How to become sql server DBA?

How do I become a DBA or a SQL Programmer?

• I'm currently doing a technical support job. I've had the privilege of troubleshooting and performing queries in SQL Server, and I am currently working on getting certified in MS SQL Server. I feel like SQL is my calling. How do I acquire the skills and experience necessary to become a DBA?

• Answer:

  The best way to get the skills and experience necessary for being a DBA is to start with your own SQL server and creating issues (and troubleshooting them). If you have access to the enterprise edition, it will be perfect. Otherwise you can start with the SQL Server express edition, which is free. As you said you already have some experience in troubleshooting, try to build on that. SQL Server certification is really good, and you can try to simulate the issues you read about on your server and then try to fix them. SQL Server has an amazing community on the web and you can get almost every fix from the forums. Also, try to read as much as you can from some standard SQL Server forum, http://SQLServerCentral.com and http://Simpletalk.com being one of the best. Try to help out others in the community if you can. Interacting in community becomes important as there is a limit to what you can learn from books. In any active community you will get very diverse real life problems and their solutions. Hope it helps, all the best!