do I need a DBA for SQL Server?

[Brian]

We currently run an Oracle 8i db for Oracle Applications 10.7. We are
considering moving away from this whole infrastructure to Windows 2003
Server and SQL Server 2005 with a new ERP system.

Currently, we have an Oracle DBA under contract who performs all of the
maintenance required, plus does any and all fixes to the db when there
are problems.

What I have been asked, and couldn't comfortably answer, is do we need
the same sort of arrangement for SQL Server? We have plenty of Windows
server experience in house, but only minor SQL Server experience (I can
set up maintenance jobs, backups, user admin, etc.). If something bad
happens to the ERP system, and the ERP vendor determines that the
problem is not with their app but is with the db itself, how do I get
this resolved quickly? Should I have a contract with a 3rd party to
cover us should this scenario occur?

Thanks for any and all feedback.
Regards,
Brian

[Tony Rogerson]

If you are in the UK then give me a call and we can sort out a support
contract.

Personally, I'd give a couple of your internal guys some training to bring
them up to a support level for SQL Server and then rely on experts on call
if things go wrong.

A full time DBA is probably going to be expensive if they aren't doing
anything else.

The role of a pure DBA within the SQL Server has reduced somewhat, they tend
to do development but a lot do Business Intelligence stuff now as well.

Hope that helps.

--
Tony Rogerson
SQL Server MVP
http://sqlserverfaq.com - free video tutorials
"Brian" <ba*****@amphenolpcd.com> wrote in message
news:11*********************@g49g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

We currently run an Oracle 8i db for Oracle Applications 10.7. We are
considering moving away from this whole infrastructure to Windows 2003
Server and SQL Server 2005 with a new ERP system.

Currently, we have an Oracle DBA under contract who performs all of the
maintenance required, plus does any and all fixes to the db when there
are problems.

What I have been asked, and couldn't comfortably answer, is do we need
the same sort of arrangement for SQL Server? We have plenty of Windows
server experience in house, but only minor SQL Server experience (I can
set up maintenance jobs, backups, user admin, etc.). If something bad
happens to the ERP system, and the ERP vendor determines that the
problem is not with their app but is with the db itself, how do I get
this resolved quickly? Should I have a contract with a 3rd party to
cover us should this scenario occur?

Thanks for any and all feedback.
Regards,
Brian