The scope of the work.
WHAT THE WORK COVERS
Keeping databases available Keeping them fast Keeping them safe Keeping them recoverable Controlling who reaches them
WHAT THE PRIORITY ORDER IS
Recoverable, then available, then fast.
WHY IN THAT ORDER
A slow database is an inconvenience; a lost one can end a business.
WHAT THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTUALLY INVOLVES
Watching for slow queries Checking backups ran Applying updates Adding indexes and reviewing schema changes Investigating incidents Managing growth
WHAT MOST PROBLEMS TURN OUT TO BE
An application issuing a query it should not.
WHY THAT MATTERS
The fix is usually in the application, not the database configuration.
WHAT PEOPLE REACH FOR TOO EARLY
Tuning settings Adding hardware Changing database engines
WHAT TO DO FIRST INSTEAD
Find the slowest query and understand why it is slow.
WHAT SEPARATES COMPETENT ADMINISTRATION
Measuring before changing.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ON ANY SYSTEM YOU INHERIT
Where the data is How it is backed up Whether the backup has ever been restored Who can reach it
WHAT THE HONEST ANSWER FREQUENTLY IS
Nobody has ever tested the restore.
