SQL Aloha

Comments

1. Dave Schutz said August 2, 2010, 1:59 pm:

   Books, blogs (like this one), websites like SQLservercentral.com, events from PASS (24 hours of PASS), SQL Saturdays, user groups, Books Online, using a test server to try out new ideas. Lately I’ve been using Twitter to find training events and good articles to read.

2. Vikas Rajput (subscribed) said August 3, 2010, 8:51 am:

   There are multiple avenues that we (at Sapient Corporation) are utilizing. We have a central group (called ISST) which comprise of DBAs and Infra Admins who provide consulting and capacity to different client teams. Am a Team Lead on this team, acting as DBA Lead for Oracle and SQL Server platform.
   So from learning’s part:
   - Core Technical: We get exposed to varied DBA related questions from different clients (from US, UK, Canada, EU, Hongkong etc). I specifically addres for Performance Tuning, Automation, and Capacity Planning on SQL Server and Oracle platforms. So every question itself mostly require us to carry out a lot of self study on Internet or internal discussions.
   - Soft Skills: We are positioning self as a Delivery Execution Specialist team where we are modelling out standards for deployments, standardization, documentation, templates, security and performance best practices etc. That collation and formalization itself exposes quite a lot of learnings.
   - Core Technical: Internal discussions are kept on happening. For example, I recently presented a detailed prsentation on Licensing Modelling for SQL Server and Oracle (including Virtualization scenarios). In addition, we have internal DLs where individual members or teams can reach us and we ensure someone investigate for their issues and reverts back.
   - Soft Skills: Internal trainings are being held where we concentrate on Lab driven discussions rather than on PPT walkthrough. Within this year, we had Oracle RAC training, Weblogic and IIS config and best practice trainings.
   - Soft Skills: We are using and training more and more people on planning and tracking tools like Sapient’s Plan Tool (part of Resultspace, which is Sapient standard). It gives quite extensive insight into personnel and task tracking (along with resource and delivery management for leads like of myself). Moreover, as we are directly engaged with Clients, it gives a different perspective to the whole game.
   - Technical Core: Sapient being Gold Partner, we have access to some of Key MS facilities (and we have had lab setup for SQL Server 2008 and R2, on physical and virtualized environments). Moreover, access to site books24x7.com provides access to huge number of good Technical Books.
   - Technical Core: Vendor Training is ever available option if its project justified.

3. Dave Leininger said August 4, 2010, 5:34 am:

   You pose a question that all software professionals should address, Brad. A mix of resources works for me, including blogs, video walk-throughs, forums, twittered links, user groups, conferences, Linkedin groups, and groks on specific topics with a limited number of participants. It helps to work with smart people having complementary skills, ’cause none of us know all corners of our chosen tools and technologies, eh? It is necessary to exercise in a sandbox on a regular basis. Classroom training? It works for many, but I have never been a fan of that style of learning.

4. Gus Collazo said August 10, 2010, 1:06 pm:

   It’s always tough trying to find any free time to keep my SQL skill set up-to-date. Between a very busy work day and family life at home, the only time I find to work on my skill set is my lunch hour. I typically eat at my desk 3-4 days per week and take the lunch hour to watch online videos from sites such as Quest or PASS to learn about SQL 2008 and 2008 R2. I also subscribe to SQL Server Magazine and devour each new issue as they arrive. Finally, I check in over the phone with my friends who work in a DBA capacity at other companies to see what issues they’re running into and how they’re dealing with those issues.

   Cheers and keep up the work on this great blog!

   Gus Collazo
   Director, Data Services
   Internships.com

5. Gabriel Villa said August 13, 2010, 4:35 am:

   The best way to keep up with your SQL Skills is following DBA’s on Twitter, believe it or not. If you don’t know what is going on out there, or what’s happening, you need to follow a list. List is my list, http://twitter.com/extofer/dba

   The DBAs out there have the scope and I have been lucky to attend several of their recommendations, this year, I went to DallasTechFest thanks to a Tweet. I also joined a PASS Virtual Chapter, have done about 15+ hours of webinars as continuing education.

   Furthermore, via Twitter, book have been recommended to my, some Free and not. Here’s my list of SQL authors I follow, http://twitter.com/extofer/books and I have gone out to buy some of their books.

