Jim Lyons, Computer Professional, Austin, TX
MySQL Database Administrator
Hoover's, Inc., 2007-Present
Primary responsibilities
- Maintain multiple production MySQL instances (both MySQL 4.1 and 5.0)
running on Debian and Red Hat Linux systems
- Maintain multiple development MySQL instances
- Maintain, develop, and tune several dozen databases of between 20 and 60
gigabytes
- Manage multi-tier replication
- Update production data from corporate feeds
- Plan and architect system upgrades and site improvements to increase
efficiency
- Identify and remove single points of failure
- Coordinate with project managers to provide database support for
mission-critical projects
- Manage and maintain standard tasks to perform basic database functions
and provide reports
- Make extensive use of shell scripts, Perl programs, and the "cron"
facility of Linux to perform above task
- Devise and execute critical backup procedures for the company's
databases
- Create, maintain, and enhance office intranet web site for systems and
database group to monitor health of system and record system change
requests
Hoover's Inc. provides timely business information to subscribers, primarily
through its web site. More than a dozen web servers access MySQL databases
that are fed data through a multi-tiered replication system. There
is a subsystem that permits users to create and store searches and
to request email notification of any new information for
data points they specify.
The company is in the process of adding tens of millions of new companies
to its database store and to migrate from MySQL 4 to MySQL 5. As the primary
MySQL database administrator I play a large role in that upgrade.
Previous Experience
Operating Systems Specialist:
UT Austin: Office of Telecommunications Services, 2001-2007
Primary responsibilities
- Database administrator and SQL programmer for several MySQL databases
- Applications programmer for multiple web-based applications used by both staff and customers
- Webmaster and programmer for multiple web sites hosted by OTS
- Lead in ensuring that public web sites are accessible under such rules and
guidelines as the WCAG 1.0 and Section 508
- Programmer (PHP, Perl)
Major applications
- Web-portal to search/modify/create information concerning customers, contacts, equipment,
inventory, staff projects
- Real-time updating of database for SNIPS-monitored routers
- Manipulation and presentation of RTG data displaying network traffic
Senior Network Administrator, EnterTech project:
UT Austin: IC2 Institute, 1999-2001
Primary responsibilities
- Oracle 8i DBA
- Apache webmaster
- Linux system administrator
- Oracle SQL, PL/SQL programmer
- Perl programmer
The EnterTech project was a specially-funded project of the
IC2 Institute. The project developed
an e-learning application that used an Oracle database to power a table-driven
application written in Perl. The GUI made heavy use of Flash.
As part of my maintenance of this project I developed:
- a Web-based utility to enable staff administrators to maintain database data
- a Web-based utility to enable instructors to maintain class data
- a Web-based utility to generate statistical data for project analysis
- an install procedure for the entire product as well as the documentation
for it
I also modified the database schema and configuration to improve efficiency.
Database Administrator:
UT Austin: Computation Center, 1991-1999
Primary responsibilities
- Oracle DBA
- Maintenance of user and accounting data
- General programming (C, Perl, FORTRAN, ISPF)
Major applications
- Large-scale database application to record resource utilization and maintain user directory
- ISPF GUI to serve as front-end for IBM's Document Composition Facility
- Summary tables and analysis programs for staff's decision support system.
Education
I earned a BA from the American University in Washington, DC in 1977
in a combined major of economics and applied statistics.
I earned an MA from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 in American history.
Major Outside Interests
Running and history.
Contact Information
Email: jlyons@weblyons.com
Home phone: (512) 345-8609
Mobile phone: (512) 656-8416