Curriculum Vitae: Douglas Ian Burns
Curriculum Vitae: Douglas Ian Burns
Summary
I am an Oracle 9i Certified Professional DBA with 18 years experience in a wide range of environments and have
used Oracle versions 6.0 through to 10g on a number of different operating systems, including RAC, OEM Grid
Control and ASM.
As an active contributor to the UK Oracle User Group, I have written and presented technical papers at conferences in
the UK, U.S.A., Europe and Middle East. These papers are available on my website at
http://oracledoug.com/papers.html) Based on my conference presentations, I was invited to join the Oak Table
Network (http://www.oaktable.net), an informal grouping of some of the world’s leading Oracle experts, dedicated to
disseminating high quality technical information and in January 2007 received an Oracle ACE award from Oracle
Technology Network - http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=19297:4:777692568324739::NO:4:P4_ID:204)
I have developed and taught PL/SQL, Performance Tuning and DBA courses for Learning Tree International and
Oracle UK. I’m currently presenting a series of Oracle 10g Performance Analysis Master-classes for Oracle at various
Oracle offices throughout Europe – e.g. http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/show_desc.redirect?
dc=D48573_1046400&p_org_id=52&lang=US&source_call= )
Education
Secondary School
Archbishop Holgate’s Grammar School, Hull Road, YORK Y01 5HA (09/78 - 06/82)
7 GCE Ordinary Level Pass / 1 CSE Grade 1
Occupational Training
AIX System Administration, Unix Command Language and Shell Programming, Presentation Skills Workshop, Oracle
8i PL/SQL Programming, Oracle8i DBA, Oracle 9i DBA, SQL Server 7 DBA
Occupational Qualifications
Chauncey Group Oracle DBA Certification Exam Pass 1997
Oracle 9i Certified Professional DBA (OCP) Pass 2002
Referees
My references from previous employers are first class. Contact details are not included, but are available on request.
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Career Resume
Contract positions are indicated by (C), Permanent by (P). Most positions have been Oracle DBA roles which have
consisted of standard DBA activities, such as software installation; backup and recovery planning and implementation;
database sizing; user account management; performance monitoring; schema management for development projects
etc. The specific duties listed below are selective and often exclude some of these activities.
Environment Oracle versions 8.1 – 10.2, AIX, Tivoli Storage Manager, Audit Vault 10.2.3, Grid Control
10.2.0.4, Ab Initio, Quest Foglight
• Standard Life is a leading provider of investment, banking, life assurance and pensions products. I was a
member of the Production DBA team who supported a variety of business systems ranging from Oracle 8.1 to
10.2, running on AIX.
• Joint Technical Lead on Oracle Grid Control and Audit Vault implementation project.
• Lead role on Proof of Concept exercise to establish a suitable Oracle and hardware configuration to
load 2.7 billion rows into a new Data Warehouse within a limited batch window. This included multiple
performance tests, tuning and documenting recommendations.
• Owned and developed a detailed database creation process and related documentation to improve
the quality of new Oracle system deployments.
• Refined a full production copy test environment refresh procedure for Investments projects,
reducing the duration dramatically and improving reliability.
• Contributed extensively to efforts to maintain software versions at supported levels, including
moving to supported releases and applying quarterly critical patch updates for the first time.
• Worked closely with Group Information Security on development of group-wide database security
standards.
• Developed and delivered in-house training presentations on Oracle 10g features.
Environment Oracle versions 8.1 – 10.2, Solaris, Linux, AIX, RAC, ASM, Dataguard
• The Pythian Group (http://www.pythian.com) is a leading supplier of remote DBA support services in North
America. I was a member of a team of three DBAs who supported a variety of customer systems ranging from
Oracle 8.1 to 10.2, running on Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windows and OpenVMS. This included on call support outside
normal business hours, trouble-shooting and project consultancy.
• Helped implement a pair of RAC/ASM/Grid Control clusters using Oracle 10.2 on Linux for
performance testing.
• Implemented standard monitoring scripts for a new client, making modifications necessary for them
to work in a RAC environment.
• Planned and implemented Daylight Savings Time change (DST) patches on a number of different
database versions and operating systems.
Environment Oracle versions 8.1 – 10.2, Solaris, Chordiant, Veritas Quick I/O, Netbackup, RMAN
• I worked across all areas of Sky’s business systems, including the Data Warehouse and the new CRM project, as
part of a large team of DBAs supporting several hundred production, development and test databases. This
included on-call production support and shift work to support Sky’s dynamic working environment.
