SQL DBA high ended question (5+ years’ experience)

  • SQLRNNR (8/6/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/6/2014)


    Luis Cazares (8/6/2014)


    Eirikur Eiriksson (8/6/2014)


    benjamin.reyes (8/6/2014)


    Eirikur Eiriksson (8/5/2014)


    Grant Fritchey (8/5/2014)


    Eirikur Eiriksson (8/5/2014)


    Guess one has to differentiate between five years of work and five years worth of experience. Questions like "what are the DAC limitations", "consequence of an idle connection holding a lock on a 'popular' resource" or "what are the Resource Governor configuration gotchas?" would make my list. Mind you the answers wouldn't have to be perfect for a 'fiver':-D

    😎

    DAC limitations? Not sure. Resource Governor? I know what it is and roughly how it's configured, but I haven't used it. Can I still get the job?

    A big part of this comes down to what you're exposed to. I have well over 20 years experience within SQL Server, and, most of it, is real cumulative experience (as opposed to one year of experience multiplied 20 times). But there are giant gaps in my knowledge even so.

    Naming one/any DAC limitation would probably do for a fiver, not knowing there are any or then again what DAC is would send them back and erase the agency's number. Resource Governor, that I admit, depends more on the environment but still I think there should be some knowledge and some recognition of keywords.

    Don't worry Grant, you would still get the job;-), the point being that there are no simple questions to ask but it's a process of an assessment.

    😎

    Which DAC are you asking about?

    Interviewing people I really appreciate if they can admit when they don't know something. No one can have deep knowledge about every aspect. Blowhards and liars usually make things worse overall.

    Dedicated Administrative Connection, kind of a Stay out of jail thingy

    😎

    And the first results from google that refer to BOL show the following. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210546.aspx :w00t:

    Yeah, DAC has about 6 meanings these days.

    Duck and Cover?

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner?

    Disaster Assistance Center

    Data Acquisition Computer

    Device Access Code

    Data Authentication Code

    Drug and Alcohol Counselor

    Dedicated Admin Console

    Dedicated Admin Connection

    Durban Automotive Cluster

    Dac...Pac

    What were we talking about? :-D:-D:-D

    Yes, exactly!

    😎

  • Jeff Moden (8/6/2014)


    Ed Wagner (8/6/2014)


    How about a very simple one?

    Please write the T-SQL code to count from 1 to 10.

    There are many correct answers and how they answer can tell you a lot. You only get one guess who I heard this one from. 😉

    Actually, that's one of the questions that I frequently ask except it's to a million and the results have to be stored in a table.

    And I don't actually care if someone uses a loop or not. It's absolutely amazing how many people can't do this simple task even using a loop. They'd have a heart attack if I turned it into the classic "Fizz Buzz" question.

    Just curious how would you count from 1 to 1,000,000 with out using a loop? a union would take to long, Id be stumped with out a loop

  • jonidotcodotuk (8/7/2014)


    Jeff Moden (8/6/2014)


    Ed Wagner (8/6/2014)


    How about a very simple one?

    Please write the T-SQL code to count from 1 to 10.

    There are many correct answers and how they answer can tell you a lot. You only get one guess who I heard this one from. 😉

    Actually, that's one of the questions that I frequently ask except it's to a million and the results have to be stored in a table.

    And I don't actually care if someone uses a loop or not. It's absolutely amazing how many people can't do this simple task even using a loop. They'd have a heart attack if I turned it into the classic "Fizz Buzz" question.

    Just curious how would you count from 1 to 1,000,000 with out using a loop? a union would take to long, Id be stumped with out a loop

    Google for tally tables 😉 (perhaps include "Jeff Moden" to get faster results)

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • jonidotcodotuk (8/7/2014)


    Jeff Moden (8/6/2014)


    Ed Wagner (8/6/2014)


    How about a very simple one?

    Please write the T-SQL code to count from 1 to 10.

    There are many correct answers and how they answer can tell you a lot. You only get one guess who I heard this one from. 😉

    Actually, that's one of the questions that I frequently ask except it's to a million and the results have to be stored in a table.

    And I don't actually care if someone uses a loop or not. It's absolutely amazing how many people can't do this simple task even using a loop. They'd have a heart attack if I turned it into the classic "Fizz Buzz" question.

    Just curious how would you count from 1 to 1,000,000 with out using a loop? a union would take to long, Id be stumped with out a loop

    One of the easier ways is to cross join a couple of the system tables and use Row_Number

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Koen Verbeeck (8/7/2014)


    jonidotcodotuk (8/7/2014)


    Jeff Moden (8/6/2014)


    Ed Wagner (8/6/2014)


    How about a very simple one?

