Database Automation

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Oracle Database Patching Just Got More Complicated

Friday, July 17th, 2009

It seems like a regular occurrence that a new species gets introduced into the Oracle DBMS patch ecosystem. Most recently the Critical Patch Update (CPU) was created to simplify security patch distribution. These CPUs brought with them a new patch application methodology (NApply) which allows for multiple patches (now known as molecules) to be applied [...]

Flexibility and Automation Don’t Go Hand in Hand

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Solutions in the datacenter automation industry seem to be squarely focused on being an extensible framework versus a content rich solution. Considering we’ve been selling in this space for nearly 7 years now it is quite clear why this is an attractive option. Before I get into that let me clarify what I mean by [...]

Enhanced Methods for System Interrogation Yields Efficiency

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

One of the most challenging issues for DBAs typically has little to do with the database directly.  System dependencies such as kernel parameters, user permissions, storage allocation, etc. required for the successful deployment of a database are often not met.  This presents an extremely difficult situation for the DBA as they frequently have little control over these [...]

A Day in the Life of an Oracle RAC DBA

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

This is where the rubber hits the road – the day to day activities of database professionals around the world who are responsible for creating and managing Oracle RAC databases. How do these peoples’ lives differ? What factors indicate how much they’ll get done and to what degree they will enjoy their work? How likely [...]

Network World: Database administrators in high demand

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Matt Zito was quoted in this week’s IT Careers and Training Alert by Jon Brodkin.
Click to read the full article.

eWEEK.com Podcast: Automate Mundane Database Tasks to Increase Value

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Check out the following eWEEK.com Podcast: Mike Vizard talks with Robert Gardos, GridApp CEO.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Storage/Automate-Mundane-Database-Tasks-to-Increase-Value/
Length: 00:19:21
Database administrators spend too much time performing mundane database tasks, such as deploying, patching and troubleshooting, and managing a diverse range of databases, rather than using the data to create value for the company, says Robert Gardos, CEO of GridApp Systems. [...]

How do I know when to patch or to leave well enough alone?

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Every business wants the same thing: a database that services clients with the utmost performance and is always available. In the war against downtime, patches can be a rogue force. When something goes wrong, patches may let instability—the enemy—in through the front door. Patches always promise to fix a problem. If not for that promise, [...]

Unleash Your “cognitive surplus”

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

A recent meme - cognitive surplus - has risen that describes the resources that have been brought to bare to accomplish a useful task once people get tired of wasting their time. The discussion started with a talk that shows how people have so much free time to work on improving the Wikipedia (the estimate [...]

Only 10% of Oracle Databases are Secure!

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

A recent article in eWEEK revealed alarming statistics surrounding patch and CPU application. The survey was conducted by a company that appears to benefit from the patch application process being as painful as possible (they sell a solution that attempts to mitigate security risks surrounding non-patched databases). Back to the survey, here are a few [...]

SQL Server Common Issues

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

Hello there, my name is Devin Heitmueller and I am one of the developers responsible for automating Microsoft SQL Server using GridApp Clarity. Large portions of my day are spent digging through the Microsoft knowledge base, debugging various configurations SQL Server can be deployed in, or identifying and addressing undocumented behavior in the SQL [...]

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