IBM DB2 10.1 Certification

Recognized throughout the world, the IBM® Professional Certification Program offers a range of certification options for IT professionals. This chapter will introduce you to the various paths to obtain DB2® 10.1 Certification from IBM and will describe the testing software you will use when you take your DB2 10.1 certification exam.

DB2 10.1 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 evaluate and validate an individual's proficiency with the vendor's latest product release. In fact, one reason IBM developed the Professional Certification Program 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 consists 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 is right for you and familiarizing yourself with the certification requirements for that role. To help get you started, the following subsections provide you with the prerequisites and requirements associated with each IBM DB2 10.1 and DB2 9.7 certification available.

DB2 10.1 Certification Tracks

IBM offers broadly three certification tracks for DB2 for Linux®, UNIX®, and Windows® (LUW) certification to cover expert areas such as database administration, application development, and solution development. Figure 1.1 shows the Database Administration track.

Track 1: Database Administration

IBM Certified Database Associate — DB2 10.1 Fundamentals

This certification is intended for entry-level DB2 users who are knowledgeable about the fundamental concepts of DB2 10.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows. In addition to having some hands-on experience with DB2 10.1, some formal training, or both, individuals seeking this certification should:

[check] Know what DB2 10.1 products are available and be familiar with the various ways DB2 10.1 is packaged

[check] Know which DB2 10.1 products must be installed to create a desired environment

[check] Know what features and functions are provided by the tools shipped with DB2 10.1

[check] Possess an in-depth knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL), Data Definition Language (DDL), Data Manipulation Language (DML), and Data Control Language (DCL) statements that are available with DB2 10.1

[check] Know how to create, access, and manipulate basic DB2 objects, such as tables, views, and indexes, along with the new temporal table feature

[check] Have a basic understanding of the methods used to isolate transactions from each other in a multiuser environment

[check] Be familiar with the methods used to control how locking is performed

[check] Be familiar with the different types of constraints and know how each is used

[check] Possess a strong knowledge about the mechanisms DB2 10.1 uses to protect data and database objects against unauthorized access and/or modification, including row and column access control (RCAC) and trusted context

[check] Be familiar with how Extensible Markup Language (XML) data can be stored and manipulated

To acquire the IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 10.1 Fundamentals certification, candidates must take and pass one exam: DB2 10.1 Fundamentals (C2090-610).

IBM Certified Database Administrator — DB2 10.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

This certification is intended for experienced DB2 users who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the day-to-day administration of DB2 10.1 instances and databases residing on Linux, UNIX, or Windows platforms. In addition to being knowledgeable about the fundamental concepts of DB2 10.1 and having significant hands-on experience as a DB2 database administrator (DBA), individuals seeking this certification should:

[check] Know how to create, configure, and manage DB2 10.1 instances and databases

[check] Know how to configure client/server connectivity

[check] Be able to obtain and modify the values of environment and registry variables

[check] Be able to obtain and modify DB2 database manager (instance) and database configuration parameter values

[check] Know how to use the IBM Data Studio GUI tools to manage instances and databases, create and access objects, and manage database changes and tasks

[check] Know how to create, access, modify, and manage the different DB2 10.1 objects

[check] Be able to create constraints on and between table objects

[check] Possess a strong knowledge about System Managed Space (SMS), Database Managed Space (DMS), and automatic storage table spaces, as well as database storage groups

[check] Know how to use autonomic features such as automatic maintenance, the self-tuning memory manager (STMM), and the Configuration Advisor

[check] Know how to manage XML data and modify it by using XPATH expressions

[check] Know how to use the DB2 administration views and table functions, along with event monitors to monitor the database

[check] Know how to capture and interpret snapshot monitor data

[check] Know how to capture and analyze DB2 Explain information

[check] Possess an in-depth knowledge of the Export, Import, Load, and Ingest utilities

[check] Know how to use the REORGCHK, REORG, REBIND, RUNSTATS, db2look, db2move, and db2pd commands

[check] Possess a strong knowledge about the mechanisms DB2 10.1 uses to protect data and database objects against unauthorized access or modification, including the label-based access control (LBAC) and RCAC mechanisms

[check] Have a basic understanding of the transaction logging mechanism and archival techniques

[check] Know how to perform database-level and table space-level backup, restore, and rollforward recovery operations

[check] Known how to implement High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR), and understand multiple standby HADR implementation guidelines

[check] Be able to interpret information stored in the administration notification log

[check] Possess a basic knowledge of the pureScale operations

Candidates who have passed either the DB2 10.1 Fundamentals exam (C2090-610) or the DB2 9 Fundamentals exam (C2090-730) must take and pass the DB2 10.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration exam (C2090-611) to acquire the IBM Certified Database Administrator — DB2 10.1 for...