First things as a new DBA

Question

This may be redundant or at least covered many times in many guises.
I would like to know what would be the first five thing you would do as a new DB on a site?
I'm talking about general system gathering information or scripts you would run to see what you have on your hands?
It could be as simple as finding the version or possibly something more complex.
Be interesting to see what each individual DBA would do upon getting to a new site and not knowing anything about it.

Answer 1

I'm currently working my way through Expert Oracle Database 10g Administration so it may take a while for me to get up and running. I have ample access to the test system and the DBA is more than willing to help out. As you probably know though the DBA has only so much time for stupid questions so as long as I don't need to bother him or at least when I do I'd like to sound as if I did some research. This I'm hoping is where you might help. So from the list above I'd like to start checking and poking around the system, apologies if these may be simply concepts to you so all I ask for is a bit of patience and pointing me in the right direction:
*Locate the database backup job and verify that it is running, that the job looks correct, and search for evidense that it has been tested in the past, i.e., that recovery was accomplished.*
Is there a default place for this job or does every dba write his own? If so what type of things should I be finding out from the DBA?
*Run a query to check on the file allocation size, usage, and extendability. (Determine if File system, raw, ASM in use at same time)*
So this is a query. Are these the v$ type tables? If so which tables should I be querying. I can then go and look up the reference in the user guide.
*Check Oracle cron for any regularly scheduled tasks and ask system administrator to do the same for root's cron (if UNIX or Linux) Investiage scripts.*
cron is a unix based program if I am getting the picture correctly here. I will look up in google about cron but is there anything specific to the database I should be paying attention to
*Run a user to permissions report to see how many people have DBA privileges, object creation privs, etc ....*
This is a built in report from oracle?
*Look for, and Run Statspack or obtain AWR report for database and look over*
This may be a bit more advanced for me. I have heard this statspack being spoken about but have not quite understood the magic behind it. does the dba need to install it or is it already available. I see there is some info on it in the book so I may skip ahead if its important enough
*Of course, Oracle and OS version, but also if dedicated or shared server mode.*
This is obviously obtained with something like select * from v$version?
*Single or Multiple instance, standby ... so, HA requirements.*
HA? What is the full meaning? What type fo instance I will speak with the DBA about.
*Number of concurrent users, and if 24/7*
Is this possible to find out with a query?
*Storage , backup method*
This is obviously something I need to speak with the DBA about. Any suitable questions or is this a kettle of fish that I should open a new topic for.
*And getting a rough idea of how the application(s) are implemented and talking to the DB*
We are using Oracle Applications so the application is pretty much the standard that we get from oracle.
*Get familiar with the architecture (servers, instances, listeners, HA, backups) - for test and production environments.*
This is a pretty loaded question but again pointing me in the right direction of what I should be finding out about would be great
*Baseline of typical performance with AWR/statspack/Ignite - whatever tool is available and standard at the site.*
This is connected to the above info about performance monitoring
*Run a privileges audit *
Is this again a built in script or is there certain tables I should be looking at?
Thanks again and all help greatly appreciated