:32+00:00

Attend a free webinar on database archiving on May 31, 2007 at 10:30 am CST.

DB2 9 for z/OS

cmullins — 2007-05-14T16:43+00:00

A new series of blog postings dedicated to the features and functionality of DB2 9 for z/OS.

Long-Term Data Retention Drives Database Archiving

cmullins — 2007-05-06T00:06+00:00

A closer look at what it takes to successfully archive data from your operational databases and preserve it for the long haul.

DB2 Symposium

cmullins — 2007-04-24T06:25+00:00

This week I'm in Bonn, Germany attending a joint IMS Symposium and DB2 Symposium event.

Latest Salary Information for DBA and Database Specialists

cmullins — 2007-04-18T15:15+00:00

It seems that some of my most popular blogs have been about salaries... I wonder why that is?

What is the Cost of a Security Breach?

cmullins — 2007-04-16T13:48+00:00

We keep hearing about data being breached, stolen, and nefariously accessed - but what is the cost of a data breach?

DBA Proverbs, Part 4

cmullins — 2007-04-09T14:21+00:00

Another entry in my on-going series of favorite, helpful quotes for DBAs (and others)...

Many Eyes Visualizing Data

cmullins — 2007-04-03T16:37+00:00

Because a picture is worth a thousand words, the ability to create pictures from our data might make mountains of data more useful.

Data Quality

cmullins — 2007-04-02T12:11+00:00

Data quality is a problem, but here are four books that can help.

Deadly DBA Habits

cmullins — 2007-03-23T12:44+00:00

A nicly written article that details the bad habits that should avoided by all database administrators.

Who Is to Blame for Data Breaches?

cmullins — 2007-03-15T13:50+00:00

Finally, the true culprits are revealed!

Highlights From DAMA Symposium & Metadata Conference 2007

cmullins — 2007-03-12T09:56+00:00

Last week (March 4 thru 8, 2007) I attended the annual DAMA Symposium & Meta-Data Conference in Boston, MA... and here are some of the highlights from the show.

DAMA Symposium & Meta-Data Conference

cmullins — 2007-03-05T22:22+00:00

An update from the DAMA Symposium and Meta-Data Conference in Boston.

On Normalization and Logical Modeling

cmullins — 2007-03-01T00:43+00:00

Thoughts on why you should not ignore normalization during logical data modeling.

DBA Proverbs, Part 3

cmullins — 2007-02-12T21:34+00:00

Another installment in my semi-regular series of favorite quotes applicable to database administration.

Don't Buy Symantec Products

cmullins — 2007-02-10T16:15+00:00

...because their support is horrible.

Gee, If I Had Only Waited a Day

cmullins — 2007-02-06T10:57+00:00

What's up with DB2 today is different than what was up with DB2 yesterday.

What's Up With DB2 Today?

cmullins — 2007-02-05T10:45+00:00

A DB2 for z/OS status check.

DB2 for z/OS and DST

cmullins — 2007-01-29T15:42+00:00

Will this year's monkeying around with daylight savings time impact DB2 for z/OS?

Date on Database

cmullins — 2007-01-29T10:50+00:00

An educational and eminently readable new book from the czar of database systems, Chris Date.

The Ascent of Metadata

cmullins — 2007-01-24T23:17+00:00

The importance of metadata is rising - and many organizations are beginning embrace metadata as a means to regulatory compliance.

Musical Metadata: Part 5

cmullins — 2007-01-17T11:35+00:00

Genre can be a tricky piece of metadata to populate accurately.

Musical Metadata: Part 4

cmullins — 2007-01-15T13:12+00:00

Dealing with artist name issues.

Musical Metadata: Part 3

cmullins — 2007-01-12T10:56+00:00

Continuing our exploration of the metadata issues involved in handling MP3s and iPods.

Musical Metadata: Part 2

cmullins — 2007-01-09T14:11+00:00

Yesterday I blogged about the importance of metadata when using an iPod (or any MP3 player). Let's explore this further, starting with... the music is the data, so what is the metadata?

Musical Metadata: Part 1

cmullins — 2007-01-08T10:01+00:00

Thoughts inspired by my new iPod.

Add Another SQL Book to the List

cmullins — 2007-01-05T11:03+00:00

"SQL Hacks" by Andrew Cumming & Gordon Russell is recommended SQL reading.

Legal Requirements to Archive Database Data

cmullins — 2007-01-02T14:09+00:00

Continuing along the vein of my past few blog entries, we look at the legal mandate for data retention.

Happy New Year

cmullins — 2006-12-28T19:53+00:00

Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, and all that jazz...

