Question: I am a fresher and want to become a SQL Server DBA. I would like to know about the SQL Server environment and how SQL Server is deployed practically in small scale firms? Could you please help me to have more insight on this?
Solution: Good question. This is a very basic but a very valid question which generally a beginner level DBA thinks first. I would explain this here.
There are primarily three types of environment – DEV, UAT and Prod. This also varies from organization to organization.
- Dev : Development Environment – Where the developers develop the database code i.e creating tables / views or writing Stored Procedures stc.
- UAT: Test Environment – Where the developed codes are tested for functionality validation by business users.
- Prod: Production Environment – Where the tested code is moved and the actual users start working.
- SIT: System Integration Testing Environment – Where the testers do the testing of the sub-systems, as a whole, to ensure that all the modules of the script work as a system.
So, if we summarize, then the application deployment cycle is something like:
DEV Environment --> SIT Environment (Optional) --> UAT Environment --> Prod Environment
To keep it simple, the movement of code from one environment to another is called deployment. The deployment, in itself is a complex task and is very challenging. It all depends on what all components we are planning to deploy from one environment to other? A simple example may be simply deploying a newly created table from dev to UAT and from UAT to Production environment. Whereas a complex example may be the deployment of a whole application having application code deployment, middle level components configuration deployment and database level deployment. And to deploy from one environment to another, the DBA’s need to follow a process called Change Control.
Hopefully, this gives a good idea and a broader view about the SQL Server environment in any small to middle level organization along with the deployment process. But don't hesitate to ask me if you would like to know more about it!
