Bruce Unplugged: New PostgreSQL Live Virtual Training

Contributed by Debra Brucato

Training is a core part of what EnterpriseDB provides to the user community. And as that community grows and evolves, we always try to revise and revamp our courses to fit users’ needs.

Last fall, we rebuilt our training program from the ground up in order to make our classes more dynamic and interactive. We also developed two new, separate courses: Introduction to PostgreSQL Administration and Advanced PostgreSQL Administration.

We have now revamped our training program even further, combining these two courses into a single, five-day live virtual training course, Comprehensive PostgreSQL Administration. The course will be taught by Bruce Momjian, a Senior Database Architect at EDB as well as a PostgreSQL community leader and Global Development Group co-founder. This new course will draw upon both the Introductory and Advanced courses to give a comprehensive understanding of core administrative tasks including configuration, maintenance, monitoring, backups, recovery, and moving data. The advanced topics are also covered, including: replication to safeguard data, clustering for high availability, partitioning for performance and maintainability, and security for privacy and protection.

“Knowing how to work with PostgreSQL has become recognized as a valuable career path for individuals,” Bruce says. “I see experienced enterprise software professionals who are versed in operating systems and Windows, for example, taking the training to advance their careers. The skills are in high demand and people now see they have a range of options once they’ve invested in learning PostgreSQL. I also see whole departments within a company signing up because more enterprises are investing in PostgreSQL. These more experienced database professionals who are versed in Oracle or DB2 are excited to be learning the mechanics of PostgreSQL. And because PostgreSQL is standards-based, most Oracle skills transfer.“

While basic experience in database administration is suggested, no prior knowledge of PostgreSQL is required. This live online training combines the convenience of online training with the benefits of interacting with a live instructor. You can train from anywhere at your convenience – from your home or office, and get trained by the same Postgres expert as an on-site training with the opportunity to interact directly for specific questions or additional detail on a topic.

Attendees will be given the opportunity for interactive training and Q&As with the master himself, Bruce Momjian, in real time. Also included are electronic copies of course materials, hands-on exercises to reinforce learning, and one complimentary attempt at the PostgreSQL Associate Certification exam. Certification is a great way to validate technical skills. Graduates of this course will be able to confidently manage large, highly available databases and their security requirements.

The following is a breakdown of the individual modules:

PostgreSQL Introduction & Architecture
Get an introduction to the features of the PostgreSQL database. You will gain a conceptual understanding of PostgreSQL database architecture and how its components work and interact with one another.

Installation & Configuration
Database administrators will learn techniques for installing and configuring PostgreSQL, with practical tips from real-world installations that can help ensure a successful PostgreSQL install in your environment. You’ll get instruction on how to configure the server parameter file (postgresql.conf) and all of the important parameters for preparing a PostgreSQL instance for production.

Create, Manage & Secure the PostgreSQL Database
This module is designed to provide you with a firm foundation in basic database administration. Learn how to create a database and properly manage the various structures in an effective and efficient manner. A detailed explanation of PostgreSQL host-based authentication will prepare you for implementing different security modes in PostgreSQL.

Managing PostgreSQL using PSQL and PGADMIN III
Get an overview of the PSQL Console and the PGADMIN III GUI. PGADMIN III can be used to manage and monitor multiple PostgreSQL database instances from a single GUI interface. Hands-on exercises reinforce the material covered.

Introduction to SQL & Moving Data – PostgreSQL Structured Query Language (SQL)
This is a hands-on introduction to SQL Basics including an overview of relational databases and instructions on how to access them through SQL Commands. With hands-on exercises to help cement the learning, this module incudes training on how to export and import table data to and from a file.

PostgreSQL Backup and Recovery
Designed for technical support and DBAs, this module will teach you how to backup PostgreSQL databases using different techniques, evaluate recovery requirements and develop an appropriate strategy for backup and recovery procedures. With hands-on exercises, this part of the course also teaches you how to implement Point-in-Time Recovery.

Transactions & Concurrency
Learn about core MVCC functionality of PostgreSQL and how to implement transaction isolation. Users will see how PostgreSQL implements locking.

Performance Tuning & Routine Maintenance Tasks
This module introduces practical, safe and highly efficient ways to optimize performance for the PostgreSQL Server. Users will explore performance issues affecting the design of the database and applications using the database, major database performance parameters, and the different tools that assist in performance monitoring and tuning. This module also covers proactive and reactive database maintenance.

High Availability & Replication
Learn how to use PostgreSQL Streaming Replication to perform data replication activities between PostgreSQL database systems. Also learn how to use Slony for implementing asynchronous trigger-based replication between different PostgreSQL database instances.

Table Partitioning
Using partitioning tables is an essential skill for designing and managing big data volumes. Partitioning has many additional features over normal table management. This module covers the “what, why, when and how” aspects of table partitioning.

PostgreSQL Data Dictionary, Monitoring & Postgres Enterprise Manager
Learn how to view monitoring information stored in PostgreSQL Data Dictionary tables. Also learn how to install and configure the Postgres Enterprise Manager console to use this enterprise-class tool to monitor all aspects of your enterprise servers using this single interface. Structured hands-on lab exercises reinforce this material.

Add-On Utilities This module will cover PostgreSQL Extensions and teach you how to install and manage various extensions previously known as contrib modules.

Special Discounts of up to 50% are Available for this class! Please contact us for discount information and to learn more!

Debra Brucato is Director, Services Product Management at EnterpriseDB.