Database changes
I was tasked with updating the database that backs our lab tools about two weeks ago. The work was relatively straightforward: update hostnames in the database so they used the DNS suffix, rather than NIS+. For example: a host v4v-t1000a-gmp03.eu (a T1000 in our lab) should become known as v4v-t1000a-gmp03.uk. Obviously the suffixes were different for the various labs: some .singapore, .germany, etc.
All in all things went very smoothly: I tested the queries out some time and and then ran them on the production Sybase database at 7PM today. A bit of a last minute update needed to be incorporated: changing the name of a logfile associated with each host to use the new hostname. Again, this went fairly well.
With that out of the way I’m fairly sure this was my longest day of work so far. In order for me to catch the bus I leave the house at 7:40AM, and I’m taking the view (for now) that if I drive to work, I may as well leave at the same time. At this time in the morning, the time between leaving home and walking into the office is about ten minutes: i.e. I get to work at about 7:45. This leaves plenty of time for me to mess around, eat some toast, make fun of Chris, read and reply to email, etc. before the real work begins.
I left more or less on time today, which was good. But obviously with the database changes scheduled for 7PM and taking about 45 minutes (including plenty of time for checking things were working before committing the transaction), not to mention sending out reminder emails to the engineers around the world… my day was quite a bit longer.
It’s odd really, but I can’t really concentrate on anything when I get home. I could sit down and watch a film, but it’s not always possible to find the time in the living room (sofas beat desk chairs in comfyness tests :). So most times I just sit about and do… well, nothing.
A project is what I need. I enjoy nothing better than a good project: not too difficult, but definitely not too easy (I just think “I can do this by doing x, y and z” and promptly lose interest) either. If only I could come up with a good one to work on during my “work from home day” due to start in the new year…
Tags: General