The failure is not an option. Despite this statement is quite pretentious is also the rule number zero of any decent DBA. The task failure, should this be a simple alter table or an emergency restore, is not acceptable. The database is the core of any application and therefore is the most important element of the infrastructure.

In order to achieve this impossible level, any task should be considered single shot. Everything must run perfectly at the first run like if without rollback plan. However the rollback procedure must be prepared and tested alongside with the main task on the test environment in order to get a smooth transition if the rollback should happen. It’s also very important to remember the checklist. This allow the DBA to catch the exact point of any possible failure ensuring a rapid fix when this happens.

I’ve already started writing the second volume of the database administration series.
The first volume was quite basic with enough information to be useful but not too much to scare people.

The second volume is strongly focused on the database administration and I decided to start it with a chapter explaining what it means to be a DBA.

Probably this will dissuade many people to start this exciting career.

So, here we go again.

Finally I finished the first volume of the PostgreSQL book administration.
The book is free to download on slideshare or, if  you want the hard copy there is the button to order on lulu.com.

I’ll build an ebook version in the next days and I’ll make it available on amazon’s kindle and the kobo.

I hope this book will spread the knowledge on PostgreSQL.

Anyway, I’ve not finished. I’ve already started a second volume and a manual for the developers willing to learn the noble art of the SQL writing.

So finally PostgreSQL 9.4 has been released. This version introduces a new schema less type, the jsonb which joins the other fantastic features abused and misused by the developers all around the globe.

The DBA improvements in this release is much more interesting and can push seriously the adoption in the enterprises of this DBMS.

Alter system

Finally is possible to change the postgresql.conf settings using the ALTER SYSTEM SET command. The cool part is the values are validated when the command is issued. No more hosed clusters by typos. Kudos!

Because an industrial action is taking place in Italy my flight was cancelled.
I’m not going to the Linux Day in person but, thanks Google, I should be able to talk.

PostgreSQL, The Big, The Fast and The Ugly from Federico Campoli

I’ll start Saturday 15.00 CEST.