Any database administrators out there? (DBA's)

[iamme]

i'm taking a class on database management. learning about conceptual diagrams, ERD, Chen, dependency diagrams, SQL etc.

just wondering how much of what i'm learning is put to everyday use....

 

[ttown]

I'm an unemployed dba/programmer....

used sql and erd diagrams all the time... Never got to use anything "professional" (like Rational)
mostly I'd just sketch on paper (sometimes big paper) the relevent tables and their relationships for whatever project/system i was working on. When you use it in your job, it really becomes very natural and easy

I don't remember what "Chen" is... it sounds familiar, but I doubt i've used it in real life
I remember learning a few things in DB Management (400 level college) that i've never seen/used in the real world... there was one charting method with curly brackets (don't really remember specifics) -- never used it

 

[DJFuji]

i'm a programmer but i also handle most of the SQL db stuff. Unfortunately, i never really read the textbook when i took database management (about 6 months ago i think) because i could usually get by pulling stuff from memory. I don't diagram "by the book" but i do draw out a lot of conceptual diagrams when i'm designing stuff that's too hard to keep all in my head. I do more programming diagrams than SQL/DB diagrams.

The SQL you learn in that class (assuming similar curriculum) is very similar to the kind of queries i write on a daily basis. Make sure you know SQL well if you plan to get into development or DB work.

 

[JavaMomma]

I'm a CS Major (still in school) I worked a 16month coop term working with databases alot. I wouldnt call myself a DBA because I did little managment as far as setting up user accounts managing roles and setting up backup schedules. I did mostly design & creation & poplulation (Used mostly SQL Server, although I have experience with Oracle and Postgres).

I would say understanding ERDs, SMDs, functional dependencies and all that wonderstuff is very important. School will show you the rules to proper database design and managment. It won't show you when you need to bend those rules and when you should not. You'll have to learn that from experience after you get out of school. However, for now learn and understand the rules.