Senior DBA Interview Questions

FAQ

Profile

Senior DBA Interview Questions
Goto page 1, 2, 3

Database Help (Home) -> Server

Next: Locking/Freezing Issue

Author

Message

Joe K.2

External

Since: Oct 12, 2004
Posts: 61

(Msg. 1) Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:49 pm
Post subject: Senior DBA Interview Questions
Archived from groups: microsoft>public>sqlserver>server (more info?)

I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like to
obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions.

Thanks,

>> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

"Greg D. Moore

External

Since: Jan 13, 2008
Posts: 48

(Msg. 2) Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

x"Joe K." wrote in message > > I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like > to > obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. > > Thanks, "Why should you not put a clustered index on your Identity column?" (this should generate a good discussion since it's not an absolute answer.) -- Greg Moore SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! Email: sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Kalen Delaney

External

Since: Oct 27, 2003
Posts: 290

(Msg. 3) Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

And then later in the interview ask: "Why should you put a clustered index on your Identity column?" -- HTH Kalen Delaney, SQL Server MVP www.InsideSQLServer.com http://blog.kalendelaney.com "Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in message > x"Joe K." wrote in message > >> >> I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like >> to >> obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. >> >> Thanks, > > "Why should you not put a clustered index on your Identity column?" > > (this should generate a good discussion since it's not an absolute > answer.) > > > -- > Greg Moore > SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! > Email: sql (at) greenms.com > http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html > > >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

"Greg D. Moore

External

Since: Jan 13, 2008
Posts: 48

(Msg. 4) Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

"Kalen Delaney" wrote in message > And then later in the interview ask: > > "Why should you put a clustered index on your Identity column?" That's just plain mean. I like that. Seriously, having just interviewed a number of DBA candidates, I found either variation on the question to be useful to ask. How they answer gives good insight into how they think about problems. Another good one: What's the difference between DBCC DBREINDEX and DBCC INDEXDEFRAG? > -- > HTH > Kalen Delaney, SQL Server MVP > www.InsideSQLServer.com > http://blog.kalendelaney.com > > > "Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in > message >> x"Joe K." wrote in message >> >>> >>> I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would >>> like to >>> obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. >>> >>> Thanks, >> >> "Why should you not put a clustered index on your Identity column?" >> >> (this should generate a good discussion since it's not an absolute >> answer.) >> >> >> -- >> Greg Moore >> SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! >> Email: sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html >> >> > > -- Greg Moore SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! Email: sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Hugo Kornelis

External

Since: Jan 11, 2008
Posts: 440

(Msg. 5) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:11 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:59:26 -0800, Kalen Delaney wrote: >And then later in the interview ask: > >"Why should you put a clustered index on your Identity column?" And to top it off: "Why should you not use an Identity column?" -- Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server MVP My SQL Server blog: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/hugo_kornelis >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Matthew Bando

External

Since: Jan 17, 2008
Posts: 16

(Msg. 6) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:02 am Post subject: RE: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Here are a couple: (1) Given a table that you do NOT want to give a user access to, but you have a stored proc that modifies this table and you DO want to give the user access to modify the table, but only through the stored proc. How would you accomplish this? The answer will vary based on version of SQL Server you're dealing with, but 2005 introduces "execute as" clauses. (2) Ask for a description of Database Snapshots, what they are, why you would use them, and what do you need to be careful of when using them. Info is readily available on snapshots in the SQL 2005 BOL. I realize that these questions are very SQL 2005 biased, but SQL 2008 is just around the corner already. I hope that this helps. "Joe K." wrote: > > I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like to > obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. > > Thanks, >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Kevin3NF

