PeopleSoft for the Oracle DBA (Oaktable Press)

Rating:
Summary: Suddenly much more relevant
Review: It is impossible to analyse this book while ignoring the takeover last week of PeopleSoft by Oracle. Unless something strange happens, that is a done deal. So either the entire raison d'etre for the book has vanished, or it has suddenly taken on new urgency. Over a year ago, when Oracle first announced its bid, Ellison said they only wanted PeopleSoft's customers. Gosh. No need for this book then. But after much to-do, Oracle "pledged" to "over-support" the customers. Now, it looks like a lot of Oracle DBAs are going to need this book, to understand integrating the two databases.

Another audience for the book has also emerged. Current PeopleSoft DBAs. At least the smarter ones. Because this book is about the PeopleSoft database, as seen from the perspective of Oracle. Of course, a PeopleSoft DBA now needs to quickly learn Oracle [from other texts]. But it is also prudent to see your database from the Oracle side, since that is going to be the dominant view, going forward. Realistically, in the long run, Oracle is going to merge the two databases. Guess which will dominate? Right now, you may have some job security, inasmuch as that merging will take years, and Oracle needs blokes to maintain the PeopleSoft databases.

By the way, it is not just employees of PeopleSoft who should do this. If you are a DBA in some company that is currently using PeopleSoft, consider carefully the previous suggestion.

Rating:
Summary: Pragmatic, focused, detailed
Review: This book is a deep in-depth view of the function of Peoplesoft on an Oracle database. Not only does it cover the fundamentals of how Peoplesoft uses the database features, it also details almost every table in the system on a row by row basis. An in-depth resource which is sure to be invaluable to anyone using this software configuration.