Database Archiving

cmullins — 2006-12-18T11:10+00:00

Solving the Long-Term Data Retention Problem

The Impact of Data Volume on Operational Databases

cmullins — 2006-12-14T15:10+00:00

Data needs to be archived for regulatory compliance, but it can benefit the performance of operational systems, too.

The Trend Toward Long-Term Data Retention

cmullins — 2006-12-07T20:30+00:00

Organizations today are storing more date for longer periods of time. This raises issues about where and how this data should be stored.

More on DBA Salary Levels

cmullins — 2006-12-01T11:44+00:00

Readers are always intersted in salaries... and Certification Magazine just published their annual survey.

Defining Database Performance

cmullins — 2006-11-28T16:16+00:00

As you fight the daily fight to improve the performance of your operational databases have you ever stopped to consider how you would define database performance?

Data Governance and Regulatory Compliance

cmullins — 2006-11-22T12:17+00:00

Check out my Data Management Today blog for some posts on data governance and regulatory compliance.

DBAs Out-Earn Other IT Staff Positions

cmullins — 2006-11-21T14:09+00:00

According to a recent survey, of all IT staff positions, DBAs earn the most.

Happy Thanksgiving

cmullins — 2006-11-20T11:45+00:00

This week Americans celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving.

DBA Proverbs, Part 2

cmullins — 2006-11-15T23:05+00:00

Or, More of my Favorite Quotes...

When Not to Index

cmullins — 2006-11-12T22:52+00:00

Answering a question I got via e-mail on indexing...

Seeking Certification?

cmullins — 2006-11-06T10:40+00:00

News from the certification front...

The Color of Oracle's Hat

cmullins — 2006-11-01T10:48+00:00

Unless you've been hiding out under a rock this past week you've heard about Oracle's Unbreakable Linux plans...

Happy Halloween

cmullins — 2006-10-31T16:12+00:00

Just a quick entry today to...

The Cost of Data Breaches

cmullins — 2006-10-25T09:52+00:00

A recent Computerworld article discusses data breach issues and cost.

IBM Information on Demand Conference 2006

cmullins — 2006-10-24T11:46+00:00

Last week I attended IBM's first Information on Demand (IOD) conference.

Pssst... Want a Quarter Mill to Run Oracle on Your Mainframe?

cmullins — 2006-10-23T11:12+00:00

An offer from IBM (and Oracle).

Some Interesting New Books

cmullins — 2006-10-22T01:13+00:00

A quick overview of some recent books I've acquired...

My Upcoming October and November Schedule

cmullins — 2006-10-12T10:39+00:00

A quick entry to inform everyone where I'll be speaking the next couple of weeks.

Audit Your Backup Procedures

cmullins — 2006-10-11T11:39+00:00

A recent Shark Tank article backs up the notion that you should periodically audit your backup tapes, procedures, and policies.

Data Breach Expectations

cmullins — 2006-10-10T15:57+00:00

What should our expectations be in terms of IT being able to prevent data breaches?

IDUG Europe - Day Three

cmullins — 2006-10-04T16:32+00:00

A short synopsis of the third day of the IDUG conference in Vienna (October 4, 2006).

IDUG Europe - Day Two

cmullins — 2006-10-03T10:57+00:00

A short synopsis of the second day of the IDUG conference in Vienna (October 3, 2006).

IDUG Europe - Day One

cmullins — 2006-10-02T09:44+00:00

A short synopsis of the first day of the IDUG conference in Vienna (October 2, 2006).

IDUG in Vienna

cmullins — 2006-10-01T07:25+00:00

The International DB2 User Group's annual European conference...

Moving from IMS to DB2?

cmullins — 2006-09-30T14:56+00:00

Another regular question that I get involves comparing IMS to DB2, or helping to determine if it makes sense to convert from IMS to DB2.

The Relational Database Dictionary

cmullins — 2006-09-26T11:35+00:00

A new book of relational terms, concepts, and examples from Chris Date.

Intelligent Database Management

cmullins — 2006-09-24T16:43+00:00

A high-level overview of what is needed to keep corporate databases up and efficiently running...

Choosing the Best DBMS?

cmullins — 2006-09-20T19:49+00:00

One of the questions I get on a regular basis is some variation of "how can I choose what DBMS is the best"... so I'll try to offer some high-level guidance here.

DBA Proverbs

cmullins — 2006-09-15T13:33+00:00

Over the years I have collected sayings and proverbs that I think might have some applicability to database administration... I thought I'd share some of them with you today. I don't know who might have said all of them originally, but they are all apt and entertaining (at least I think so).

