IBM DB2 9 Certification

Recognized throughout the world, the Professional Certification Program from IBM offers a range of certification options for IT professionals. This chapter is designed to introduce you to the various paths you can take to obtain DB2 9 Certification from IBM and to describe the testing software you will use when you sit down to take your first DB2 9 certification exam.

DB2 9 Certification Roles

One of the biggest trends in the IT industry today is certification. Many application and software vendors now have certification programs in place that are designed to evaluate and validate an individual's proficiency at using the vendor's latest product release. In fact, one of the reasons the Professional Certification Program from IBM was developed was to provide a way for skilled technical professionals to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise with a particular version of an IBM product.

The Professional Certification Program from IBM is made up of several distinct certification roles that are designed to guide you in your professional development. You begin the certification process by selecting the role that's right for you and familiarizing yourself with the certification requirements for that role. The following subsections are designed to help get you started by providing you with the prerequisites and requirements associated with each DB2 9 certification available.

IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals

The IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals certification is intended for entry-level DB2 9 users who are knowledgeable about the fundamental concepts of DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows; DB2 9 for zSeries (OS/390); or DB2 9 for iSeries (AS/400). In addition to having some hands-on experience or some formal training, or both, in DB2 9, individuals seeking this certification should:

• Know what DB2 9 products are available, and be familiar with the various ways DB2 9 is packaged.

• Know what DB2 9 products must be installed in order to create a desired environment.

• Know what features and functions are provided by the various tools that are shipped with DB2 9.

• Possess a strong knowledge about the mechanisms DB2 9 uses to protect data and database objects against unauthorized access and/or modification.

• Know how to create, access, and manipulate basic DB2 objects, such as tables, views, and indexes.

• Be familiar with the different types of constraints that are available, and know how each is used.

• Be familiar with how XML data can be stored and manipulated.

• Possess an in-depth knowledge of the Structured Query Language (SQL), Data Definition Language (DDL), Data Manipulation Language (DML), and Data Control Language (DCL) statements that are available with DB2 9.

• Possess a basic understanding of the methods used to isolate transactions from each other in a multi-user environment.

• Be familiar with the methods used to control the manner in which locking is performed.

In order to acquire the IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals certification, candidates must take and pass one exam: the DB2 9 Family Fundamentals exam (Exam 730). The roadmap for acquiring the IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 9 Fundamentals certification is illustrated in Figure 1–1.

IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

The IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows certification is intended for experienced DB2 9 users who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the day-to-day administration of DB2 9 instances and databases residing on Linux, UNIX, or Windows platforms. In addition to being knowledgeable about the fundamental concepts of DB2 9 and having significant hands-on experience as a DB2 9 Database Administrator (DBA), individuals seeking this certification should:

• Know how to configure and manage DB2 9 instances.

• Know how to configure client — server connectivity.

• Be able to obtain and modify the values of environment/registry variables.

• Be able to obtain and modify DB2 Database Manager (instance) and database configuration file parameter values.

• Know how to use Automatic Maintenance and self-tuning memory.

• Know how to create DB2 9 databases.

• Possess a strong knowledge about SMS, DMS, and automatic storage table spaces, as well as be familiar with the management requirements of each.

• Know how to create, access, modify, and manage the different DB2 9 objects available.

• Know how to manage XML data.

• Be able to create constraints on and between table objects.

• Know how to capture and interpret snapshot monitor data.

• Know how to create and activate event monitors, as well as capture and interpret event monitor data.

• Know how to capture and analyze Explain information.

• Know how to use the DB2 Control Center and the other GUI tools available to manage instances and databases, create and access objects, create tasks, schedule jobs, and view Explain information.

• Possess an in-depth knowledge of the Export, Import, and Load utilities.

• Know how to use the REORGCHK, REORG, REBIND, RUNSTATS, db2look, db2move, and db2pd commands.

• Know how to perform database-level and table space-level backup, restore, and roll-forward recovery operations.

• Have a basic understanding of transaction logging.

• Be able to interpret information stored in the administration notification log.

• Possess a strong knowledge about the mechanisms DB2 9 uses to protect data and database objects against unauthorized access and/or modification.

Candidates who have either taken and passed the DB2 V8.1 Family Fundamentals exam (Exam 700) or acquired the IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 V8.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows certification (by taking and passing Exams 700 and 701) must take and pass the DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration exam (Exam 731) to acquire the IBM Certified Database Administrator — DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows certification. All other candidates must take and pass both the DB2 9 Family Fundamentals exam (Exam 730) and the DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration exam (Exam 731). The roadmap for acquiring the IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2...