Quick Question on MySQL

Hi i am new to all this SQL stuff and wanted to teach myself MySQL because many jobs ask for it, so i wanted to ask if i need to learn SQL (the language) to be able to administer MySQL? If so do i need only the basics? Can you recommend any books or videos that i can use?

Thanks

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NotHackingYou

I would recommend Head First SQL. Knowing at least the basic SQL will help you in your DBA work.

rht

Hey thanks for the reply!

SQL Tutorial i am going to use this website to learn SQL. It separates SQL in 3 sections "Basic" "Advanced" and "SQL functions" can you recommend how much i need to know to start MySQL?

RobertKaucher

PluralSight has 5 courses.

Pluralsight Course Library

rht

How much do i need to know because my main aim is MySQL not the Language???

vasyvasy

You need to know everything about SQL: Structured Query Language, this is a language designed to manage data that are stored in databases
mySQL is just one implementation of a relational database that uses SQL instructions to query and maintain the data

Bottom line is that you can learn SQL and just use the knowledge in mySQL, posgresql, Oracle, MSSQL
Ofcourse, each will have some special tools and addons, but the basic set of instructions is the same

rht

i am sorry let me rephrase Do i need advanced knowledge of SQL in order to Administer databases using mySQL, posgresql, Oracle, MSSQL?

Vasyvasy i dont want to create databases!!!

RobertKaucher

You will never get a job as a DBA if you don't know the fundamentals of the SQL languages that the RDBMSes use.

It seems to me that what you are asking is what is the minimum of knowledge you can have to be able to add MySQL as a skill on your resume. I would say check on a few sites that have example MySQL interview questions. Learn as much as you can based on them and then do not be surprised when you get torn apart on the technical interview.

vasyvasy

rht wrote: »

i am sorry let me rephrase Do i need advanced knowledge of SQL in order to Administer databases using mySQL, posgresql, Oracle, MSSQL?

Vasyvasy i dont want to create databases!!!

What do you mean when you say you want to Administer databases?
And if you don't want to create databases, what you will be then administering?

rht

Excuse my stupidity but i thought there are 2 types of professionals in this field. A developer who creates, adds tables,fields and optimizes databases and the system administrator who uses the server software like mySQL or Oracle 11g to manage, maintain, backup .etc the databases as well as administer other aspects of a server like exchange, AD, DHCP etc.

Correct me if i am wrong.

NotHackingYou

You are correct in that the tasks that a SQL developer will have can be very different from the tasks that a DBA. However, a DBA will generally need to know at least the basics of SQL (What you will learn in Head First SQL) because often times some settings can only be accessed via SQL. Additionally, a lot of what would be manual work via UI can be automated via SQL - usually by a DBA. Lastly, understanding SQL will help a lot when troubleshooting different problems like slow queries.

You don't need to be a SQL developer to be a DBA but you should IMO have exposure to the basics.

rht

RobertKaucher wrote: »

You will never get a job as a DBA if you don't know the fundamentals of the SQL languages that the RDBMSes use.

It seems to me that what you are asking is what is the minimum of knowledge you can have to be able to add MySQL as a skill on your resume. I would say check on a few sites that have example MySQL interview questions. Learn as much as you can based on them and then do not be surprised when you get torn apart on the technical interview.

I am not trying to become a DBA, however i am getting certified towards becoming a system/network admin. The point is many jobs are asking for a system admin with MCSA, CCNA and MySQL knowledge. I have never come across someone with all this combination but i have seen MCSA, CCNA and RHCA together which i prefer (LINUX over DBA). What i understand is that DBA is a different track to Server/Network administration, correct??

rht

CarlSaiyed wrote: »

You are correct in that the tasks that a SQL developer will have can be very different from the tasks that a DBA. However, a DBA will generally need to know at least the basics of SQL (What you will learn in Head First SQL) because often times some settings can only be accessed via SQL. Additionally, a lot of what would be manual work via UI can be automated via SQL - usually by a DBA. Lastly, understanding SQL will help a lot when troubleshooting different problems like slow queries.