The Tao of DBA

cmullins — 2006-09-07T09:48+00:00

Can the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tao be applied to database administration?

Log Buffer #8: a Carnival of the Vanities for DBAs

cmullins — 2006-09-01T10:16+00:00

I wrote about The Pythian Group's Log Buffer database metablog a week or so ago, and in keeping with the old adage that no good deed goes unpunished (!), I was asked to put together one of the weekly Log Buffer installments... so here it is...

A Database Breach

cmullins — 2006-08-30T10:58+00:00

We've discussed data breaches here before, but here is one where the data breached was in a database.

Data Breaches Cause Firings

cmullins — 2006-08-29T09:26+00:00

It looks like some IT executives are paying the penalty for presiding over data breaches... but is that the proper approach to take?

Agile Shmagile

cmullins — 2006-08-25T12:32+00:00

My thoughts on the whole "agile" movement.

A Database Metablog?

cmullins — 2006-08-22T10:57+00:00

This blog of blogs offers an interesting way to keep up-to-date on what is being said in the blogosphere regarding database management.

My Favorite Oracle Books

cmullins — 2006-08-21T11:11+00:00

I am by no means an expert on Oracle, but I like to keep up-to-date on all of the most popular DBMSes so I regularly obtain and read all types of technical books. Today, I'll share with you my list of favorite Oracle books.

SHARE in Baltimore Next Week

cmullins — 2006-08-10T11:34+00:00

A reminder about a great conference and a warning about airport security.

Update on DBA Salaries

cmullins — 2006-08-09T11:03+00:00

An update on salaries from Enterprise Systems.

VA Loses Another Laptop

cmullins — 2006-08-08T09:19+00:00

No, even though it may seem like it, this is not old news. Yet another laptop goes missing at the Veterans Administration.

A Data Quality Initiative

cmullins — 2006-08-07T15:10+00:00

In this blog entry I share a recent Q+A exchange on data quality.

The Data Commandments

cmullins — 2006-08-02T11:44+00:00

A couple of months ago I threatened to produce a list of data commandments, and today, I make good on that threat.

Relational Still Matters

cmullins — 2006-08-01T12:20+00:00

Have you noticed that relational "technology" is taking a beating these days? With new "data models" purported to be better than relational, it seems that the industry is all too ready to stick a fork in relational.

Are You Bored Yet?

cmullins — 2006-07-31T07:43+00:00

Is the field of IT really one of the most boring professions you can choose?

Data Breach Solutions?

cmullins — 2006-07-28T07:59+00:00

Yesterday I blogged about steps the government is taking to tighten up rules and regulations but...

Feds Looking to Toughen Data Breach Notification Reqs

cmullins — 2006-07-27T11:39+00:00

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo toughening the government's rules on reporting incidents involving personally identifiable information... and other actions seem likely.

From DBA to IA?

cmullins — 2006-07-26T08:52+00:00

Will database administrators become information architects?

RDBMS vs. DBMS

cmullins — 2006-07-25T15:32+00:00

What is the difference?

Happy DBA Day!

cmullins — 2006-07-21T12:43+00:00

Did you know that there is a day to celebrate all that your system administrators do for you?

How to Measure Your DBAs?

cmullins — 2006-07-10T14:09+00:00

A couple of recent blog postings here have caused the age old question of how to measure the effectiveness and quality of your DBA staff.

One More

cmullins — 2006-07-07T12:29+00:00

Here is a short follow-up with a response to an earlier posting on the number of DBAs required.

SeaCode Update

cmullins — 2006-07-06T07:02+00:00

A quick update on a different sort of outsourcer.

Article I'm Quoted In

cmullins — 2006-07-05T13:50+00:00

What is Large?

cmullins — 2006-07-03T12:47+00:00

Everyone seems to agree that we are storing more data today than ever before and that our databases are getting bigger. But if someone says that they have a "large" database do we really have any idea what that means?

Stolen VA Data Recovered

cmullins — 2006-06-29T12:14+00:00

Some happy news that hopefully will not cloud the issue that "something" still needs to be done to better protect our data.

How Many DBAs?

cmullins — 2006-06-27T21:46+00:00

So, how does anyone figure out how many DBAs are needed at their shop?

Wait-a-Second, Who Owns My Data?

cmullins — 2006-06-21T23:16+00:00

AT&T has revised its privacy policy... and, of course, it makes things worse for the consumer.

