Found this site through William Robertson's site (
http://www.williamrobertson.net/), saw this thread and just *HAD* to reply.
Been doing the wannabe DBA thing for about three years now, after a four year stint on z/OS.
Some points :
Just got through a large (120 instances) migration/upgrade project, and I can say that an install of the Oracle 10.2 or 9.2 binaries has never taken me more than an hour. Before we install the binaries, we tend to read the docs - in particular the prerequisites, so that those who have root (I don't) can do their kernel parameters thing. We have the CDs/DVDs mounted, we have enough space and we have the patches already on the server.
MySQL runs really well. Support is good. Security is good. Lots of examples of problems and their solutions in the wild. I like it. But I've tested it, and I don't like the fact that I can delete a datafile and the instance just keeps on running until its memory is full. It will get to 'Enterprise' level eventually, but its not there yet. As an aside, did a restore recently - the binlogs (archivelogs) are ace !!
Our SQL Server DBA wants to swap jobs with me for a few months. From what I've seen of SQL Server (2000 and 2005) the Server isn't the problem - its the OS. Easy to setup basic stuff, but we're having problems due to SOx security requirements.
With what software do you use 100% of the functionality? Word ? Excel ? We don't use RAC (looking into DataGuard) but I reckon in the 120 instances (over 200 apps) that we use about 95% of Enterprise Edition functionality.
I'm confused about the complexity issues people have. The install even asks if you want a database created - and what type - and it gives a brief explanation of the types. The use of Web-based tools like DBCA, Grid Control or DBConsole, mean that one never has to use an SQL*Plus prompt for admin tasks. The advisors in 10g are pretty good as well - although you can really get deep into the technical stuff very quickly.
Oracle (at least the versions we're using) seems pretty reasonably priced for the work done by it where I am. We've had a few issues, but stability hasn't been one of them. As mentioned above, in over 200 apps, we use it in many different ways (well mostly as a decent RDBMS actually).
We have quite a few people who know Oracle, and Solaris, and Websphere AS. To suddenly start ripping out the Sparc boxes, using Tomcat (or JBoss or whatever) and Postgresql or MySQL just isn't an acceptable solution. Due to volume, it actually works out cheaper for a new project to have (for example) a schema in an Oracle instance than a MySQL database. What's the client going to choose ? Duh ? There are quite a few apps that have grown over the years and with Oracle you can provide new/more/better functionality without having to change much. It isn't about trying to look big league - its about planning for future growth/change/markets.
From my limited Telecoms experience, billing in terms of call time used on your network was one of the largest DB users. Joe Bloggs used Cable and Wireless' network between Romford and Brentwood for three seconds during his call to Jane Doe on Thursday the 15th - type of thing.
If *I* can learn RMAN and how to backup a database - ANYONE can. Company deserves to go out of business if it can't find people who know how to backup a database - Cold backup even ?
I'm no guru, I can't program ANY language to save my life, I've been lucky enough to have had good, enthusiastic teachers/gurus who told me the good and bad way to do things. Oracle Fanboy? So be it. I'm earning a good salary, able to keep a family fed, have nice holidays and I learn something new everyday. If software didn't have problems then they'd outsource IT jobs to third world countries and any Tom, Dick or Sohail would be able to run it. DOH !! ;-)