Oracle Database - inside looking out #C17LV

It's March of 2017 and the years continue to click by at an increasing rate.
Oracle just made available the second major release of it's 12c database product.  Yes it was available in the Oracle cloud last fall, but with 420,000 customers I'm sure there are still a few of us waiting for the "run it on your own hardware" release.

This is all very timely, learning new Oracle technology has been a life long journey for myself.  My first Oracle database was version 6 which required me sitting with a consultant for a few weeks to learn the details of how to manage it and how to find what you needed in the dozen or so printed manuals.

Well it's 26 years latter, and things sure do change, but they also stay the same.  With google, My Oracle support, and countless blogs; we still search for truth.  Most of the time this means talking to a trusted, and hopefully knowledgable expert.  That discussion might be virtual, but boy is a lot lost.  I believe the statistic thrown around is something like 93% of communication is non-verbal.

For the second year in a row I'm the conference chair for IOUG at COLLABORATE 17.  This is the number one technical conference for people in the Oracle technology business, and has been for the past 17 years (having changed names just a little).  The IOUG again brings a lot of DBA centric sessions and unique opportunities:

• Sunday pre-conference workshops on Oracle 12c new features, Cloud DBA, and SQL tuning.
• Cloud workshop during the week with Oracle - learn how to get your Oracle system in the cloud
• OakTable world - a mini conference in a conference put on by OakTable Oracle scientists 
• Hands on labs throughout the week - Oracle 12c database upgrade, Apache Hadoop, Oracle Database 12c in-memory, Oracle Database 12c multitenant
• In person networking opportunities - meet fellow professionals working on the same technical challenges
• 220+ technical sessions, quick tips, and hands on labs about Oracle Database, Development, Engineered Systems, OEM, and more.

This year I'll be presenting four times.

• Session 333 - Oracle and NLS - a detailed look at how data is stored in Oracle databases, and why you should always be using international character sets correctly.
  Add to your schedule: Thursday, Apr 06, 2017 (09:45 AM - 10:45 AM) Palm D 
• Session 352- DBA 201: Database Listener registration - a quick tip detailing how the Oracle Listener becomes aware of databases, especially important for multiple networked systems like Exadata.
  Add to your schedule: Monday, Apr 03, 2017 (12:00 PM - 12:30 PM) Palm C
• Session 196 - Cloud DBA transformation, futuristic TomorrowLand, or desolate wasteland - I'm co-presenting with another great speaker, Jim Czuprynski where we will be musing on the future of DBA's in the cloud based on 50+ years of combined experience.  Be sure to check his blog out.
  Add to your schedule: Tuesday, Apr 04, 2017 (04:15 PM - 05:15 PM) Banyan C
• Session 10183 - Essential Skills for the EBS DBA: past and present, the future is Cloudy - Again I'm co-presenting, this time with Jeffrey Weiss about what skills will make you a better E-Business Suite Applications DBA, along with the OAUG group.  This type of cross over could only happen at COLLABORATE.
  Add to your schedule: Tuesday, Apr 4, 2017 11:00:00 AM PDT Breakers I

Note: all times are PDT local to Las Vegas.

For those that can't make it out to Las Vegas to be in person, IOUG offers a virtual conference pass. This allows remote attendees to participate in over 30 of the technical sessions. 

Jim and I will be having some special buttons for those that find us at the conference.

The future is in your hands, make sure you have the tools, and network of people to help you get there.  That's my view, from the inside of the database looking out.

If you see me in Vegas, say HI! #C17LV

Keep in touch through twitter @ggordham, blogging, or LinkedIn

Gary