Reactive, But at Least a Response

cmullins — 2006-06-20T18:14+00:00

Some good news in the never-ending onslaught of data breaches. Well, "good" if you stretch the meaning of good, I guess...

Congress Weakening Data Privacy

cmullins — 2006-06-15T01:52+00:00

More bad news about data privacy.

330K Names and SSNs "Lost"

cmullins — 2006-06-11T20:59+00:00

In which we review another case of mistreated data and review the meaning of the word "lost"...

Exactly What Is Needed!

cmullins — 2006-06-09T15:37+00:00

Angry US veterans are suing the government in response to having their personal data stolen.

Another Stolen Laptop Causes Data Breach

cmullins — 2006-06-06T14:45+00:00

Have you taken measures to protect your laptop computers? And the data on those computers?

Credit Card Data Stolen

cmullins — 2006-06-05T11:00+00:00

Yet another data breach in the news.

IT Commandments?

cmullins — 2006-06-03T17:41+00:00

Have you seen this?

The Latest on Data Professional's Salaries

cmullins — 2006-06-01T10:04+00:00

A recent report on IT salaries contains some interesting data.

Oracle Singing "King of the Hill, Top of the Heap!"

cmullins — 2006-05-26T00:21+00:00

Both IDC and Gartner have released their annual DBMS market share reports, and Oracle, once again, is the DBMS King.

Recommended SQL Books

cmullins — 2006-05-25T00:28+00:00

I get a lot of questions asking about the computer reference books I prefer. One of the regular topics is SQL, so here are my current favorites.

More Data Stolen

cmullins — 2006-05-22T19:32+00:00

As Our Privacy Swirls Down the Drain...

cmullins — 2006-05-18T11:58+00:00

Unless we (that is the collective we, folks, meaning every last one of us) do something about it, we will have zero expectation of any privacy anywhere in our lives.

IBM Redbooks

cmullins — 2006-05-17T23:54+00:00

Many of my readers are probably aware of IBM redbooks, but for those who are not, here is a quick introduction to a valuable free technical resource.

Database Fundamentals

cmullins — 2006-05-13T22:53+00:00

Although most of the readers of this blog should understand the basic concepts and fundamentals of database technology, some folks who think they understand the basics often do not. So, this blog entry is intended to serve as a very short introduction to the fundamentals of database management systems.

Spotted on a T-Shirt at IDUG

cmullins — 2006-05-10T13:58+00:00

Warning: Contains Geek Humor

IDUG Blogging

cmullins — 2006-05-09T12:55+00:00

Just a short entry to point you over to my DB2portal.com blog to read about my experiences at IDUG.

Data Breach Law Unlikely This Year

cmullins — 2006-05-05T14:09+00:00

More Than 160 Data Breaches

cmullins — 2006-05-05T01:37+00:00

Data breached at Ohio University; and a chronology of recent data breaches.

IDUG in Tampa: May 7-11, 2006

cmullins — 2006-05-02T14:12+00:00

There is still time to plan a trip to Tampa for the North American International DB2 User's Group conference.

DAMA Wiki

cmullins — 2006-05-01T15:23+00:00

I attended and spoke at the DAMA Symposium and Metadata Conference last week in Denver, CO. The event is trying something unique this year with a conference wiki...

A DBA Code of Ethics

cmullins — 2006-04-28T11:56+00:00

Kudos to Stephen Wynkoop at SSWUG for attempting to put together a code of ethics for database administrators.

Tales of the Oak Table

cmullins — 2006-04-23T00:50+00:00

An interesting book for database users of all persuasions.

The Data Management Oath

cmullins — 2006-04-17T14:42+00:00

A recent blog entry I made here on the idea of having an oath, like the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors, to be taken by data management professionals has sparked a lot of conversation.

You Down With OPD?

cmullins — 2006-04-14T17:16+00:00

Florida exposes its citizens' data to identity thieves.

Database Problems Stop People from Voting

cmullins — 2006-04-13T14:29+00:00

Are we really ready to use technology in this way for democratic elections in the USA?

Nifty Encryption CD-Rs

cmullins — 2006-04-12T12:51+00:00

A new product that, if used properly, might minimize the impact of breached data...

Old, Reliable Tape

cmullins — 2006-04-09T13:40+00:00

Sometimes the answer is not something shiny and new, but something old and reliable, like tape.

If Sun Tzu Coded SQL...

cmullins — 2006-04-04T17:01+00:00

...he might write a book like "The Art of SQL".

More Data Driving Improvements to Disk Technology

cmullins — 2006-04-03T11:53+00:00

Each year we are storing more and more data, so it is a good thing that disk drive technology is improving to keep up with that desire. Or is the desire growing because the technology is there to support it?