External

Since: Jan 10, 2008
Posts: 112

(Msg. 7) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Joe, You need a mix of "theoretical" and specific "technical" questions. Open-ended vs. specific answers. Theoretical: "Describe your preferred backup scenario" "Describe your approach to troubleshooting performance, including all tools and techniques" a Senior DBA should be able to discuss these at length. "Explain the difference between clustered and non-clustered indexes in non-technical language (i.e. to a BA or Jr. Developer) Technical: "Give me the syntax for backing up/restoring a database from Prod to our Dev environment" (look for With move, replace, recovery/norecovery, etc.) "How do you check for index fragmentation" Specific features of the versions you care about. If a senior DBA can't backup or restore in T-SQL from his head...it becomes a short interview Certainly not a comprehensive list, and you need some basic ones on the front side to immediately weed a candidate out. The backup/restore questions have caused me to prematurely end more than a few interviews I done with guys that wanted to sub-contract with me. Hope that helps -- Kevin3NF SQL Server dude You want fries with that? http://kevin3nf.blogspot.com/ I only check the newsgroups during work hours, M-F. Hit my blog and the contact links if necessary...I may be available. "Joe K." wrote in message > > I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like > to > obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. > > Thanks, >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Uri Dimant

External

Since: Aug 24, 2003
Posts: 1744

(Msg. 8) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Joe http://vyaskn.tripod.com/iq.htm "Joe K." wrote in message > > I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like > to > obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. > > Thanks, >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Greg Linwood

External

Since: Oct 03, 2003
Posts: 50

(Msg. 9) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

And then you might ask the Senior DBA candidate why defragging databases can be a bad practise? Regards, Greg Linwood SQL Server MVP http://blogs.sqlserver.org.au/blogs/greg_linwood Benchmark your query performance http://www.SQLBenchmarkPro.com "Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in message > "Kalen Delaney" wrote in message > >> And then later in the interview ask: >> >> "Why should you put a clustered index on your Identity column?" > > That's just plain mean. > > I like that. > > Seriously, having just interviewed a number of DBA candidates, I found > either variation on the question to be useful to ask. > > How they answer gives good insight into how they think about problems. > > > Another good one: > > What's the difference between DBCC DBREINDEX and DBCC INDEXDEFRAG? > > >> -- >> HTH >> Kalen Delaney, SQL Server MVP >> www.InsideSQLServer.com >> http://blog.kalendelaney.com >> >> >> "Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in >> message >>> x"Joe K." wrote in message >>> >>>> >>>> I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would >>>> like to >>>> obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>> >>> "Why should you not put a clustered index on your Identity column?" >>> >>> (this should generate a good discussion since it's not an absolute >>> answer.) >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Greg Moore >>> SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! >>> Email: sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html >>> >>> >> >> > > > > -- > Greg Moore > SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! > Email: sql (at) greenms.com > http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html > > >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

serge

External

Since: Jan 14, 2008
Posts: 24

(Msg. 10) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

> why defragging databases can be a bad practise? Why or when would defragging databases be a bad practice? I'm curious to find out more. Thank you >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Greg Linwood

External

Since: Oct 03, 2003
Posts: 50

(Msg. 11) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

DRP or report server synchronisations solutions such as Log Shipping, Mirroring and Replication can be brought down by the massive levels of tlogging generated by index rebuilds. This is a very common cause of lost sleep amongst DBAs around the world. The crazy thing about defragging databases is that it generally helps queries which are fully scanning tables which can be easily tuned with indexes. So, although defragging sure can help the performance of a well tuned database (because queries are hammering the disks) it usually doesn't do much for well tuned databases. Unfortunately, many SQL DBAs have developed a dependance on defragging databases rather than fixing the real underlying problems. Regards, Greg Linwood SQL Server MVP http://blogs.sqlserver.org.au/blogs/greg_linwood Benchmark your query performance http://www.SQLBenchmarkPro.com "serge" wrote in message >> why defragging databases can be a bad practise? > > Why or when would defragging databases be a bad practice? > > I'm curious to find out more. > > Thank you > >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Uri Dimant

