Table of Exercises

Introduction

There is high demand for professionals in the information technology (IT) industry, and Oracle certifications are the hottest credentials in the database world. You have made the right decision to pursue your Oracle certification because it will give you a distinct advantage in this highly competitive market.

Most readers should already be familiar with Oracle and do not need an introduction to the Oracle database world. For those who aren’t familiar with the company, here are the basics: Oracle, founded in 1977, sold the first commercial relational database and is now the world’s leading database company and largest enterprise software company, with 2008 fiscal year revenues of more than $22 billion.

Oracle databases are the de facto standard for large Internet sites, and Oracle advertisers are boastful but honest when they proclaim, “The Internet Runs on Oracle.” Almost all big Internet sites run Oracle databases. Oracle’s penetration of the database market runs deep and is not limited to dot-com implementations. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) application suites, data warehouses, and custom applications at many companies rely on Oracle. The demand for DBA resources remains higher than the demand for others during weak economic times.

This book is intended to help you pass the Oracle Database 11g: Administration II exam, which will establish your credentials as an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP). The OCP certification is a prerequisite for obtaining an Oracle Certified Master (OCM) certification. Using this book and a practice database, you can learn the necessary skills to pass the 1Z0-053 Oracle Database 11g: Administration II exam.

Why Become Oracle Certified?

The number-one reason to become an OCP is to gain more visibility and greater access to the industry’s most challenging opportunities. Oracle certification is the best way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in Oracle database systems.

Certification is proof of your knowledge and shows that you have the skills required to support Oracle core products. The Oracle certification program can help a company to identify proven performers who have demonstrated their skills and who can support the company’s investment in Oracle technology. It demonstrates that you have a solid understanding of your job role and the Oracle products used in that role.

OCPs are among the best paid in the IT industry. Salary surveys consistently show the OCP certification to yield higher salaries than other certifications, including Microsoft, Novell, and Cisco.

So whether you are beginning your career, changing your career, or looking to secure your position as a DBA, this book is for you!

Introduction  xxv

toward the more senior certification tiers. This certification requires you to pass one of the following exams:

And then you must pass the following exam:

Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional

The OCP tier of the database-administration track challenges you to demonstrate your enhanced experience and knowledge of Oracle technologies. The Oracle 11g Administrator Certified Professional (OCP) certification requires achievement of the OCA certification, completion of one or more approved Oracle University classes, and successful completion of the following exam:

The approved courses for OCP candidates include the following:

If you already have your OCP in 10g or earlier and have elected to take the upgrade path, you are not required to take the Oracle University class to obtain your OCP for Oracle 11g.

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Skills Required for the Oracle Database 11g: Administration II Exam

To pass the Oracle 11g Administration II exam, you need to master the following subject areas in Oracle 11g:

Database Architecture and ASM

Describe Automatic Storage Management (ASM)

Set up initialization parameter files for ASM and database instances Start up and shut down ASM instances

Administer ASM disk groups

Configuring for Recoverability

Configure multiple archive log file destinations to increase availability Define, apply, and use a retention policy

Configure the Flash Recovery Area Use Flash Recovery Area

Using the RMAN Recovery Catalog

Identify situations that require RMAN recovery catalog Create and configure a recovery catalog

Synchronize the recovery catalog Create and use RMAN stored scripts Back up the recovery catalog

Create and use a virtual private catalog

Configuring Backup Specifications

Configure backup settings

Allocate channels to use in backing up Configure backup optimization

Using RMAN to Create Backups

Create image file backups Create a whole database backup Enable fast incremental backup

Create duplex backup and back up backup sets Create an archival backup for long-term retention

Create a multisection, compressed and encrypted backup Report on and maintain backups

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Performing User-Managed Backup and Recovery

Recover from a lost TEMP file Recover from a lost redo log group Recover from the loss of password file

Perform user-managed complete database recovery Perform user-managed incomplete database recovery Perform user-managed and server-managed backups Identify the need of backup mode

Back up and recover a control file

Using RMAN to Perform Recovery

Perform complete recovery from a critical or noncritical datafile loss using RMAN Perform incomplete recovery using RMAN

Recover using incrementally updated backups Switch to image copies for fast recovery Restore a database onto a new host

Recover using a backup control file Perform disaster recovery

Using RMAN to Duplicate a Database

Creating a duplicate database Using a duplicate database

Performing Tablespace Point-in-Time Recovery

Identify the situations that require TSPITR Perform automated TSPITR

Monitoring and Tuning RMAN

Monitoring RMAN sessions and jobs Tuning RMAN

Configure RMAN for Asynchronous I/O

Using Flashback Technology

Restore dropped tables from the Recycle Bin Perform Flashback Query

Use Flashback Transaction

Additional Flashback Operations

Perform Flashback Table Operations

Configure, monitor Flashback Database and perform Flashback Database operations Set up and use a Flashback Data Archive

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Diagnosing the Database

Set up Automatic Diagnostic Repository Using Support Workbench

Perform block media recovery

Managing Memory

Implement Automatic Memory Management Manually configure SGA parameters

Configure automatic PGA memory management

Managing Database Performance

Use the SQL Tuning Advisor

Use the SQL Access Advisor to tune a workload Understand Database Replay

Space Management

Manage resumable space allocation

Describe the concepts of transportable tablespaces and databases

Reclaim wasted space from tables and indexes by using the segment shrink functionality