• Helped to develop Sky’s new Production Database Standards to include 10g new features.
• Implemented procedures to manage historic optimiser statistics to help diagnose problems with changing
execution plans.
• Tuned a number of significant batch jobs, reducing execution times from hours to minutes.
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• Primary DBA support contact for new Scheduling and Bookings Enhancements project using Click
Software Service Optimisation Suite. This included all test, development and production implementation
activity.
• Significant server consolidation activity in co-operation with the Unix Sys Admin team
• Training and coaching of existing permanent DBAs moving from Adabas to Oracle support roles.
Environment Oracle versions 8.0 – 9.2, Solaris, Peoplesoft, LIMS, Netbackup, Rman, OEM
• I worked in the IT development technical team, supporting 70-80 development and test databases used by the
development teams to implement a variety of off-the-shelf applications, particularly Peoplesoft Financials
modules and LIMS. This included project work relating to new releases and ongoing support work, including
environment refreshes, fault resolution and general Oracle consulting.
Environment Oracle versions 7.3.4 – 10g, Solaris, Shareplex, SQL Backtrack, Sun Cluster, Sybase
• Working in the EMEA team of Sun’s worldwide DBA support team I was employed to cover a short-term resource
shortage. Sun operate a three-shift ‘follow the sun’ support model to support around 1400 production,
development and test databases worldwide running a wide variety of application on the full range of Sun’s
hardware. This required me to become familiar with Sun’s processes, procedures and in-house DBA tools very
rapidly and to communicate effectively with a large world-wide user community.
• Front-line support of a wide range of Oracle and Sybase databases, including a wide variety of
tasks from database recovery to code releases.
• Database environment creation, cloning, upgrades and other project-orientated tasks.
• Some training of other team members who were less familiar with Oracle.
Environment Oracle 9i Release 2, Oracle 9iAS Release 2, Oracle Warehouse Builder 9.0.3, Oracle
Discoverer, PL/SQL, SQL Navigator 4, AIX 5
• Working in the European Oracle Centre of Excellence, I was the primary Project DBA for the implementation of
Galaxy – a 600Gb Data Warehouse system. This used OWB mappings to populate the data during the overnight
schedule and allowed users to access the data using Oracle Discoverer. The system made extensive use of
Oracle features, including partitioning, materialised views, fine-grained access control, star transformation and
bitmap indexes.
• Using a combination of Statspack and wait event tracing against overnight batch processes to
identify performance problems.
• Creation of Project QA and development environments, using both cloning and edited DDL scripts
to generate smaller versions of the production environment.
• Evaluation of faults in existing physical design and documentation of proposals to improve the
system.
• Mentoring Permanent Junior DBA.
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01/04 – 04/04 Oracle Developer Standard Life
• Working for Information Systems International division on the Phoenix Insurance quotation and policy
management system used by Standard Life Germany
• Technical Editor for new Learning Tree course development – ‘Oracle 9iAS Administration and
Deployment’
• Installation of several 9iAS Servers for Edinburgh University
• Teaching various public courses for Learning Tree, including Oracle DBA, PL/SQL and Application
Development and Tuning Courses.
• Oracle 8.1.7 to 9i upgrade for Southend NHS Trust.
• Application Performance Analysis and Team Coaching for Orchestria.
In addition to the previous positions, I taught the following courses on a freelance basis for Learning Tree
International, between other contracts.
Oracle 9i Database Administration
Oracle 9iAS Administration (also Technical Editor for this course)
Oracle 9i – A Comprehensive Introduction
Oracle 8i for Database Administrators
PL/SQL Programming – An Advanced Workshop (also Technical Editor for this course)
Environment Oracle 8.1.6, Visual Basic, Windows 2000, TOAD, WinTask, Citrix Metaframe and Nfuse,
Hamilton Grant recipe Developer
• Produced report recommending performance-testing approach for RADAR Recipe Development System to
validate that it would perform adequately when rolled out to worldwide research and development facilities.
• Carried out initial performance analysis of third-party and in-house applications using Statspack and Trace
facilities and recommended improvements
• Developed load-testing scenarios using Wintask and Citrix Server Test Kit.
• Produced Oracle SQL and PL/SQL performance-related development standards.