Bad Data Everywhere

cmullins — 2006-03-29T16:56+00:00

Just a quick example of the bad data that exists everywhere.

On Leaky Pipes and DBAs

cmullins — 2006-03-28T12:16+00:00

How is a plumber like a DBA?

Data Privacy, Sharing Tax Data, and a New Hippocratic Oath

cmullins — 2006-03-23T11:55+00:00

Are you comfortable with allowing your tax return data to be sold to marketers? I'm not and here's a modest proposal for trying to combat the invasion of our data privacy...

DBA Automation and Regulatory Compliance

cmullins — 2006-03-20T12:07+00:00

Regulatory compliance and governance issues are top of mind these days. If you are a DBA and have yet to study the issue, do so now. There is a lot to learn.

More on Choosing a DBMS

cmullins — 2006-03-17T10:38+00:00

For those requesting more details on DBMS selection criteria.

More Woe for Frequent Travelers

cmullins — 2006-03-16T11:31+00:00

Although this blog is normally reserved for database management issues, today I will use it to vent about the continuing degradation of air travelers.

Choosing a DBMS

cmullins — 2006-03-13T14:08+00:00

I get a lot of e-mail from folks asking questions about database stuff. Questions on data administration, DBMS products, tools, SQL, and so on. I don't mind if folks e-mail me, but I can't always get around to responding to everyone who e-mails. So, every now and then, I'll use my blog to answer some questions that I get on a regular basis.

SHARE Conference - Alive and Kicking

cmullins — 2006-03-09T13:08+00:00

Just got back from speaking at and attending the SHARE conference in Seattle, Washington.

Data Privacy Policies

cmullins — 2006-03-04T18:52+00:00

Have you ever read those inserts that your bank, your credit cards, your insurance company, your mutual fund company, and others slip inside your statements and bills?

The Problem with Prediction

cmullins — 2006-03-02T00:54+00:00

Predicting the future is a messy business.

Another Data Breach in the News

cmullins — 2006-02-28T15:16+00:00

It seems like every time you turn around there is another massive breach of data security at yet another company.

Spring Training, Baseball, and Database Management

cmullins — 2006-02-24T17:25+00:00

For an old baseball fan this time of year is exciting. For an old DBA, a new book combines the thrill of baseball season with the efficacy of databases, and I like that!

Data Breaches: More for the Ethical DBA to Think About

cmullins — 2006-02-22T16:09+00:00

(Im)proper treatment of data, once again "in the news."

The Ethical DBA?

cmullins — 2006-02-21T16:16+00:00

What do you think about database security hardware?

cmullins — 2006-02-19T16:29+00:00

Can we expect hardware solutions to improve database security?

Another Pro-Business DBA

cmullins — 2006-02-16T13:27+00:00

In an interview given to SearchOracle.com, Anthony L. Politano, espouses the benefits of being a business-savvy DBA.

Massive Data Sweep

cmullins — 2006-02-13T23:36+00:00

Ruminations on data privacy, security, and freedom.

New Book, A Real Time Saver

cmullins — 2006-02-10T23:13+00:00

I read a lot of books, computer as well as other non-fiction and fiction. Every now and then a book stands out that I have to mention.

More Details on IT Salaries

cmullins — 2006-02-07T18:14+00:00

It seems that the most popular blog entries I've made so far have been the ones that deal with salary issues. At least that seems to be the case in terms of comments posted. So here is another one...

Here We Go Steelers!

cmullins — 2006-02-04T22:09+00:00

Here we go.

Some of My Favorite Quotes

cmullins — 2006-02-01T19:35+00:00

In today's blog I share some of my favorite quotes and how they apply to database professionals.

You Want Big? Be a DBMS Vendor

cmullins — 2006-01-26T21:24+00:00

In this blog entry we take a look at the biggest software companies in the world.

More History: Object vs. Relational

cmullins — 2006-01-23T15:32+00:00

As I near completion on reorganizing and cleaning my office closet, I wanted to comment on the object DBMS push of the early 1990s.

Cleaning Out My Closet, Part 3

cmullins — 2006-01-21T17:28+00:00

As I continue to pore over old magazine and documents that were clogging my closet, I point out some of the more interesting things I find.

But When They're Right...

cmullins — 2006-01-17T13:42+00:00

In my previous blog entry I pointed out several wrong and/or suspect predictions made by industry pundits. But they're not always wrong.

