The web is a rich and fertile source of
data-related information. But tracking things down on the web can sometimes
be difficult – especially if you do not know where to look. Several good
sources of DBMS information on the web can be found by reviewing the web sites
of DBMS vendors, database tool vendors, magazine sites and consultant sites.
One of the best resources for the data professional is the vendor web site for the DBMS
software you use. On such sites you can find up-to-date news, information on
release schedules and bug fixes, downloadable manuals, and technical support.
Be sure to bookmark the site for your DBMS vendor and visit regularly to keep
tap of what’s going on with your favorite database management systems. The web sites for the major DBMS vendors are:
Another useful web resource for data folks can be found on database tool
vendor web sites. The tool vendors employ many DBMS experts and former DBAs
who are willing to share tips, techniques, and scripts in order to promote
their company and its products. Of course, my primary recommendation would be to visit the web site of my employer, NEON Enterprise Software... but I also provide an exhaustive list of vendor links at http://www.craigsmullins.com/rellinks.htm.
Online magazines are also a worthy place to seek advice. Many useful data-related articles are published every
week in technical magazines of every sort. And several magazines focus almost
exclusively on database and DBA-related issues. Even better, many of these publications
are provided free-of-charge, in return for filling out a subscription request
with company and demographic information. Additionally, most print magazines also host web sites that offer
many, if not all, of their articles online. Some of these publication offer
online content to subscribers only, but many offer some content to all
browsers. Some of the better magazine web sites out there include:
And don't forget to check out consultant's web sites.There are a boatload of consultants who specialize in DBMS
technology. However, there are some consultants that have risen to the level of
guru because they are willing to share their knolwedge and experiences at
conferences, events, and through writing articles. Many of these premier
consultants have set up content-rich web sites containing numerous documents,
presentations, and tips to anyone visiting their web sites. The consultants do
this to promote their business and gain leads for future business. Some of the leading consultant web sites containing interesting
and useful information for DBAs include:
And that doesn't even touch on the many expert blogs out there. Keeping up with a ton of blogs can be difficult though, so you might want to rely on the
Log Buffer carnival supported by The Pythian Group. Every week the Log Buffer highlights what is going on in the data blogosphere.
There are also many web portal sites that offer a convenient
collection of database- and DBA-related information. A portal typically
provides a vast amount of information on a single topic, as well as links to
related information, a search engine, customization options, and the ability
for users to be notified by e-mail when relevant content is posted. The
following web sites function as portals for database professionals.
TechTarget publishes a veritable plethora of web portals. SearchOracle and SearchDataManagement are two that should appeal to data professionals. There are other TechTarget sites worth looking into depending on your area of expertise, too. They offer portals on topics ranging from security to ERP to storage to data backup.
The Data Administration Newsletter (http://www.tdan.com)
is another combination portal/magazine site, this one focusing on data
administration issues.
There are numerous other portal sites that provide useful
data-related information. Some of the best focus on a single DBMS technology. For
example, all of the following offer useful services for the specific DBMS they
cover:
Many other web sites may prove to be useful or interesting for
data professionals. One of the best things about the Internet is its ability to provide a
forum for anyone with information to share. New and intriguing sites are
popping up every day. But let’s take a look at some of the best web sites for
DBAs that already exist.
Providing a very useful service for DBAs is DBAjobs.com (http://www.DBAjobs.com). This site lists as its mission to advance the careers of all database
professionals and to recruit the best database talent for its clients. For DBAs
looking to advance their careers be sure to visit this site for access to many
database-related jobs as well as assistance in preparing your resume,
interviewing tips, salary guidelines, and database news.
Sites hosting information on industry standards can be quite
helpful, too. For example, ANSI (American National Standards Institute), ISO
(International Standards Organization), and NIST (National Institute of
Standards and Technology all provide web sites:
Perhaps closer to the technical information required by DBA is
the SQL standard web site at http://www.jcc.com/sql_stnd.html.
This site purports to be a central source of information about SQL standards.
It contains links to various other sites that document the SQL standard.
DAMA, the Data Management Association, is a coalition of
professionals dedicated to the
advancement of data resource management. The DAMA web site (http://www.dama.org) documents the conferences
and meetings sponsered by DAMA, but also offers links, resources, newsletters,
and publications on data resource management.
User groups have been founded for each of the major DBMS vendors.
These groups sponsor annuals international conferences and promote the sharing
of information by database professionals. The web sites for these groups offer
useful information on conference locations and dates, as well as articles,
presentations, and tips:
There are literally thousands of other web sites that might be
useful to you as you embark on your career as a data professional. Here are a few of the ones
I have found to be worthwhile.
All of these types of sites are very useful for obtaining
up-to-date information about DBMS releases and version, management tool
offerings, and the like, but sometimes the information on these types of sites
is very biased.
Good luck to you as you peruse the Internet to keep up-to-date on data and database management!