   Traditional classroom education for continuing purposes could be a thing of the past, with virtual features like Twitter, you can get all the scope.

6. SQL Newbie said August 13, 2010, 5:11 am:

   Read, read, read.

7. John Racer said August 13, 2010, 6:11 am:

   By far I have found books and online publications to be my biggest sources of continuing education. The online community for SQL Server is a great resource as well.

   Conferences are great when time and money can be found. SQL Saturdays, User Groups and Virtual Chapers are and excellent suppliment to these as well.

   All in all you just need to be motivated and passionate and you will find the oppostunities to learn and grow are pleantiful.

8. Robert Bishop said August 16, 2010, 2:29 pm:

   My primary source for continuing education are books, blogs (like yours), resource sites (i.e. http://www.sqlservercentral.com) and MSDN documentation.

   I have started attending local events like SQL Saturday, SQL Lunch and User Group meetings.

   It always seems the SQL “Peeps” are always ready and willing to help a fellow DBA (even one not so experienced) with problems.

9. Seth Delconte said August 17, 2010, 9:58 am:

   I try to continuously work on upgrading my MS certificates by studying the prep material whenever I have time.

10. Noel Ox said August 19, 2010, 12:40 am:

    I subscribe to a number of blogs and newsletters to keep up to date on the latest developments and also the variety of areas other DBA’s might be working in that i do not get to experience in my current working environment. These along with the odd book purchase now and again keeps me well stocked with reading material for the areas i want to either get the basics of, or continue to grow my knowledge and become more knowledgable in that area.

11. Nancy Lytle (subscribed) said August 19, 2010, 2:04 am:

    I use SQLServerCentral almost everyday, if only for the questions of the day. I subscribe to Microsoft Newsgroups on SQL Server, and just kind of look through for interesting questions. I watch SQLShare videos to pick up information.
    I also use books by various authors on subjects I need to learn, such as replication. I read blogs by people like Kalen Delany, and others who are often the speakers at PASS.
    I went to PASS once when my company paid for it, I’d go every year but can’t afford it, or the Dev Connections conventions.

12. Kurt Kapferer (subscribed) said August 19, 2010, 2:45 am:

    Although I’d love t make it to PASS one of these years, I’m afraid the only way to continue my SQL Server education is to read as much online content as I have time for.

13. Just Will said August 19, 2010, 6:58 am:

    I read quite a few blogs regularly, and read books (not as many or as as frequently as I’d like).
    This year I’ve gotten a couple of MS SQL certifications and will probably take the PRO level exams soon, and I’ve completed an Oracle certificate program at a local college.
    I’m also looking forward to attending my second SQL Satruday event next month. I would like to attend more user group events, but it’s hard to squeeze in the evenings right now.

14. David Myers said August 19, 2010, 7:26 am:

    In 2009, after 7 years of working as a DBA, I found myself laid off and wondering why. In 2010 I find myself with a new company and a new outlook on what I need to do to make myself indespensable.

    I have increased the amount of reading I do regarding SQL Server, both books and blogs. I see the cost of going to conferences (Tech Ed and PASS) as investments in my own worth and ultimately my worth to the company. If the company picks up the tab, even better, but I do not make that a prerequisite to attendance.

    I have considered certifications and the study guides for these certifications have become part of my reading,

    I do not consider myself a developer, but I challenge myself to become better at TSQL by accepting projects that require me to get outside of the comfort zone of my Administrator role.

15. Nakul Vachhrajani (subscribed) said August 19, 2010, 7:38 am:

    Hello!

    A Great and one of the most important question. I have recently started, but the following is my source of continuing education:
    1. Blogs & Forums (Microsoft, SQLServerCentral, SQLAuthority and BeyondRelational)
    2. Question of the day/month on the above sites
    3. Books on line
    4. Using a test (virtual) server and trying out new stuff
    5. User Groups
    6. Networking with fellow DBAs to know and share day-to-day issues, solutions and approaches

    Have a great day!

16. The Database Zealot (subscribed) said August 19, 2010, 5:19 pm:

    I don’t do anything. I just close my eyes and pretend I’m Brad McGehee.