You don't need to be a SQL developer to be a DBA but you should IMO have exposure to the basics.

Thank you that's what i have been waiting to hear! i am correct in the fact that i only need Basics for DB administration using MySQL and that the more i know the easier it becomes to troubleshoot problems.

finally.

RobertKaucher

rht wrote: »

I am not trying to become a DBA, however i am getting certified towards becoming a system/network admin. The point is many jobs are asking for a system admin with MCSA, CCNA and MySQL knowledge. I have never come across someone with all this combination but i have seen MCSA, CCNA and RHCA together which i prefer (LINUX over DBA). What i understand is that DBA is a different track to Server/Network administration, correct??

Like I said, I would just go to some of the sites that have example questions for interviews and use those as guides to what you need to study up on.

It's not uncommon for a Server admin to be given responsibility over a database because he/she was standing next to it when the last guy quit. (A joke, but the point is true). An accidental DBA is still a DBA.

If you are just looking for the quickest way to feel justified to add MySQL or SQL Server to your resume you absolutely still need to know SQL. Because one of the things that you will be expected to be able to do is explain why your server is slow. If you cannot look at the queries that are being used and figure out how it can be tuned and improved, you don't have MySQL or SQL Server skills. If all you are doing is backing up the server and restoring it, you don't have those skills either. Your a server or backup admin.

Each job posting is different. But if you see a job that has MCSA, CCNA, MySQL posted as requirements it should send up a red flag that you should investigate further. A boss that expects you to be an expert in that many things is expecting a lot. It may just be that they are expecting you to have the basics down in each topic and that is fine. But you still need to know SQL! If you don't, you will not be able to do a lot of the things you might be asked to do. And why on earth would you think that you will be asked to admins servers (MCSA), configure routers (CCNA) and not be asked to create a database? That sort of job is clearly trying to squeeze every bit of value out of a single person that can be.

Here is my list of the basics for an admin:

Every SQL Server Admin should:

1. Know how to backup a database without using the GUI.
2. Know how to restore a database without using the GUI.
3. Know how to restore a database to a specific point in time and what the requirements are for doing that without using the GUI.
4. Know how to get basic information out of a database for reporting purposes.

I'd list a few more but the point I am making is that all of those use SQL from a SQL Server perspective.

rht

RobertKaucher thanks some good info. I like how you listed the things an SQL server admin needs to do his job, it gives me something to work on. I am thinking of buying Head First SQL because i think its a good book it has good reviews. Can you suggest any resources??

rht

RobertKaucher never mind i saw your sticky thread

However i am confused regarding all those languages SQL MySQL PL-SQL T-SQL which one should i learn??

NotHackingYou

You should learn MySQL. MySQL is the dialect of SQL for the RDBMS MySQL. PLSQL is a dialect for Oracle's implementation. T-SQL is Microsoft's dialect for SQL Server. All of these are based on ANSI-SQL, which MySQL adheres well to (IMO).

If you learn one, you can read the others fairly easily. I still recommend MySQL because the RDMBS is free and easy to setup and that is the approach that the Head First SQL book will take you through.

rht

Excellent thanks you guys

My last question, do you think an MTA [FONT=wf_SegoeUI, Segoe UI, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]98-364 exam would validate querying and basic DB administration?? are there other exams i should look at? keep in mind i am not looking for an MCSA but just enough to tell an employer i can work with a RDBM system.[/FONT]

NotHackingYou

Yes, that exam will validate basic querying and DB administration. It's debatable if the exam's value is in line with the cost versus the MCSA route but IMO the MS press material for this exam is outstanding.

rht

CarlSaiyed

http://www.amazon.com/Database-Administration-Fundamentals-Microsoft-Official/dp/0470889160/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393583620&sr=8-1&keywords=mta+98-364

is this the MS press kit you are talking about? the reviews are not very good + its expensive.