Nutanix Database (NDB) Expert
The roles and responsibilities for a Nutanix Database (NDB) Expert, focusing on managing, optimizing, and securing database environments within the Nutanix ecosystem:
Roles and Responsibilities
- Nutanix Database Service (NDB) Management and Deployment
· Deploy and manage Nutanix NDB clusters and instances, configuring them to support organizational requirements for availability, security, and performance.
· Create and maintain database blueprints within Nutanix NDB to standardize database provisioning, configuration, and scaling.
· Ensure optimal setup and operation of databases on Nutanix NDB, including support for SQL Server database engines.
· Manage the NDB configuration and maintain the NDB related profiles such as (Software profile, domain profile etc.)
· Configure, Validate and maintain the usage of NDB Managed Network and IP address.
· Configure, Validate and the DB server VM status and DB Status, that is managed by NDB.
· Validate, remediate and fix the potential issues/errors/warnings that are available in the NDB Dashboard.
· Monitor the operations that are happening in the NDB and any failure to investigate and fix the issue in NDB Console.
· Configure, Validate and maintain the compute and CPU usage in PE along with NDB.
· Configure, Validate and maintain the NDB Server VM and NDB Agent VM (If applicable).
· Discuss the NDB additional requirements which are not currently implemented and
that are supported by NDB now.
· Plan and implement the NDB additional requirements after discussing the pros and
cons with the customer.
· Nutanix Cluster Management
· Nutanix Cluster Configuration and Maintenance
· Monitoring and troubleshooting – Prism Pro
· Health Checks
- Performance Monitoring and Optimization
· Continuously monitor Nutanix DB performance, identifying bottlenecks, optimizing queries, and tuning configurations for improved efficiency.
· Use Nutanix tools like Prism and NDB Analytics to gather insights on database performance, storage utilization, and workload distribution.
· Implement automated alerts and performance baselines, proactively addressing potential issues before they impact users.
· Managing SQL Server databases that are hosted on NDB and Nutanix platform.
· Monitoring system's health and performance.
· Ensuring high levels of performance, availability, sustainability and security.
· Refining and automating regular processes, tracking issues, and documenting changes.
· Performing scheduled maintenance and supporting release deployment activities after hours.
· Configure and maintain database servers and processes, including monitoring of system health and performance, to ensure high levels of performance, availability, and security.
· Independently analyze, solve, and correct issues in real time, providing problem resolution end-to-end.
· Share domain and technical expertise, providing technical mentorship and cross-training to other peers and team members.
- Data Security and Compliance
· Implement security best practices for Nutanix DB, including access controls, encryption, and audit logging, to protect sensitive data.
· Ensure Nutanix DB environments comply with industry standards and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and meet internal security requirements.
· Perform regular security assessments and audits on database configurations, access privileges, and user activity within the Nutanix environment.
· Maintain knowledge of current systems architecture and configuration
· Infrastructure and Operations documentation (as built, procedures, network)
- Disaster Recovery and High Availability
· Develop and implement disaster recovery (DR) solutions within Nutanix NDB, including backup strategies and failover configurations to ensure data resilience.
· Set up and test backup and restore procedures, ensuring the rapid recovery of databases in case of system failures.
· Design high-availability architectures using Nutanix capabilities, such as replication and automated failover, to minimize downtime and data loss.
· Assisting with BCP/DRP planning and implementation.
· Define the configuration best practices to maximize the performance of database and NDB products on the Nutanix Platform.
- Automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
· Use Nutanix Calm or other automation tools to implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for database provisioning, scaling, and configuration.
· Automate routine tasks, such as backup scheduling, patching, and monitoring, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving consistency.
· Develop scripts and workflows to streamline database operations, ensuring they align with Nutanix's automation standards and practices.
- Database Lifecycle Management
· Manage the lifecycle of Nutanix DB environments, including upgrades, patches, and migrations, ensuring minimal downtime and compatibility with existing workloads.
· Regularly assess and update database instances, applying updates and security patches as needed to maintain performance and security.
· Create decommissioning plans for outdated or unused databases, reclaiming resources and ensuring compliance with data retention policies.
- Capacity Planning and Resource Optimization
· Monitor resource usage within Nutanix DB, including CPU, memory, and storage, to ensure sufficient capacity for current and future demands.
· Implement scaling strategies, such as vertical or horizontal scaling, to support growth and optimize resource utilization.
· Conduct regular assessments of resource allocation and recommend adjustments to improve cost-effectiveness and performance.
- Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
· Collaborate with development, DevOps, and infrastructure teams to align database management practices with broader IT objectives.