tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post7826385270121769716..comments2024-03-18T02:14:37.994-04:00Comments on The Arup Nanda Blog: Good EngineeringArup Nandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-56772597022905481892012-06-04T04:23:04.896-04:002012-06-04T04:23:04.896-04:00I admit, I have not been on this webpage in a long...I admit, I have not been on this webpage in a long time... however it was another joy to see It is such an important topic and ignored by so many, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more aware of possible issues. Great stuff as usual..Ava Brownhttp://www.diskdoctors.com/oregon-lab.aspnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-5839639050080397262011-04-29T00:52:27.970-04:002011-04-29T00:52:27.970-04:00Ran across this article today, follows along the t...Ran across this article today, follows along the theme here (the truly good aren't recognized because their stuff doesn't break): <a href="http://highscalability.com/blog/2011/4/18/6-ways-not-to-scale-that-will-make-you-hip-popular-and-loved.html" rel="nofollow">http://highscalability.com/blog/2011/4/18/6-ways-not-to-scale-that-will-make-you-hip-popular-and-loved.html</a>oraclenerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412013306950057961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-61735618958818264152011-04-13T22:29:26.428-04:002011-04-13T22:29:26.428-04:00I was thinking more of NULL or absence of value.I was thinking more of NULL or absence of value.oraclenerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412013306950057961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-15188857043150144202011-04-13T22:23:42.064-04:002011-04-13T22:23:42.064-04:00@oraclenerd
"Perhaps my question is more phi...@oraclenerd<br /><br />"Perhaps my question is more philosophical/rhetorical? A non-event is something that never happens. You can't measure something that never happens...right?"<br /><br />Wouldn't the metric if a non-event be zero?Enrique Avilesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-31814857424726005462011-03-15T02:57:22.098-04:002011-03-15T02:57:22.098-04:00Hey Arup,
I agree with your thoughts.
So much ...Hey Arup,<br /><br />I agree with your thoughts. <br /><br />So much of what I see in IT, is just trial and error. Complexity upon complexity. Rather than simplicity. So few are thinking through the design, or the details. <br /><br />As a DBA, I've been concerned with the very worst case scenarios. As a developer, I look into what would happen if the wrong data got into the fields. And without proper constraints, it so often does. <br /><br />I've been writing some of my ideas. Hopefully, more soon. Here's a post that parallels what you write:<br />http://rodgersnotes.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/database-design-mistakes-to-avoid/ <br /><br />BestRodgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13977796396343653710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-36448299563198330982011-03-14T11:00:10.382-04:002011-03-14T11:00:10.382-04:00@Leonid please let me know how to contact you. You...@Leonid please let me know how to contact you. Your profile is private; I can't see your full name or your email. I want to respond to your post; but don't want to do with this forum.Arup Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-37132441042801418412011-03-11T15:28:23.960-05:002011-03-11T15:28:23.960-05:00Definitely understand your original point.
I have...Definitely understand your original point.<br /><br />I have said in the past, that if you <i>don't know</i> your DBA, then he/she good. <br /><br />I appreciate the article. It's good food for thought. I feel your frustration, err, self-pity. :)oraclenerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412013306950057961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-4510838665815887342011-03-11T15:24:18.268-05:002011-03-11T15:24:18.268-05:00@oraclenerd
>> That's it...how do you m...@oraclenerd<br /><br />>> That's it...how do you measure non-events? <br /><br />I assumed your question was indeed rhetorical. I have the same question too; but mine is bordering on self pity. It's precisely the inability to measure that unfortunately steals the limelight from the planers and engineers.<br /><br />[With the proviso that some people will dispute that DBAs are engineers]Arup Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-58631569099941856102011-03-11T15:19:32.227-05:002011-03-11T15:19:32.227-05:00@chen
>> One of my superpowers is availabil...@chen<br /><br />>> One of my superpowers is availability planning - looking at system architecture and figuring out the expected availability and how it should be improved to match SLA. <br /><br />Please, please give a seminar. Not just in paid events like OOW or hotsos; but something anyone can attend.Arup Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-57144873748099830192011-03-11T15:17:40.386-05:002011-03-11T15:17:40.386-05:00@leonid
>> The DBA occupation ... is not a...@leonid <br /><br />>> The DBA occupation ... is not an Engineering Profession...<br /><br />I agree to some extent; but not entirely. See my next response.<br /><br />>> There are engineers who work as DBAs. I do not know any DBAs who work as engineers.<br /><br />Isn't that mere semantics? It's like saying there are cyclists who are also boaters; but not any of the boaters is cyclist. DBA is a more generic term - some focus on managing database; some focus on creating something out of it. Some do both. Their numbers may be low compared to the general population; but there are several. If you haven't seen one, come to Collaborate, I will introduce to you a few myself. Some even commented right here.<br /><br />>> #4. Using the Japanese tragedy to bring traffic to a personal blog is shameful.<br /><br />I'm more curious than hurt. How on earth did you get that opinion?Arup Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-78099748297810417572011-03-11T14:52:45.716-05:002011-03-11T14:52:45.716-05:00#1. The DBA occupation (especially in the US) is n...