Predicting the Future? Don�??t Believe a Word of it!

cmullins — 2006-01-11T17:40+00:00

Have you ever wanted to go back in time to review all of those confident pundit predictions to determine which came true and which, well, didn't?

Database Performance and Row Size

cmullins — 2006-01-09T23:51+00:00

Recently I was reading through some posts in a database-related newsgroup or mailing list (actually, right now I can't remember which one it was). The conversation I was reading was in response to a question like "Does the number of columns or size of the row matter in terms of performance?"

Thoughts on Storage

cmullins — 2006-01-04T10:52+00:00

Random ruminations on storage to start the new year.

The Top 5 of '05

cmullins — 2005-12-20T15:05+00:00

With the year nearly at a close I thought it might be a good time to look back on the most interesting things that happened in the world of database systems and data management in 2005.

Database Design: From Logical to Physical

cmullins — 2005-12-19T01:11+00:00

Recently I've posted blog entries about data modeling and metadata management, but it occurred to me that it might make sense to back up a little and discuss database design at a higher level.

SMBDBMS

cmullins — 2005-12-12T10:51+00:00

The next battle in the database market centers on small to medium-sized businesses. Everyone wants to sell a DBMS to SMBs... and why not?

Patents Need a Warehouse

cmullins — 2005-12-07T22:09+00:00

Just a quick posting to point readers to an interesting article on patent data from USA Today.

Smarter DBAs? That�??s a New One.

cmullins — 2005-12-02T09:50+00:00

Perhaps, finally, DBAs are being appreciated for just how knowledgeable and adept they need to be?

I Fly a Lot for Business but...

cmullins — 2005-11-29T16:01+00:00

...I've never experienced anything like this!

A Poor, Misguided Soul

cmullins — 2005-11-28T14:52+00:00

If you wonder why data integrity is as bad as it actually is, read on.

New Data Management Portal

cmullins — 2005-11-25T09:20+00:00

Just a short blog entry here to alert readers to a new portal.

What is the "Trajectory" for a DBA Career?

cmullins — 2005-11-21T14:32+00:00

Several recent articles seem to be "at odds" with the common wisdom "in the field" regarding the market for DBA jobs. Is it a lucrative and growing market? Or a stagnant and difficult one?

DBA Best Practices?

cmullins — 2005-11-17T19:31+00:00

What are the things that you do, or want to do, on a daily basis to manage your database infrastructure?

Rooting for Jail Time

cmullins — 2005-11-16T15:09+00:00

What the data management industry needs is some jail time for high level executives, don't you think?

A Couple of Recent Quotes

cmullins — 2005-11-10T15:36+00:00

I just wanted to post a short blog entry pointing regular readers to a couple of recent published articles where I was interviewed and quoted...

Pay on the Rise for Data Professionals?

cmullins — 2005-11-05T13:02+00:00

A recent Information Week article on IT pay caught my eye.

Dueling Blogs?

cmullins — 2005-11-01T15:22+00:00

Just a quick post to promote another of my blogs, and to define the difference between the two.

Searching Piles of Mainframe Data

cmullins — 2005-10-27T10:54+00:00

Google for the mainframe? Seems like it is imminent...

InfoWorld on Metadata

cmullins — 2005-10-26T01:19+00:00

Just a quick pointer to a recent article on metadata...

Gartner: Are Databases Dead? DBAs to Follow?

cmullins — 2005-10-25T17:39+00:00

At the recent Gartner Symposium in Orlando, FL, two Gartner analysts posited the theory that databases are dead... wonder what I think of that?

Big "R" Repository?

cmullins — 2005-10-25T11:58+00:00

There was a day, oh so long ago, when data management professionals believed in that big repository of all corporate metadata...

Challenges to Managing Metadata

cmullins — 2005-10-24T16:00+00:00

In this posting, as we continue to investigate the rebirth of metadata management, we examine some of the challenges of successful metadata management.

Database Fundamentals

cmullins — 2005-10-21T15:37+00:00

Most of the readers of this blog probably think that they understand the basic concepts and fundamentals of database technology. However, some who think they understand the basics might actually have less of a firm grip on the topic than they think. So let's take a short diversion to review some of the fundamentals of database management systems.

Modeling Enhances Metadata Management

cmullins — 2005-10-13T16:55+00:00

If there is indeed to be a resurgence in metadata management, appropriate procedures and solutions will need to be put in place to bring order to the chaos that is corporate data.

A.N.A.R.C.H.Y.

cmullins — 2005-10-12T15:29+00:00

In today's blog entry I republish an article on acronyms that I wrote several years ago. It is titled, A.N.A.R.C.H.Y. (or Another Nasty Acronym Resolves to Confound and Hound You), and it has been one of the more popular items I've written over the years. Hope you enjoy it...

