Our DBAs look after Oracle databases for teams that need more Oracle depth than they employ: single instances, RAC clusters and Data Guard standbys, on your own servers or in the cloud. We take on the routine work of monitoring, tuning, backups and patching, and we are the people you call when something breaks.
What we cover
Monitoring
We watch the things that take Oracle databases down: the alert log, free space in tablespaces and the fast recovery area, ASM disk groups, cluster health on RAC, apply lag on Data Guard standbys, failed scheduler jobs, blocking sessions and invalid objects. We use Oracle Enterprise Manager if you run it, and lightweight scripts alongside your existing monitoring if you do not. When an alert matters, you hear about it from us with what we have already done about it.
Performance tuning
Most Oracle performance problems come down to a handful of statements, stale statistics or an execution plan that changed. We use AWR and ASH where your licences include the Diagnostics and Tuning Packs, and Statspack where they do not, to find where the time goes. Then we fix the cause: an index, fresh statistics, a SQL plan baseline that holds a good plan, a rewrite for your developers, or memory and I/O settings sized to the workload. Each change is reported with its effect before and after.
Backup and recovery
A backup is only proven once it has been restored. We set up and check RMAN backups and archive log retention against how much data you can afford to lose and how quickly you need it back, validate them, and restore them on a schedule to show that they work. Where you run Data Guard we test switchover and failover, and where Flashback is enabled we use it to undo mistakes without a full restore. The recovery steps are written down, so they never depend on one person's memory.
Patching and upgrades
Oracle publishes Release Updates every quarter. We test each one on a non-production copy, apply it in a window you approve (rolling node by node on RAC, so the cluster stays up) and keep a record of what is installed where. For upgrades, such as 12c to 19c, we use Oracle's AutoUpgrade tool, rehearse on a copy and compare performance before and after. When the database has to move as well, our migration team can do both in one project.
On call
When a database hangs, runs out of space or throws an ORA- error nobody has seen before, you call DBAs who already know your systems. We join through the access route your security team has approved, find the cause, fix it or give your team a step-by-step plan, and write up how to stop it happening again. In one case a client's in-house team had worked an unstable production database for some time without finding the cause; our DBAs joined a secure screen-share, found the root cause and fixed it within hours. The hours we cover, and how to reach us outside them, are agreed in writing at the start.
How we work
Most engagements begin with a health check: we review configuration, security, backups (and restore one), performance and capacity, and give you a written report with the findings ranked by risk. From there you choose ongoing remote DBA cover from named DBAs, a fixed project such as an upgrade or a Data Guard build, or help when you need it. We work through named accounts with only the privileges the work needs, and we document every change.
Case studies
Client names are withheld. We are happy to share details on a call.
DeliveredFixed within hours
Not disclosed
A client's in-house team had worked an unstable production database for some time without finding the cause. Our DBAs joined a secure screen-share, found the root cause and gave them a step-by-step plan to recover and to prevent a repeat.
Root cause found and fixed within hoursPrevention plan handed to the client's teamQuestions
Current releases such as 19c, and older ones such as 10g, 11g and 12c that many businesses still run, on Linux, AIX and Solaris, on your own servers, on OCI or on Amazon RDS for Oracle. For a release Oracle no longer supports, we help you keep it stable while the upgrade is planned.
Yes. We build, run and troubleshoot Real Application Clusters, Data Guard physical standbys and Oracle GoldenGate replication, including the patching and testing each one needs. Moving a 30 TB database onto Oracle 12c RAC for a global retail bank, kept in sync with GoldenGate, is one of our published case studies.
Usually we work alongside them. You can use us for out-of-hours cover, for depth in RAC, Data Guard or tuning that one person cannot cover, or for all of the routine work so your own staff can focus on projects. We agree who does what at the start, and every change we make is documented.
Through the route your security team approves: a VPN, a jump host or a screen-share that your staff control. Each of our DBAs uses a named account with only the privileges the work needs, every change is logged and reported, and we agree in advance which systems and data are in scope.
No. AWR, ASH and the SQL Tuning Advisor are part of those packs and need their licences. Without them we use Statspack and our own scripts, which cover most tuning work. We check what you are licensed for first, so the tools we use match your licences.
From the blog
March 7, 2023
February 27, 2023
November 16, 2022
Related services
Move to the cloud, build for it
Trusted data, reports and analytics agents
Support, security and monitoring from one MSP
On-site IT support across New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia. Remote services wherever you are. Areas we serve →
Tell us what you run and what worries you. We suggest where to start: a health check, a project or ongoing cover.
A few lines is enough. The engineers who do this work will reply within one business day.
Or email it.services@princetonits.com or call +1 (212) 507-9350.
Princeton IT Services