#1. The DBA occupation (especially in the US) is not an Engineering Profession by any stretch of imagination. Any Real Engineer would gladly confirm that. <br /><br />There are engineers who work as DBAs. I do not know any DBAs who work as engineers.<br /><br />#2. Ability to create and follow plans is just a basic trait required in many field: from cooking a dinner to building a fence. <br /><br />#3. Software development without creativity is the reason why corporate IT is stagnating. <br /><br />Good designers are those who make the difference (Compare Maruti and Benz).<br /><br />Ability to create good designs comes from culture and education. <br /><br />It takes generations to bring up a designer with good taste. Without that - it is all code copy pasting. <br /><br />Which is boring indeed.<br /><br />#4. Using the Japanese tragedy to bring traffic to a personal blog is shameful.<br /><br /><br />Reading: <br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineer<br /><br />http://www.cs.usfca.edu/~parrt/doc/software-not-engineering.html<br /><br />http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2005/05/bridges-software-engineering-and-god.html<br /><br />http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=863774&start=40<br /><br />http://www.biblepath.com/beatitudes.htmlUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02700647990925809335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-57818774432633517502011-03-11T14:43:23.676-05:002011-03-11T14:43:23.676-05:00you're right...my brain was still on "non...you're right...my brain was still on "non-event."<br /><br />I often forget that...because I don't currently sit-in on <i>those</i> meetings. <br /><br />I think you should give a seminar. You'll have at least one attendee.oraclenerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412013306950057961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-50786007754134914522011-03-11T14:35:51.024-05:002011-03-11T14:35:51.024-05:00@oraclenerd
SLA is a *requirement* and therefore ...@oraclenerd<br /><br />SLA is a *requirement* and therefore it must exist before planning and design.<br /><br />You can't make any design decision before knowing the required availability, mostly because HA costs more money and you need an SLA to justify the expense.<br /><br />BTW. One of my superpowers is availability planning - looking at system architecture and figuring out the expected availability and how it should be improved to match SLA. Maybe I should give a seminar :)Chen Shapirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535067086703072776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-339139316280714102011-03-11T14:25:09.304-05:002011-03-11T14:25:09.304-05:00I agree that SLA is measurable, but, in the planni...I agree that SLA is measurable, but, in the planning stage, no such thing exists. That's the crux of my issue.<br /><br />I think the walk-through is a great idea (and I will steal it)...<br /><br />Perhaps my question is more philosophical/rhetorical? A non-event is something that never happens. You can't measure something that never happens...right?oraclenerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412013306950057961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-50451130756582891102011-03-11T14:15:15.469-05:002011-03-11T14:15:15.469-05:00@chen couldn't agree more. Practice is importa...@chen couldn't agree more. Practice is important as well; but sometimes it is not possible. But in any case, there is no scenario where a detailed planning is not possible.Arup Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-65477160515563114512011-03-11T13:46:57.862-05:002011-03-11T13:46:57.862-05:00@oraclenerd Chen already addressed. Yes, SLA is a ...@oraclenerd Chen already addressed. Yes, SLA is a measurable metric; but it's not the only one though. One of things I employ is to have a walkthrough of the scenarios and the plan before it is executed. How many scenarios have been addressed by the planner shows the effectiveness of the planning.Arup Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392706779349258765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-60205235948706895862011-03-11T13:36:07.633-05:002011-03-11T13:36:07.633-05:00@oraclenerd
SLA is all about measuring non-events...@oraclenerd<br /><br />SLA is all about measuring non-events.<br />If you were 98% available on Q1 and 99.9% available on Q2, then you improved your engineering and therefore have less events.<br /><br />Another metric I use is MTBF - mean time between failure. Also known as "uptime".<br />the longer you go between catastrophes, the better you are.Chen Shapirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535067086703072776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-81923021776476671212011-03-11T13:33:26.399-05:002011-03-11T13:33:26.399-05:00There's another important lesson here:
Japan h...There's another important lesson here:<br />Japan has annual nationwide earthquake drills. So when the buildings started shaking, people were well practiced in finding a safe spot. When the Tsunami warning was issues, people knew where to go and how.<br /><br />I think the importance of practice is underestimated.Chen Shapirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535067086703072776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096575.post-56785652221314282022011-03-11T13:11:54.857-05:002011-03-11T13:11:54.857-05:00That's it...how do you measure non-events? You...That's it...how do you measure non-events? You can't. Well, unless you can travel to alternate realities...<br /><br />This is something I ponder frequently, how do you measure good planning; analysis, data modeling, infrastructure, etc? It's difficult if not impossible because you can't travel the alternate path. The only way, that I see, is to earn the trust of those above you who make the decisions.oraclenerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412013306950057961noreply@blogger.com