As Published In May/June 2004

Oracle Certified Master, Part II
By Gerry Jurrens

Preparing for the two-day certification test

The last OCP column (Oracle Magazine, March/April 2004) described the preparation and strategy for the Oracle Certified Master (OCM) practicum. This column provides descriptions of the types of content an OCM candidate is likely to encounter during the test.

As mentioned in the last column, the two-day test consists of a carefully timed series of scenarios. Each scenario tests the candidate's proficiency as a database administrator, requiring the candidate to solve a specific challenge typical of the DBA's role. Nothing in the practicum is subject to interpretation—a set of tasks is successful or it isn't. And do not assume that each practicum scenario receives equal weight in the test's scoring.

After time has expired for each scenario, it is critical that the candidate's database (or databases) be in a "good end state." In other words, each database must be open and available so the proctors can run validation scripts that determine the success (or failure) of that particular scenario. Failure to recover a database from whatever challenge is presented usually means that the candidate will be unsuccessful in that portion of the test. Because these scenarios are likely to build on each other, failure to meet one set of objectives may have a negative impact on later scenario objectives. If there is a dependency on creating a schema or a table in a later scenario, the exam provides the information for creating the schema or the table.

The certification matrix, published on the Oracle University certification Web site at oracle.com/education/certification/objectives/dba9iocm_practobj.html, provides a list of useful skills for the well-prepared candidate.

OCM Practicum Objectives

The following are the OCM practicum objectives, sorted by area and the tasks within each area:

Database Configuration. Configure an Oracle9i database environment by creating the logical and physical structures required for optimal performance. Possible tasks include the following:

• Determine and set sizing parameters for database segments
• Create and manage temporary, permanent, and undo tablespaces
• Stripe data files across multiple physical devices and locations
• Configure the database environment to support optimal data access performance
• Protect the database from loss of data due to any failure scenario
• Create and manage database configuration files
• Create and manage tablespaces to support database access activities
• Manage partitioning in a database environment
• Configure auditing within the database
• Give users access to data
• Provide access to data, using flashback

Be prepared at all times to solve a configuration problem by using a command-line approach. It is also useful to be aware of the many sample scripts and other files Oracle makes available with every installation of the database product. Knowing their location and how to easily modify them to suit your purpose can be a real time-saver. For example, if you know the location of these files, you will have a default init.ora parameter file to modify, saving you the effort of creating one from scratch.

Oracle Network Configuration. Configure an Oracle9i network environment to support a variety of connection scenarios. Possible tasks include the following:

• Create and manage multiple network configuration files
• Configure the database instance to support shared server connections
• Set up network tracing
• Configure the network environment to efficiently manage user connections
• Manage Oracle network processes
• Configure the network environment to allow connections to multiple databases

Familiarizing yourself with the Net Configuration Assistant and/or Net Manager is helpful.

Oracle Enterprise Manager Setup and Configuration. Install, configure, and use Oracle database management, tuning, and diagnostic tools. Tasks can include the following:

• Configure Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM)
• Create an OEM repository
• Use OEM to modify a database configuration
• Configure OEM to manage database availability

Don't assume that OEM will be available from the first moment you begin the practicum—the command line is the lowest common denominator in all operating environments.

Database Availability. Use Oracle9i enhanced data management features to support advanced replication, partitioning, and parallel operations. Possible tasks include the following:

• Configure the TNSNAMES.ORA file to support a remote connection to a catalog database, using TCP
• Implement replication

Use Oracle9i tools to back up data while providing uninterrupted database availability.

Use Oracle9i tools to perform restore and complete recovery operations from any failure scenario. Possible tasks include the following:

• Create a recovery catalog, using Recovery Manager
• Use Recovery Manager to perform database backups
• Use Recovery Manager to perform a complete database restore and recovery
• Perform a complete recovery from any database or instance failure scenario
• Create and utilize a standby database
• Add data to the primary database in preparation for transfer to a standby database
• Set up the standby database to use the log writer process to transfer the log stream to the standby database
• Configure the network environment to allow communication between the standby and the primary database
• Open the standby database in a read-only state

If you're familiar with every possible way a database can become unavailable, you won't have any difficulty with this section. Backups are essential. Remember to make sure you can always recover your database, if necessary.

Database and Performance Management. Perform troubleshooting, analysis, and problem resolution to enhance database and instance performance. Possible tasks include the following:

• Implement fine-grained security
• Generate table, index, column, and system statistics
• Manage the system global area (SGA)
• Manage new users
• Collect instance and database statistics, using STATSPACK, USTAT/UTLESTAT, and OEM packs
• Analyze statistics and modify parameters to enhance performance
• Configure Resource Manager and use it to manage queries
• Create and manage objects to accommodate different data access methods
• Analyze and tune query performance

Next Steps GET Certified For more information about the Oracle Certification Program and details about the Oracle9i Database Administrator Certified Master practicum, visit: oracle.com/education/certification VISIT OCM Certification Home

Familiarity with the ANALYZE command and the DBMS_STATS built-in package will be a plus in the database and performance management area of the test. Everything covered in the "Oracle9i New Features for Administrators" course is a possible task on the OCM exam.

Miscellaneous Considerations

• Effective time management is a critical success factor. The exam modules are designed to fill the entire time period. Although you don't necessarily have to succeed in or complete every task to pass, you should spend the entire time span accomplishing as much as you can. Expect to be working two 8-to-8.5-hour days. Don't book your return flight for 2 p.m. the second day!
• To clarify a point from last issue's OCP column about the type of access to the documentation CD provided in the OCM workstation setup, each workstation operates in standalone mode. There is no Web access. The only documentation available during the OCM practicum is electronic Oracle documentation.
• Most Oracle programs start from a command line (in a DOS-like command window). It is crucial to know how to start each product, such as Enterprise Manager, Recovery Manager, and Database Creation Assistant.
• OCM candidates need to know how to switch between Oracle instances on the fly. Knowing the .oraenv command is helpful.
• The United Linux operating system—installed on the workstations during the OCM practicum—includes a switcher you can use for choosing between the Gnome and KDE graphical user interfaces. Common text editors are available on the workstation, including the venerable but unintuitive vi.
• The workstation environment includes a graphical file manager that is quite useful for copying and moving files quickly. You are given "root" privilege on the exam workstation, so you have complete control over the workstation and the operating environment.
• OCM candidates often ask for clarification of the requirement that they take an Oracle course from Oracle (or a certified partner provider) as a prerequisite to sitting for the practicum. Attending two-day courses such as "Oracle9i Database: Implement Partitioning" or "Data Warehousing Fundamentals" will satisfy the requirement; however it would be more relevant, based on the possible examination tasks listed in this column, for the well-prepared candidate to consider attending such courses as "Oracle Enterprise Manager 9i" (4 days), "Oracle9i Data Guard Administration" (3 days), or "Oracle9i Database: Advanced Replication" (5 days).
• Recently, the OCM practicum setup was upgraded to release 9.2 of the Oracle Database.

Anything Goes

I can't emphasize this enough: Anything that can be part of a DBA's job can be on the OCM test.

No feedback is provided on individual sections of the exam, nor are proctors permitted to discuss the test or its outcome with the attendees. Candidates are asked not to discuss the test with others.

Some time after your practicum exam, Oracle notifies you of your results, either pass or fail. To protect the integrity of the exam, there is no feedback on how you scored on different scenarios. Passing, though, puts you into an exclusive group of database administrators.

Conclusion

In upcoming issues, this column will explore new features of the OCP program. Exciting changes to Oracle University's curriculum will shorten the time it takes an individual to acquire requisite database administrator skills.