Log Buffer #27, a Carnival of the Vanities for DBAs

They tell me that my hosting this edition of [http://www.pythian.com/blogs/about-log-buffer/ Log Buffer]; the weekly intersection of all things DBA and blog; has nothing to do with my birthday being on Sunday, but if it’s all the same I’d like to think of it as a pre-emptive strike against my birthday wish list. While you ponder the possibilities of what gift you might want to get me, allow me to present a complimentary gift bag for your reading pleasure. The right way to start this week off is by mentioning the gifts everyone else recieved this week, starting with Devrim’s post in [http://people.planetpostgresql.org/devrim/ Devrim’s PostgreSQL Diary] about the [http://people.planetpostgresql.org/devrim/index.php?/archives/76-New-PostgreSQL-releases-announced,-RPMs-are-built.html new series of releases of PostgreSQL], going from 8.2.1 all the way back to 7.3.16. PostgreSQL DBA’s weren’t the only ones with new toys, as Kaj from [http://www.planetmysql.org/kaj/ Kaj Arno’s blog] announced the [http://www.planetmysql.org/kaj/?p=83 release of MySQL 5.0.33 Community Server] along with a lengthy explination on the MySQL release policy. If that doesn’t sound exciting enough for you, Robin (of [http://www.planetmysql.org/robin/ Robin’s blog] fame) notes that there are now [http://www.planetmysql.org/robin/?p=29 Falcon alpha binaries available] for download as well. If your favorite database wasn’t included in that list there’s no need to worry, as Peter points out in [http://pkhosblog.blogspot.com/index.html Peter K’s Blog] that all vendors will need to offer some type of patch soon for the upcoming [http://pkhosblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/daylight-savings-time-2007.html Daylight Savings Time rule changes] for 2007. And while you contemplate needing to do another update to your system, check out [http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/database/solutions An Expert’s Guide to Database Solutions] where James F. Koopmanns posts on [http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/database/solutions/archives/Is-a-24X7-database-system-a-myth-13807 24x7 database systems]. So given the lack of downtime allowed and the frequency of updates required, you would think a DBA’s job was tough enough right? If not then share the pain of Eddie Awad trying to straighten out the mess of [http://awads.net/wp/2007/01/10/what-does-reserved-y-really-mean/ Oracle’s definition of “Reserved Words”] in [http://awads.net/wp/ Eddie Awad’s blog], of Peter Zaitsev getting bitten by [http://www.mysqlperformanceblog.com/2007/01/09/mysql-automatic-data-truncation-can-backfire/ MySQL automatic data truncation] in the [http://www.mysqlperformanceblog.com/ MySQL Performance Blog], or watching Greg Mullane walk through [http://people.planetpostgresql.org/greg/index.php?/archives/88-Performing-a-reindex-of-the-system-tables.html Reindexing the PostgreSQL system catalogs] in his blog, Greg’s Postgres stuff. Of course none of those problems seem as big as the problem talked about in the [http://dbasrus.blogspot.com/ DBAs-R-Us] blog, where Nuno Souto goes about [http://dbasrus.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-moore-part-1.html taking Moore’s Law away from us]. OK, so it sounds like those folks may have had some rough times recently, but apparently Craig Mullins is having a blast listening to his new Video iPOD’s. Perhaps he was listening to the recent podcast with one of the [http://www.orablogs.com/sergio/archives/001884.html Oracle Linux Kernel Team] employees that Sergio (of [http://www.orablogs.com/sergio/ Sergio’s blog] fame) gave us a pointer to? Well whatever it was, Craig was so inspired he started a new series in his blog [http://www.dbazine.com/blogs/blog-cm/craigmullins/ Perspectives on Database Management] on managing metadata, with both [http://www.dbazine.com/blogs/blog-cm/craigmullins/blogentry.2007-01-08.7608570940 part 1] and [http://www.dbazine.com/blogs/blog-cm/craigmullins/blogentry.2007-01-09.1961841247 part 2] coming this week. Maybe that just goes to show you that sometimes you have to create your own happiness. Or if that fails, then try [http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/oracle/guide/archives/manually-creating-a-logical-change-record-lcr–13838 creating your own logical change records] using techniques from Lewis Cunningham’s blog, [http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/oracle/guide An Expert’s Guide to Oracle Technology]. Maybe that’s not quite the same? Well, one thing that generally brings a smile to my face is reading up on interesting techniques for manipulating SQL, like the one laid out in the [http://www.xaprb.com/blog Xaprb] blog for [http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2007/01/11/how-to-implement-a-queue-in-sql/ implementing queue tables in SQL]. Of course what really made me chuckle was another item from [http://people.planetpostgresql.org/greg/ Greg’s Postgres stuff] where Greg followed up with a [http://people.planetpostgresql.org/greg/index.php?/archives/89-Implementing-a-queue-in-SQL-Postgres-version.html one line queue system] that even works transparently for users, based on PostgreSQL’s Rule system. So with that fine readers, we shall conclude this weeks edition of Log Buffer. I hope it’s been fun for you, I know I had a great time hosting it. I’d especially like to thank the cast and crew who have really made me feel at home… so long folks!