Too valuable to be classified as merely excellent certification material, this book should also rightly take its place on DB2 DBA bookshelves as a solid day-to-day DB2 reference.

As the title indicates, DB2 10.1 Fundamentals: Certification Study Guide is an exceptional instructional guide for technologists who are interested in achieving IBM DB2 certification. Despite the intended focus on certification, the reader quickly realizes that this book is also an excellent day-to-day reference and, as such, it is likely to become a well-worn text for those who manage DB2 databases. Additionally, this book delivers sufficient detail to serve as foundational material for students or DBAs who are in the process of transitioning skills learned on other database platforms.

One significant benefit of this guide is that it includes information on both DB2 10 for z/OS and DB2 10.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows. This rare cross-platform approach and side-by-side comparison fills a void for DBAs who have been seeking a way to easily translate terms and concepts between the two.

Living up to its intended goal, this book begins by offering the reader a thorough overview of the entire certification process. The author, Roger E. Sanders, knows this process well, having participated in the preparation of numerous DB2 certification exams. As a result of his insider knowledge, the author has painted a clear and complete picture of what to expect when sitting for the exam, providing details guaranteed to reduce test-taker anxiety and fully prepare the reader for the experience of achieving a passing score.

Next, following the DB2 10.1 Fundamentals certification exam objectives, chapters 2 through 7 identify the certification subject material to be covered. All applicable concepts and terms are discussed, explained, and summarized. Appropriate graphs, charts, figures, notes, and tables provide the reader vivid visual representations that strengthen retention for easier recall during the exam. Benefitting from this focused presentation approach, the reader is able to concentrate on the concepts most relevant to exam preparation without distraction.

This book also covers some of the newer DB2 features, such as Temporal Tables and Insert Time Clustering (ITC), as well as Row and Label Access Controls (RCAC). These concepts are challenging to learn due to their complexity. With the targeted approach used in this book, these new features become easier to understand and master.

As a final bonus for the reader seeking certification, the author offers 150 practice questions. Rather than just provide an answer key, the author instead provides 150 detailed, comprehensive explanations. Although the reader cannot expect to see any of the questions in this book on the actual test, the covered topics, look, and feel of the practice questions are highly similar to what the test-taker will experience.

While this book is a must-read for anyone planning on attaining the professional certification "IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 10.1 Fundamentals," it is too valuable to be classified as merely excellent certification material. It should also rightly take its place on DB2 DBA bookshelves as a solid day-to-day DB2 reference.

Rebecca Bond, an industry-recognized, independent technology consultant, has achieved 20 IBM DB2 certifications over the course of her career. Rebecca has found that the very act of studying for a certification exam, when done properly, will prepare any DBA to tackle even the most challenging DB2 situations in real life with cool self-confidence.  

 

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