DBA Salaries: What Do You Earn?

cmullins — 2005-10-10T10:21+00:00

DBA salaries are assumed to be among the highest in IT. Is that accurate? Is it fair? What's the deal?

Bad Standards: #5--"None Shall Pass"

cmullins — 2005-10-05T18:25+00:00

Rigidly adhering to a standard without being reasonable is itself, a bad standard.

Bad Standards: #4--Data Duplication

cmullins — 2005-10-03T17:44+00:00

In this case, the bad standard is that there is no formal standard.

Bad Standards: #3--Table Limits for Online Joins

cmullins — 2005-09-26T20:12+00:00

With this entry we go back to our continuing series on "bad" database standards.

Hurricane Rita: All is Well

cmullins — 2005-09-24T14:22+00:00

A short recap of the past few days.

Hurricane Rita

cmullins — 2005-09-21T14:17+00:00

Making emergency preparations.

Bad Standards: #2--Too Many Columns!

cmullins — 2005-09-19T20:26+00:00

The second in a continuing series of bad database standards attacks the misguided notion of putting too many columns in the SELECT-list of your SQL statements.

Bad Standards: #1--Limits on Indexing

cmullins — 2005-09-14T21:39+00:00

With this blog entry I start a new series discussing bad database standards. Almost every DBA group keeps a database standards manual - but most do not keep it up-to-date. I'll try to tackle some of the more popular standards that should be done away with.

Database Disaster Recovery

cmullins — 2005-09-06T10:16+00:00

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it is a good time to briefly review the basics of database disaster recovery.

A Resurgence Of Metadata Management

cmullins — 2005-09-02T14:46+00:00

Are we poised for a resurgence of interest and attention being given to metadata and its management?

Useful New Mainframe DB2 Info on the Web

cmullins — 2005-08-26T15:17+00:00

For those of you who work primarily with DB2 on the mainframe, here are some very useful new sources of information on the web.

Some Highly Recommended Database Books

cmullins — 2005-08-16T15:46+00:00

In an earlier post I listed what I believe to be the classic computer books that belong on every IT professional's bookshelf. This list focused on non-database books, but I promised that I would list my favorite data-related books in a future blog entry. So, in today�??s blog I will recommend some of my favorite database books.

Jumping on the Open Source DB Bandwagon

cmullins — 2005-08-11T18:40+00:00

Open source database systems continue to gain in popularity, and in commercial companies looking to profit from them.

DBA Certification

cmullins — 2005-08-09T17:38+00:00

In this blog entry I attempt to answer some questions about certification: Namely:

- what is certification?

- why is it so popular?

- and is certification worth it for DBAs?

On Firemen, Web Time, and Service Levels

cmullins — 2005-08-06T18:50+00:00

In this blog entry I take the time to rant about some of what is ailing the "discipline" of database administration.

More Random Thoughts

cmullins — 2005-08-03T16:56+00:00

Another entry in my semi-regular "random thoughts" series.

Open Source Database Management Systems

cmullins — 2005-07-31T22:43+00:00

A quick look at the state of the open source DBMS market.

"Implementing Database Security and Auditing" - A Useful, Timely Book

cmullins — 2005-07-22T19:54+00:00

From time-to-time I will use my blog to promote a particularly good database-related book. And Ron Ben Natan's new book on database security and auditing merits your attention.

Ship to Shore

cmullins — 2005-07-13T11:22+00:00

Cruise into savings with developers at sea.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 8 (Be Business Savvy)

cmullins — 2005-07-12T16:00+00:00

Heads-down DBAs who know technology, but not their company's business, soon will be on the endangered species list.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 7 (Diversify)

cmullins — 2005-07-09T01:31+00:00

A good DBA is a Jack-of-All-Trades. You can't just master one thing and be successful in this day-and-age.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 6 (Invest in Yourself)

cmullins — 2005-07-05T13:27+00:00

So, are you worth investing in or not?

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 5 (Focus)

cmullins — 2005-07-02T12:30+00:00

In a complex, heterogeneous, distributed world it can be hard to keep your eye on the right ball, at the right time.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 4 (Don't Panic)

cmullins — 2005-06-30T10:49+00:00

A calm disposition and the ability to remain cool under strenuous conditions are essential components of the makeup of a good DBA.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 3 (Share)

cmullins — 2005-06-29T10:06+00:00

Knowledge transfer is an important part of being a good DBA - both transfering your knowledge to others and participating in having others' knowledge transferred to you.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 2 (Automate)

cmullins — 2005-06-25T22:54+00:00

Automation is key to successful, smooth-running databases and applications... but don't get too carried away by the concept.

