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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>re: </span><span lang=EN-GB>I
conclude that Ingres DBAs are not being made any more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I’ve helped a dozen potential
DBAs in the last few years, steering them to online resources, manuals and
running mini seminars. I think most of them have a genuine interest in researching
and developing Ingres skills, however Ingres DBA role is secondary to other
roles like programming, analysis and implementation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>It is difficult to find anyone
who wants to be a DBA just for the sake of it. In my experience, the
developers are pressured to acquire sufficient knowledge about DBA tools to get
this or that task done quickly without having to worry about the details. A
big part of my role has been to set standards and guidelines – and occasionally
apply corrective action. Several of our implementations in the last 5
years ran without my direct input because the programmer can do the entire set
up on their own. There is little or no DBA cost margin allowed into
a new sale and post implementation, because Ingres just works.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Maybe there is a recent trend
indicating change. I am receiving more frequent requests to provide
Ingres DBA type training for new hires in matters of installation, configuration,
tuning and troubleshooting - as well as normal development related DBA activities.
Senior management are starting to see the value in Linux over Windows for reliability,
performance vs cost, security. There have been increased requests for
Linux Ingres installs and my windows SysAdmins have little or no problem generating
Linux environments. Experienced CIOs have been requesting technical
scoping from Ingres DBA perspective to assist sizing upgrades and new installations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Why no job applications for an
Ingres DBA? Where are all the potential candidates.? Why is it difficult
to attract new blood? Where is the real problem?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Yes, the toolset needs some
work. Accessibility of online information, tutorials, examples, wiki etc
has dropped significantly in the last 12 months. The old ingres community
pages served as a very useful stepping stone to valuable resources. There
are many stale links in search engines – and also within the Actian pages.
Admittedly there are new pages being generated – I think we have a
drought just now. Becoming an Ingres (and OpenROAD) developer is difficult
and costly. I think the support licensing model for dev licenses needs to
change to naturally attract more start-ups, more projects. </span> It
would be thrilling to <span style='color:#1F497D'>see some pre-packaged appliances
/ frameworks. WAIPO or LAIPO. (Windows/Linux, Apache, Ingres, Php, OpenROAD)
I’d like to to see formal certifications offered - say ICC or ACSE.
Do you think we can enhance the Actian support portal to help VARs and independent
consultants?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I agree with the comment, that
the good DBAs (and OpenROAD programmers) are happily entrenched in their
current job. Yawn, I think I need another trip to the coffee shop. Looking
after a few hundred databases across 20 or so sites is hard work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Paul White<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'>&<br>
Shift Seven Solutions<br>
</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'>www.shift7solutions.com.au<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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