There’s a joke among some of the longer-serving employees of Violin Memory that “Violin years” are like dog years: every normal year feels like a decade. It’s not meant in a negative way, it’s just that things change so quickly and dramatically in the flash industry that whenever we take a moment to look back it seems impossible to believe that it was only a few years ago when flash was considered a new technology and we were having to try and explain the point of its existence to a world totally reliant on disk.

So with that in mind it’s time to make an announcement… after thirty five “Violin years” I have made the decision to leave Violin Memory. I am currently working out my notice period and my employment will terminate toward the end of October 2015.

A lot of people have been emailing or private-messaging me recently, asking why I’ve been so quiet on social media – so I’m glad I can finally now answer some of those questions.

Why are you leaving Violin Memory?

I can’t really answer this question fully – at least not at the moment. The terms of my employment contract with Violin include certain restrictive covenants which remain in place until the end of January 2016. It is my duty to honour these obligations, so for now I will simply restrict myself to saying this: I have lots of friends who remain at Violin Memory and I consider them to be among the smartest and most genuine people in the industry. It’s been an absolute privilege to work alongside them, as well as a lot of fun. I’ll miss them, as well as our amazing customers and channel partners all around Europe.

Where are you going next?

I plan to take on a new role for another all flash array vendor, but since I am still employed by Violin at this time I believe it would be inappropriate to further elaborate on that.

Can’t you just tell us the name?

No.

So why mention it at all?

Ah. Because, the terms of my restrictive covenants with Violin mean that I cannot start work for a competitor for three months after my termination date, i.e. the end of January. Yet my employment with Violin finishes at the end of October. If you think carefully about that you’ll notice it leaves me a three month window during which I am neither employed nor earning a living.

So that’s why I am now…

Flashdba – For Hire

During the period from November to the end of January I am available for consultancy, professional services and training engagements relating to database and/or flash storage systems. I’ve already had a few approaches, so based on those proposals here is a list of some sample engagements I am available to perform:

• Database Performance Assessment (3 days)
• Database Configuration and Performance Assessment (5 days)
• Training: Flash Storage Seminar (1 day)
• Training: Flash for DBAs (0.5 days)
• Ad-hoc Consultancy (daily rate)

I normally work all around EMEA but am happy to travel anywhere within reason.

You’ll now have to forgive me now while I sell myself for a paragraph. I have been working with Oracle databases for 18 years, having started in 1997 as a developer and designer. I worked variously as a database architect, development DBA and production DBA before joining Oracle Corporation UK in 2008 as a database and RAC subject matter expert. In recent years I have been working in a technical presales role as a database specialist within the rapidly-expanding flash storage industry. I’m also proud to have achieved Oracle Certified Master status for both 10g and 11g.

CV / resume available on request. To borrow a phrase from one of the all-time greats, the daily rate is very reasonable for the quality of service offered.