SQL Server to Oracle dba

[crimdon]

I'm thinking of reskilling in this direction over the summer if I can't find another contract.

Was wondering if anyone else had done this and what obstacles I might face.

[original PM]

Oracle gave me lots of sleepless nights

but then I am no expert

[oracleslave]

Oracle gave me lots of sleepless nights

I thought that was going to stay our little secret.

[thunderlizard]

I did that a couple of years ago, but as a developer, not a DBA. Except I did my OCA cert via the DBA route, because it was (a) cheaper and (b) didn't require any Forms.

Ignore everything you know about SQL server. Of course many of the concepts are the same, but the implementations are quite different, especially physically.
Doing the OCA (probably the full OCP if you're a career DBA) is probably a good way to learn the ropes. You can download 10g XE for free, and it runs OK on one of today's medium-spec PCs.

[reddog]

One thing to consider, most Oracle databases run on Unix/Linux, so you may have to get up to speed with the Operating System too.

[ribble]

As a SQL Server boy Oracle makes me twitch a dribble a little....

[crimdon]

As a SQL Server boy Oracle makes me twitch a dribble a little....

I'm not cetain its the route I wan tto take either. Was just considering a few options as part of my continuous improvement plan. Might go out the BI route instead and look at Business Objects or SSRS.

Spoke to one of the unix guys here and he told me the thought of working with Oracle everyday would be depressing.

[ribble]

Yes thats a good idea, if you are pure SQL Server at the monent(Developer/DBA), then to branch out into the entire MS BI stack is probably the best bet. Look into SSIS/SSRS/SSAS. As discussed in the other thread I started there seem to be a lot of that around.

Dan