DBA Rules of Thumb - Part 1 (Document)

cmullins — 2005-06-16T09:16+00:00

Database administration is a very technical discipline, but it is also a discipline in which the practitioner is very visible politically within the organization. DBAs should be armed with a proper attitude and sufficient technical knowledge before attempting to practice database administration. This blog entry, and the next few, will discuss some basic rules of thumb for DBAs to follow to make their job easier to deal with.

Googling Away Copyrights?

cmullins — 2005-06-13T23:46+00:00

My take on what Google is up to now.

What Does a DBA Do?

cmullins — 2005-06-12T16:16+00:00

If you are currently a DBA, the title of this entry probably made you scoff. But not everyone knows what a DBA is, does, or why they are needed. Wouldn't it be in your best interest as a DBA if your job were better understood and appreciated?

The Sun Shines on StorageTek

cmullins — 2005-06-02T13:53+00:00

On June 2, 2005, Sun Microsystems announced its intent to acquire StorageTek in a deal worth more than $4 billion.

What's on Your Hard Drive?

cmullins — 2005-05-31T11:34+00:00

A recent study shows that people do not take proper care of their personal data.

Empress Offers an Effective Embedded Database Solution

cmullins — 2005-05-20T16:01+00:00

Embedded databases are useful for managing the data needs of systems requiring "set it and forget it" operation. In this entry we review the capabilities of Empress, a leading embedded DBMS.

Through the Looking Glass

cmullins — 2005-05-16T11:10+00:00

In today's blog entry we look for inspiration in some non-standard places as we progress happily through our day-to-day IT jobs.

DBAs Must Understand Application Development Issues

cmullins — 2005-05-02T10:55+00:00

Some folks think that DBAs and application developers inhabit different universes. At times this may seem true, but the successful DBA must understand application development and the issues involved in programming and design.

Much Activity at the MySQL Conference

cmullins — 2005-04-20T01:01+00:00

The MySQL Users Conference was held the week of April 18-21, 2005 and there was a lot of activity at the event.

General Thoughts of the Week

2005-03-31T15:41+00:00

I just wanted to use this blog entry to list out some general thoughts I've had this past week. I'll blog a general interest entry like this every now and then.

Are DBAs Dummies?

2005-03-28T14:24+00:00

Are DBAs hyper-skilled technicians able to handle multiple tasks while keeping the company's database systems up-and-running at the same time? Or are they dummies?

Classic Computer Books

2005-03-23T09:56+00:00

Every IT professional should have a library of the classics in their field. This blog entry offers a short list of books that belong on every computer professional's book shelf.

Oracle is at it Again

2005-03-21T12:30+00:00

Once again, Oracle is fighting an acquisition battle. No, this is not old news. I am not talking about the gargantuan battle for PeopleSoft that Oracle waged for over a year. This time Oracle is fighting it out with SAP for the right to buy another application software vendor, Retek.

Thoughts on Data Quality

2005-03-18T16:19+00:00

Data quality is an elusive goal. The more we try to keep accurate records in database systems, the more it seems that at least some of that data is just plain wrong. Why is this so?

Data, Data, Everywhere

2005-03-11T16:22+00:00

Data is expanding rapidly in today's corporations, but we are also expanding our personal use of data.

Planning for IDUG

2005-03-07T12:12+00:00

I spent this past weekend in Chicago participating in the North American Conference Planning Committee meetings for the upcoming IDUG conference in May 2005. And it looks like it is going to be a good one. If you are a DB2 (or Informix) user, read more to hear why you should attend this year's IDUG North American conference in Denver.

SHARE is 50 Years Old

2005-03-01T01:40+00:00

I am writing this blog entry from the SHARE conference in Anaheim, CA. It is amazing to think about it, but this conference is celebrating its 50th anniversary. That is an amazing lifespan for a technology event.

DB2 for z/OS V8 Adoption

2005-02-25T15:22+00:00

Now that its been out for a year, people are starting to get around to thinking about maybe possibly adopting DB2 V8, sort of (probably). Why are folks so tentative? Let's examine the parameters of the adoption rate of DB2 V8 on the z/OS platform.

RFID to Complicate Database Administration

2005-02-23T16:12+00:00

Herein I take a quick look at the impact that RFID technology will have on database administration.

Perspectives on Database Management

2005-02-21T16:43+00:00

An introductory entry introducing my blog.