Author: Craig S. Mullins
Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2002
ISBN: 0201741296
The problem with the relational world, particularly that in the Unix world, is that the well-established policies and procedures established for the main frame environments have typically been over
looked, if not simply ignored, in the Unix world. Many shops tend to treat the distributed environment as they would a stand-alone PC. This environment has gotten much more complex with the advent
and growth of the internet. The Unix world cannot continue to go down this path without thought, structure, and procedures for every aspect of the application.
Craig Mullins has put together the most comprehensive relational database policies and procedures book I have ever had the pleasure to read.
The book contains 23 chapters of information ranging from the DBA job (descriptions, job functions, and how many are needed), to database theory (design, normalization, good practices), to
application design, including the need for change management. Craig builds on these topics with performance management (beginning with what exactly that means), and includes all performance issues,
backup and recovery requirements, and even disaster recovery issues. Each section has a complete discussion on the topic and is summarized with review questions and additional sources of related
information. The book also contains 4 appendices that in themselves would make great chapter material as well. Craig covers all of the relational vendors, giving examples of text, code, and
administrative advice on each and appears to give equal billing to each.
This book is more than excellent, every DBA, manager, business unit manager, and HR department should have a copy. This should be mandatory reading in all MBA programs. Giving this book a 5 somehow
doesn’t quite cover it.
Nice job Craig!