Environment Oracle 7.3.4, 8.1.7, Oracle 9iAS, Oracle Portal, Solaris 7, Spotlight, TOAD,
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• Short-term contract to cover staff shortage
• Evaluation of existing backup and recovery procedures, recommending and implementing improvements
• Upgrading several databases from Oracle 7.3.4 to 8.1.7
• Performance analysis of third-party application and recommending SQL improvements.
• Recommended move to Locally Managed/Uniform Extent tablespaces and implemented first few databases
Environment Oracle 8.1.5 – 8.1.7, Red Hat Linux, Java, PL/SQL, XML, Orbital Organik, TOAD
• Production of a report listing various high availability and recovery solutions for databases hosted by Orbital
on behalf of their clients. I also implemented improvements to the short-term export-based solution.
• Analysis of current optimisation model and recommendation to move to cost-based optimisation. I was also
involved in conducting stress tests to evaluate the success of this approach.
• Identification of poor SQL statements and creation of indexes or embedded hints to improve performance.
• Production of an informal list of SQL performance tuning guidelines to improve the quality of future code
development.
• Evaluation, implementation and documentation of schema release procedures using Quest Schema
Manager as a replacement for the existing Oracle Designer. The schema was particularly complex, consisting of
more than 1800 tables.
• Sizing calculations, re-implementation of storage parameters and db reorganisation to use uniform extents.
• Extensive monitoring and tuning activities during stress tests with both Mediasurface and MS Access code.
• PL/SQL Development and DBA training of permanent employees, both structured courses and coaching.
Environment Oracle 8.0.5, Sequent Dynix Ptx, EMC, Unisure, LINC, OEM 2
08/99 – 12/99 Oracle Consultant (C) ICL (Client - Romanian National Railways)
Environment Oracle 8.0.5, Solaris 7, Sun HA, E10000, NT 4, Spear 2000 Asset Management
• Configuration design for multiple Oracle 8.0.5 databases running on E10000 cluster to support two infrastructure
applications and one GIS.
• Installation of Oracle 8.0.5 on E10000 cluster, using SunCluster 2.2
• Installation of Oracle and development tools on two Sun E450 servers to be used for training and development
purposes.
• Acting as liaison between ICL, client and application vendors on all Oracle-related issues.
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Environment Oracle 8.0.5 and 7.3.4 (including multi-master replication), Oracle Application Server,
Arbor , Remedy ARS, Solaris 2.5, Sun HA, AIX, Red Hat Linux, ServiceBroker
• Installation of all Oracle Server and Client software across 30-40 machines, creation of most databases and
assisted with creation of other databases by the U.S. development team.
• Production of HTML-based configuration and support documentation for Network Operations Centre.
• Implementation of hot backups (using Legato Networker) across all databases and emailed alert notifications to
assist 24x7 operation.
• Back-up Unix Administrator
Environment Oracle 7.3.4, Tuxedo 6.3, Dec Alpha 4100, PL/SQL, TOAD, Mercury LoadRunner
• Analysed SQL used by third party Tarot application and produced recommendations for application
improvements in future releases.
• Backup Administrator for 3 node HP Serviceguard cluster
• Trained inexperienced permanent employee to act as my replacement
• Carried out a one-week benchmarking exercise at HPs benchmarking centre in Manchester to establish the
potential benefits of expanding the existing T500 system with additional processors.
• Developed an alternative backup strategy, using a hot standby, to reduce the performance impact of hot backups
on the server.
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11/94 - 05/95 Instructor (C – Part-time) Oracle UK
• Teaching Oracle 7 DBA (Part 2) course - Maintaining and Tuning the Database
• Development of utilities to eliminate certain types of calls from data feeds, using C.
• Management of 6 personnel and all IT operations.
• Development of System Management and company-wide Security standards.
• Developed a large number of reports using Reports 2.5, to an extremely tight schedule.
01/93 - 12/93 Oracle DBA / Consultant (C) Saudi Arabian Oil Company
• Installation of software on a wide range of platforms, including mainframe and super-computer environments and
a large number of clients.
• Development of site-wide data and database administration standards
• Development of a procedure to refresh the database from mainframe extract files (Pro*C)
• Primary Unix Administrator and Oracle DBA
To reduce the length of this resume it only contains details of Oracle-related work. Prior to working with Oracle, I
worked for 4 years as a Z80 assembly language programmer (home computer games), PC Support Analyst and a
Clipper/C programmer (motor finance). Details are available on request.