    Please write the T-SQL code to count from 1 to 10.

    There are many correct answers and how they answer can tell you a lot. You only get one guess who I heard this one from. 😉

    Actually, that's one of the questions that I frequently ask except it's to a million and the results have to be stored in a table.

    And I don't actually care if someone uses a loop or not. It's absolutely amazing how many people can't do this simple task even using a loop. They'd have a heart attack if I turned it into the classic "Fizz Buzz" question.

    Just curious how would you count from 1 to 1,000,000 with out using a loop? a union would take to long, Id be stumped with out a loop

    Google for tally tables 😉 (perhaps include "Jeff Moden" to get faster results)

    very interesting indeed. Thanks folks

  • Eirikur Eiriksson (8/6/2014)


    Jeff Moden (8/5/2014)


    rajeshn29.dba (8/5/2014)


    Hi Friends,

    I would like to know SQL DBA high ended question (5+ years’ experience) what kind of questions they will ASK …………………. Just for curiosity

    Thanks a lot :

    Rajesh

    You're the newly hired Sr. DBA for a company. There are no other DBAs. The previous DBA quit a month ago.

    Explain in great detail what your first "real" day (normally, the 2nd actual day. The first actual day is usually wasted on paper work and seeing if you can handle a specimen cup without getting your hands wet, etc) will consist of.

    On the 3rd "real" day, a database becomes corrupt. What actions will you take?

    Another version: On the 3rd "real" day, you are told that a database "may be" corrupt. You look into it and find that it has been so for months....

    😎

    First day:

    "What's the sa password?"

    "It's written on the whiteboard by the developers."

    :crying:

  • Or worse "It's Password, with a capital P".

  • "sa doesn't need a password."

  • Beatrix Kiddo (8/7/2014)


    Or worse "It's Password, with a capital P".

    That isn't policy compliant, it needs to be P4$$w0rd as shown on MS courses.

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2
  • sqldriver (8/7/2014)


    Eirikur Eiriksson (8/6/2014)


    Jeff Moden (8/5/2014)


    rajeshn29.dba (8/5/2014)


    Hi Friends,

    I would like to know SQL DBA high ended question (5+ years’ experience) what kind of questions they will ASK …………………. Just for curiosity

    Thanks a lot :

    Rajesh

    You're the newly hired Sr. DBA for a company. There are no other DBAs. The previous DBA quit a month ago.

    Explain in great detail what your first "real" day (normally, the 2nd actual day. The first actual day is usually wasted on paper work and seeing if you can handle a specimen cup without getting your hands wet, etc) will consist of.

    On the 3rd "real" day, a database becomes corrupt. What actions will you take?

    Another version: On the 3rd "real" day, you are told that a database "may be" corrupt. You look into it and find that it has been so for months....

    😎

    First day:

    "What's the sa password?"

    "It's written on the whiteboard by the developers."

    :crying:

    Go ask the CTO administrative assistant. She has it on a posty note under her keyboard.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • Oh, you guys thought I was kidding. Heh.

  • sqldriver (8/7/2014)


    Oh, you guys thought I was kidding. Heh.

    No. I have quite literally run into that type of thing. Both as you described and as I described.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • SQLRNNR (8/7/2014)


    sqldriver (8/7/2014)


    Oh, you guys thought I was kidding. Heh.

    No. I have quite literally run into that type of thing. Both as you described and as I described.

    If the OP is still reading this: a good question to ask the person interviewing you is "what happened to the last guy?".

  • SQLRNNR (8/7/2014)


    sqldriver (8/7/2014)


    Oh, you guys thought I was kidding. Heh.

    No. I have quite literally run into that type of thing. Both as you described and as I described.

    Same here. I once had a boss who went out of town and she handed me her notebook with all of the network passwords and such in there. She was a little over trusting since the same page had website addresses, usernames and passwords for all her personal stuff too (like banking, credit cards etc). :w00t:

    _______________________________________________________________

    Need help? Help us help you.

    Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

    Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

  • Sean Lange (8/7/2014)


    SQLRNNR (8/7/2014)


    sqldriver (8/7/2014)


    Oh, you guys thought I was kidding. Heh.

    No. I have quite literally run into that type of thing. Both as you described and as I described.

    Same here. I once had a boss who went out of town and she handed me her notebook with all of the network passwords and such in there. She was a little over trusting since the same page had website addresses, usernames and passwords for all her personal stuff too (like banking, credit cards etc). :w00t:

    Well, i guess if anything happened, she knew who to ask first.

    But that wouldn't stop some prying eyes from taking a peak at her financials.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

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