External

Since: Aug 24, 2003
Posts: 1744

(Msg. 12) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

In addition to Greg's great comment , I'd prefer to identify heavely fragmented tables / indexes and run ALTER INDEX ... command And I'm fully agree with Greg that we need "fixing the real underlying problems" "Greg Linwood" wrote in message > DRP or report server synchronisations solutions such as Log Shipping, > Mirroring and Replication can be brought down by the massive levels of > tlogging generated by index rebuilds. This is a very common cause of lost > sleep amongst DBAs around the world. > > The crazy thing about defragging databases is that it generally helps > queries which are fully scanning tables which can be easily tuned with > indexes. So, although defragging sure can help the performance of a well > tuned database (because queries are hammering the disks) it usually > doesn't do much for well tuned databases. Unfortunately, many SQL DBAs > have developed a dependance on defragging databases rather than fixing the > real underlying problems. > > Regards, > Greg Linwood > SQL Server MVP > http://blogs.sqlserver.org.au/blogs/greg_linwood > Benchmark your query performance > http://www.SQLBenchmarkPro.com > > "serge" wrote in message > >>> why defragging databases can be a bad practise? >> >> Why or when would defragging databases be a bad practice? >> >> I'm curious to find out more. >> >> Thank you >> > > >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

TheSQLGuru

External

Since: Jan 11, 2008
Posts: 579

(Msg. 13) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Just me but I don't think it is a good idea to have someone who isn't already a very knowledgeable DBA interview someone for a Sr DBA position. -- Kevin G. Boles Indicium Resources, Inc. SQL Server MVP kgboles a earthlink dt net "Joe K." wrote in message > > I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like > to > obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. > > Thanks, >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Kalen Delaney

External

Since: Oct 27, 2003
Posts: 290

(Msg. 14) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

So does this mean you're wondering why the OP asked this question at all? -- HTH Kalen Delaney, SQL Server MVP www.InsideSQLServer.com http://blog.kalendelaney.com "TheSQLGuru" wrote in message > Just me but I don't think it is a good idea to have someone who isn't > already a very knowledgeable DBA interview someone for a Sr DBA position. > > -- > Kevin G. Boles > Indicium Resources, Inc. > SQL Server MVP > kgboles a earthlink dt net > > > "Joe K." wrote in message > >> >> I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like >> to >> obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. >> >> Thanks, > > >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

"Greg D. Moore

External

Since: Jan 13, 2008
Posts: 48

(Msg. 15) Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Senior DBA Interview Questions [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

"TheSQLGuru" wrote in message > Just me but I don't think it is a good idea to have someone who isn't > already a very knowledgeable DBA interview someone for a Sr DBA position. I tend to agree, but for smaller companies, it can be tough to bring in such talent when you don't already have it. > > -- > Kevin G. Boles > Indicium Resources, Inc. > SQL Server MVP > kgboles a earthlink dt net > > > "Joe K." wrote in message > >> >> I have to give a Senior SQL Server DBA interview next week. I would like >> to >> obtain a list of Senior SQL Server DBA questions. >> >> Thanks, > > -- Greg Moore SQL Server DBA Consulting Remote and Onsite available! Email: sql (at) greenms.com http://www.greenms.com/sqlserver.html >> Stay informed about: Senior DBA Interview Questions

Display posts from previous:

Related Topics:

Transaction Log Questions - I am trying to understand transaction logging and checkpoints. I currently have a database that generally runs fine in Full recovery mode as well as a transaction log file of 150mb. When we run a very large job I recieve errors that the transaction....

questions about tempdb - We are running SQL 2005 and I have questions about the tempdb. Is there a way of viewing the data in the tables that are created in the tempdb? Also is there a way to delete the tables in the tempdb?

Questions on Select - I don’t understand the process of evaluation of “group by” command For example: Product(maker, model, type) PC(code, model, speed, ram, hd, cd, price) Laptop(code, model, speed, ram, hd, screen, price) Printer(code, model, color, type, price) The..

Backup-Questions about Logshipping - Hi, I am new on this topic and I allready use google. I have some questions about Backup a Server that is Logshipping. Situation: 2 SQL 2000 Server Logshipping a 100GB DB from Server 1 to Server 2. --> it's working! Questions: I need all databas...

General maintenance questions - Hello, I've been handed the task of cleaning up our SQL environment. We've never had a DBA and the databases were created by our developers. We are running into some performance issues with the databases. So I'm looking into doing the best I can..

	Database Help (Home) -> Server	All times are: Pacific Time (US & Canada) Goto page 1, 2, 3
Page 1 of 3

You can post new topics in this forum
You can reply to topics in this forum
You can edit your posts in this forum
You can delete your posts in this forum
You can vote in polls in this forum