MySQL DBA (mysql database administrator)

MySQL is a multi-user, multithreaded SQL database server. One of the most popular database engine specially in open source community, one reason could because it runs on many different platforms like Oracle. This is not the only reason of popularity, it is also free, easy to manage and i will say very fast for small databases. MySQL have came long way and one of the best thing MySQL did in database community is to force Microsoft and Oracle to release a free small version (express editions). It supports the ANSI 92 standards, most of the basic SQL commands will work with MySQL database engine.

As MySQL is adding more features and larger companies have started using MySQL once known as baby database server, a MySQL DBA role is born, few years ago you can install it and leave it. At that time it lacked administration features and tuning options, there was not even a real native backup system.

• Installation and configuration of MySQL database servers.
• Support MySQL database replication if using.
• Optimizing database Capacity planning for database server.
• Backup / Restore of databases.
• Designing Disaster recovery strategies and implementing them.
• Database designing and development.
• Database security, creating users and managing permissions.
• Providing high availability and Fault-tolerant database.
• Cluster management if clustering is used.
• Trouble shooting and providing in house support for MySQL related issues.
• Writing SQL code and code review.

The above list is not a complete list of tasks for MySQL DBA, a database administrator would be doing much more, because MySQL database administration job require many responsibilities. In my personal experience many MySQL DBA's are full time MySQL developers wearing a hat of MySQL DBA which turns out to be a good thing, all DBA you should also know at least one scripting language to automate tasks.