Top-Ten Database Chores
By Nancy Hickman
Databases on the Web are addictive, and a lot of Web developers who had never dealt with databases before find they have to create one, ASAP, for a client. The tool companies make setting one up about as easy as growing a Chia pet. However, databases definitely need more tending.
It starts small. A Web-site client wants an enhancement to a Web page: a little database you put together for the client's products or services, or to store transaction information. If you develop or host Web sites, chances are you manage quite a few small- to medium-size databases at your Web farm. And in the pursuit of new business, it's easy to forget about the seasonal upkeep of a database.
If you act as the maintenance crew on your client's database, you'll need to set up a schedule of activities that go beyond simple backup. On the other hand, if you thought your job ended once you developed the client's Web app -- or even if your obligation is merely to host the database -- you still need to be concerned about maintenance. Your client may not be educated about database maintenance and tuning and may have an unqualified database administrator (DBA). When performance suffers, it's all too easy to blame the Web application or the ISP.
The first quarter of a new year is a great time to review your clients' needs and set up a schedule for tackling maintenance issues -- creating a sort of almanac for your Web farm. You may want to divide your clients into interest groups and hold group meetings.
