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Replies: 7 - Pages: 1 - Last Post: Apr 11, 2007 5:10 PM Last Post By: Hans Forbrich

chijar

Posts: 282
Registered: 07/18/06

Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 3:30 PM

Dear friends,
What are the initials checklist, tasks or something else that must to do when someone received a database?

They says: "John, here is the database, is all yours"

and NOT EXIST any documentation about that database.

thanks for your soon answers.

Cesar.

seenshoo

Posts: 288
Registered: 03/12/01

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 3:46 PM

in response to: chijar

"NOT EXISTS" That was funny expression

Ofcourse, that would be one hell of a serious situation.

Top two things that I would do,
1. Take all the notes you can about the database from management and how it is used.

2. Take a complete thorough look of control file. That should tell you lot about database.

A good starting point, I think.

yingkuan

Posts: 10,898
Registered: 10/08/98

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 4:49 PM

in response to: chijar

I will say " sure, Jane,
Is it an Oracle database ?
If yes, what's version and what's the platform?
Hostname and login please.
And don't go anywhere without notifying me
I will have more questions once I got above information."

Madrid

Posts: 7,547
Registered: 03/08/99

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 7:07 PM

in response to: chijar

Such things should not normally happend. If there was no way to contact the previous DBA, and there is no documentation of this database (this shouldn't happend either) then you must:
- gather as much descriptive information as possible. A collection of scripts such as orasnap is useful (http://www.oracle-books.com/orasnap/).
- Available backups, and backup policies
- Scheduled tasks
- Check out the DRP (Dissaster Recovery Procedure) available, in case there is no one, make up one.
- Amount of users, kind of application, production timings.

Hans Forbrich

Posts: 10,458
Registered: 03/13/99

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 8:02 PM

in response to: chijar

Here is a general idea of what I believe might be useful.

(I'd love to hear from some other experienced DBAs and consultants as well - Mark Powell, Billy Verreynne, Don B., Nicolas, Werner, to name a few)

Step 1: Take a backup. And verify that it is a good one. And get an interim backup/.recovery strategy in place.

If the previous DBA left, was hit by a bus, or was shot ... your first responsibility is to ensure recoverability of the database.

Step 2: Find out everything you can at a high level and document it.

Start with the basics:
- any userids and passwords (OS, user and DB) that you can determine;
- any files involved (tablespace datafiles, control files, log & archive log);
- any setup or configuration information (eg: nonstandard parms from alert.log);
- software & patch level involved (OS, Oracle, vendor/developer);
- user community - who, who is key, how to get on their good side;.
- architecture ... how does data get in, how does it get reported;
- know the politics!

Step 3: What are the objectives of the database and it's application(s)?

- backup, recovery, disaster recovery requirements;
- current backup techniques;
- what is the lng term future of the application?
- who holds the funds for application and DB maintenance?
- know the politics - better!

Step 4 - develop a plan for ongoing maintenance based on the above.

Moorthy GS

Posts: 342
Registered: 06/08/06

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 10, 2007 10:58 PM

in response to: Hans Forbrich

Hi Hans,

Thanks for giving the instructions for DBA Initial Tasks.

Can you explain me about the document preparation for a database. And How can a DBA Schedule their activities daily?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Moorthy.GS

chijar

Posts: 282
Registered: 07/18/06

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 11, 2007 7:53 AM

in response to: Hans Forbrich

Thanks a lot for answer my question dear friends.
Hans, i agree with you in hear from some other experienced DBAs and consultants if outside possible.
I will doing that you recommended to me...

everybody continue responding... if you want.
thanks

Hans Forbrich

Posts: 10,458
Registered: 03/13/99

Re: Initials tasks to execute when you received a database.
Posted: Apr 11, 2007 5:10 PM

in response to: Moorthy GS

Can you explain me about the document preparation for
a database. And How can a DBA Schedule their
activities daily?

To document ...

Take a piece of paper and a pen[cil]. When you perform a database administration activity, write it on the paper. Perhaps write a comment about how effective it was.

At the end of the day, write a summary.

At the end of the week, look at the summary and determine what you had to do over and over again. Decide what was important. Schedule that first.

Perhaps read the Database Administrator's Guide, Chapter 1 to get some addition ideas.

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