What is Database Administrator (DBA)
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Database Administrator (DBA)
DBA is an important person in the development of any information system. He is responsible for the design, operation, and management of the database. He must be technically competent, a good manager, and a skilled diplomat. He should have good communication skills. Managerial skills are important in planning, coordinating, and carrying out different tasks. Technical skills are required to understand complex hardware and software issues.
Diplomatic skills are important in communicating with users, determining their needs and negotiating agreements, etc.
Functions of DBA
The main responsibilities of a database administrator are as follows:
1. Preliminary Database Planning
DBA may participate in preliminary database planning if appointed early.
2. Identifying User Requirements
DBA identifies the current user environment. He closely studies the current system and its outputs. He also interviews different users to know their current and future requirements.
3. Developing & Maintaining Data Dictionary
The data dictionary is a very useful collection of data about databases. The DBA stores data item names, sources, meanings, and usage in a data dictionary. The data dictionary is revised regularly to update as the project continues.
4. Designing Logical Model
After analyzing the user environment, the DBA develops a logical data model for the organization. This data model consists of all entities, attributes, and relationships.
5. Choosing a DBMS
The DBA chooses a particular database management system on the basis of a logical data model. The selected DBMS should satisfy all requirements and constraints identified in the logical data model.
6. Developing Physical Model
The DBA creates the exact layout of data according to the facilities of selected DBMS and available resources of software and hardware.
7. Creating & Loading Database
After developing a physical model, the DBA creates the structure of the database by using DBMS. He also loads the data into the database.
8. Developing User Views
Any project is basically developed to serve the user. DBA should guide the user about the functionality of the database. If any request of the user is not satisfied, DBA should justify it.
9 Writing & Maintaining Documentation
The documentation is very important when the project is reviewed or revised. It is normally maintained by the data dictionary system of DBMS. The DBA should ensure the proper documentation of the project.
10. Developing & Enforcing Data Standard
Data in the database must be inserted according to the standard required by an organization. DBA ensures that the inserted data is always according to these standards. The user interface should guide the user to insert proper data. For example, the text fields may contain default values that make it easy for the user to judge the type of data to be inserted. Integrity means that the database must always satisfy the rules that apply to the real world. For example, if any employees can only work in one department, the database should not allow an employee to be registered in two departments. Consistency means that two different pieces of data cannot contradict each other. For example, if the date of birth of an employee is 7/8/78 at one place and it is 12/12/80 at another place then the database is inconsistent. DBA must ensure that such a situation never occurs.
11. Developing Operating Procedures
DBA should establish procedures for different operations. The procedures include security and authorization, recording hardware and software failures, taking performance measurements, shutting down database property, restarting, and recovering after failure.
12. Training the Users
The DBA should train end-users, application programmers, and other users so that they may use the database effectively.
13. Helping Database Users
The database administrator helps the database users by:
- Making sure that the data they require is available
- Assisting them in using correctly the system
14. Defining Backup and Recovery Procedures
If any portion of the database is damaged by human error or by hardware, it should be restored as soon as possible. It is important to back up the information of the database on a backup server so that it may be recovered in case of an emergency.
15. Monitoring Performance
The DBA should constantly monitor the performance of the database. He should respond to the complaints or suggestions from the users. The DBA should make sure the database should always work at its optimum performance. If there is any problem in the functioning of the database, DBA should solve the problem by taking the appropriate measures.
16. Tuning & Reorganizing
If the performance of the database is disturbed due to the huge amount of data, the DBA should tune it. He should add or change the indexes. In some cases, the DBA may have to change the physical model and reload the database.
