hi experts,

I am a DBA for Oracle and SQL Server and we have approximately 30 database servers that I care for.

We have a few large purchased applications (Lawson is one you may have heard of) which require frequent patches to be applied. For 1 of these systems the patches comes about twice per month.

As DBA, do YOU install these kinds of patches - not talking about SQL Server service packs - or does your IT dept have someone else install them?

I do install the service packs, but I contend that the application patches can be done by someone other than a DBA. I'd like to know other's experience - I'm sure it varies company to company.

Thanks, John 

It depends, if it is small shot you have to put multiple hats whihc means you have to support OS, Dev and DB etc...

In big shops you will have individuals for different things like for networking NETWORK guys and applications and OS then SYSTEM guys for database DB guy....

If no one there to support then there is no harm to learn applying the patches and/or installing service packs...