    Do I win a prize now? haha

    Ok I’ll give a serious answer…

    I locate people who are more successful in a knowledge area than I. I then question them to death.

    I study using online content that is freely available.

    I attend official Microsoft courses to learn how it’s meant to work. I then ask the instructor a million questions and get to learn how it really works

    I use Google an awful lot – and the trick, dear Watson, is to study beyond the database arena. Having broad knowledge of how all areas which may affect an end user, application or database is like carrying gold nuggets, which give you the edge over the bog standard DBA contractor/consultant. Example being RAID disk configurations, OS limits and other bits n bobs.

    I read books on positive thinking, etc. It helps to keep me as the eternal optimist that I am – and rubs off on other people.

    I occasionally sleep too. And that contributes to my learning too as my brain gets a rest.

    Cheers boys.

17. Andy Houghton said August 20, 2010, 5:10 am:

    I usually use books, web sites, forums and of course Google to keep up to date on my skills.

18. Fernando Paez Becker said August 20, 2010, 5:48 am:

    In addition to Gus Collazo & Nakul Vachhrajani’s posts (and the others too, each one have a pearl), I read books while i’m traveling in bus from home to work… every time I can sit… Beyond that, once or two time on year I take some classroom training, in order to be aligned with employer’s policies.

    Best regards, and thanks a lot!

19. Larry Meklemburg said August 24, 2010, 2:30 am:

    Here’s a few of the items that I do and have my personnel attempt to do as well. They are not in any order.
    • Webinars
    • SQLServerPedia and blog sites that stay up-to-date (and thanks to those of you who do this).
    • Many of the vendor sites and forums (Red Gate, Idera, SQL Sentry, Confio, Pragmatic Works, Quest, Microsoft)
    • Get books from libraries and purchase the good ones, hoping to keep the few of you writing your excellent tomes.
    • Attend local development and database SIG meetings (A great free resource and excellent networking)
    • Follow the workings of PASS, SSWUG and other groups.
    • Take current courses.
    • Watch my production and development servers for issues and attempt to solve them using logic, my experience and the sources mentioned above.
    • Attend national database and development conferences and even sit in on some development sessions, if I can find the time. Since you’re there be sure to check out the pre and post workshops.
    • Take vacation and let the mind relax.

    Finally, listen to my spouse. Probably should have been first on the list, but I did say the list was not in any order.

20. Chris McGowan (subscribed) said August 24, 2010, 4:11 am:

    For continuing education I try to use as many sources as possible

    1 – Books.
    2 – blogs (yours, Paul Randall, Kim Tripp to name a few).
    3 – resource sites (http://www.sqlservercentral.com, http://www.sqlskills.com and http://www.sqlserverfaq.com).
    4 – SQL User Group meetings, hailing from Manchester England other than SQL Bits (http://www.sqlbits.com) there was very few places where DBA’s could network with other SQL Server professionals. The Manchester SQL User Group is an excellent way to further develop your knowledge. (See http://www.sqlserverfaq.com for more information)
    5 – One which I find is often not used enough collegues the knowledge I have gained and shared with my peers has been invaluable.
    6 – Dedicated test server for DBA use only. The best way to learn is to do, this has helped me play with new features like Cryptography, Policy Based Management and Mirroring over the years.
    7 – Microsoft Courses.

    I also use google reader to keep a whole host of resources in one place.

21. Kim Tessereau said August 31, 2010, 3:45 am:

    I have recently taken on a part-time gig at Washington University in St. Louis as an instructor and use this as an outlet to continue my learning of not only SQL Server, but database/data warehouse concepts in general. Being in a teaching capacity helps me to stay up on the leading edge of technology.

    I also attend the local SQL Server User Group meetings on a quarterly basis. I have also submitted a presentation for consideration to the SQL Saturday in KC event being held in October, which I will be attending as well. And I’ve been fortunate enough to be picked by my Manager to be the one who gets to go to PASS this year.

    And of course I use BOL a lot!

22. bradmcgehee said September 1, 2010, 10:32 am:

    The August 2010 contest is now over, and the randomly selected winner was Robert Bishop, who won a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate and a license for SQL Virtual Restore. Thanks for everyone who contributed, and be sure you check out the September 2010 contest.