Get Down With OCP: Evaluating DBA Job Applicants in an OCP World

Written by Robert Hamel


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So how do you find truly qualified DBAs in an OCP World? Put them to work—inrepparttar interview, that is. Create real world situations where candidates are allowed full use of any familiar online resources, and see what they can do. Some examples:

Want to check out their data modeling skills? Give candidates a hypothetical business that everyone understands, like a video rental store, and a basic set of business requirements. Put them in front of a white board and let them create a model that meetsrepparttar 137549 stated requirements. You playrepparttar 137550 role of a subject-matter expert who is decidedly non-technical, and have them walk you throughrepparttar 137551 results.

Wondering how they handle troubleshooting? Set up a database with various performance anomalies such as poorly written queries, missing indexes, and internal resource contention. Have applicants deal withrepparttar 137552 issues and walk you through their methodology. They can't use automated tools. The Oracle Data Dictionary and OS basic facilities must suffice.

Want to see if they know how to minimize downtime? Pretend you're a client who wants to upgrade a 500GB database from version X to version X+1. It's a 24/7 environment and each hour of downtime costs $10,000. There will be downtime regardless, butrepparttar 137553 DBA should be able to generate scenarios to keep it at a minimum.

Whatever skills you're looking to assess, make sure you test candidates in situations they can't prepare for and can't fake. The new interview process isn't quite as easy as those trusty old 200 questions. It requires more up-front planning and often more time inrepparttar 137554 interview room. But if it saves you from having to fire incapable employees who wreaked havoc on your database, it's probably worth it. A little advance preparation can save a whole lot of time, money, and hassle downrepparttar 137555 road. And isn't that all we're looking for in this crazy, mixed-up OCP world?

Rob has served as the applications architect for one of the largest government databases in the world. Before joining The Pythian Group in 2000, he worked for numerous corporations and government agencies, including Human Resources and Development Canada and Elections Canada. An acknowledged expert in the field, Rob excels in application architecture and application performance tuning.


Hidden information is stored on your computer about every url you ever visit

Written by Sue Edmondson


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How do I view my index.dat files?

If you are in Windows, even with "Show hidden files and folders" enabled, index.dat files are not visible and cannot be found if you do a search for index.dat files. The reason that these files are so invisible is that they are not just hidden, they have been designated as "system" files. System files and folders are treated differently in DOS and Windows and are effectively cloaked from casual searches. They can be viewed using a Dos based programme such as StupenDos

How do I delete my index.dat files?

In order to delete these files you will need a Dos based programme such as StupenDos

StupenDos is available free from http://www.sharewarejunkies.com/8s3/stupendo.htm

However before deleting your index.dat files you must first clean up your hard driving by deleting All Cookies Your History Your temporary Internet files

If you delete your index.dat files before cleaning up your hard driverepparttar index.dat files will userepparttar 137466 information contained on your hard drive to re-write themselves (to their original state prior to deletion)

Having cleaned up your hard drive, then deleted your index.dat files you will need to reboot. Then you will then discover that your PC has written new (clean) index.dat files. These files will remain clean until you log onrepparttar 137467 Internet, then they will again begin gathering information on your Internet activities.

Sue Edmondson if the founder and owner of a12c4magic a uk web site offering magic the gathering cards, theme decks, gaming accessories and free useful downloads for magic players.


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