Managing Resources

Understand the database resource manager

Create and use Database Resource Manager Components

Automating Tasks with the Scheduler

Create a job, program, and schedule

Use a time-based or event-based schedule for executing Scheduler jobs Create lightweight jobs

Use job chains to perform a series of related tasks

Administering the Scheduler

Create Windows and Job Classes

Use advanced Scheduler concepts to prioritize jobs

Globalization

Customize language-dependent behavior for the database and individual sessions Working with database and NLS character sets

xxx  Introduction

Tips for Taking the Administration II Exam

Use the following tips to help you prepare for and pass the exam:

NNThe exam contains about 55 to 80 questions to be completed in 90 minutes. Answer the questions you know the answers to first so that you do not run out of time.

NNMany questions on the exam have answer choices that at first glance look identical. Read the questions carefully. Do not just jump to conclusions. Make sure you clearly understand exactly what each question asks.

NNSome of the questions are scenario-based. Some of the scenarios contain nonessential information and exhibits. You need to be able to identify what’s important and what’s not important.

NNDo not leave any questions unanswered. There is no negative scoring. After selecting an answer, you can mark a difficult question or one that you’re unsure of and come back to it later.

NNWhen answering questions that you’re not sure about, use a process of elimination to get rid of the obviously incorrect answers first. Doing this greatly improves your odds if you need to make an educated guess.

NNIf you’re not sure of your answer, mark it for review and then look for other questions that may help you eliminate any incorrect answers. At the end of the test, you can go back and review the questions that you marked for review.

You should be familiar with the exam objectives, which are included in the front of this book as a perforated tear-out card. You can also find them at http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages

.getpage?page_id=41&p_exam_id=1Z0_053.

Where Do You Take the Certification Exam?

The Oracle Database 11g certification exams are available at any of the more than 900 Thomson Prometric Authorized Testing Centers around the world. For the location of a testing center near you, call 1-800-891-3926. Outside the United States and Canada, contact your local Thomson Prometric Registration Center.

To register for a proctored Oracle Certified Professional exam:

NNRegister with Thomson Prometric online at www.prometric.com or, in North America, by calling 1-800-891-EXAM (1-800-891-3926). At this point, you will be asked to pay in advance for the exam. At the time of this writing, the exams are $125 each and must be taken within one year of payment.

NNWhen you schedule the exam, you’ll get instructions regarding all appointment and cancellation procedures, the ID requirements, and information about the testing-center location.

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You can schedule exams up to six weeks in advance or as soon as one working day before the day you wish to take it. If something comes up and you need to cancel or reschedule your exam appointment, contact Thomson Prometric at least 24 hours or one business day in advance.

What Does This Book Cover?

This book covers everything you need to pass the Oracle Database11g: Administration II exam. Each chapter begins with a list of exam objectives.

Chapter 1    In this chapter, you’ll learn about Automatic Storage Management (ASM). It introduces the ASM architecture and how to create a special type of Oracle instance: an ASM instance. In addition, this chapter describes in detail how to create and manage disk volumes in an ASM environment.

Chapter 2    This chapter introduces oracle user managed backup and recovery. A review of Oracle’s architecture with respect to backup and recovery is presented. Management of the Oracle database with respect to backup and recovery is included in the chapter. The chapter covers putting the database in ARCHIVELOG mode. Finally the chapter covers Oracle offline and online backups.

Chapter 3    This chapter introduces the reader to Oracle user managed recoveries. Both complete and incomplete recoveries are covered in this chapter. Backup and recovery of the database control file is included along with the re-creation of the temporary tablespace datafiles. Finally, recovery from the loss of online redo logs and the password files are covered.

Chapter 4    This chapter introduces the reader to RMAN. The chapter discusses configuration of RMAN for backup and recovery operations. Both offline and online backups are discussed in the chapter. The chapter then proceeds to cover backups of an Oracle database by RMAN.

Chapter 5    This chapter provides an introduction to the RMAN recovery catalog. The chapter provides information on when you might want to use a recovery catalog, how to setup a recovery catalog, and register a database with the recovery catalog. We also discuss the use of RMAN’s new virtual private catalog.

Chapter 6    This chapter dives into RMAN recoveries. RMAN recoveries in both NOARCHIVELOG and ARCHIVELOG mode are covered. Recoveries using both full backups and incremental backups are discussed. Faster recoveries using image copies are discussed and recoveries using a backup control file are also covered.

Chapter 7    This chapter covers RMAN reporting, monitoring, and tuning. Use of various views to monitor and report on RMAN operations is discussed in this chapter. The RMAN report and list commands are also covered in this chapter. Various RMAN administration commands are covered in the chapter.

Chapter 8    This chapter covers advanced RMAN recovery topics. This includes incomplete recoveries using RMAN. The chapter also discusses using RMAN for database duplication and tablespace point-in-time recoveries. The chapter also includes a discussion on using RMAN in disaster recovery situations.

xxxii  Introduction

Chapter 9    In this chapter, you’ll learn about flashback technologies, including restoring dropped tables, performing flashback queries, flashback transactions, flashback table operations, flashback database operations, and setting up and using the Flashback Data Archive.

Chapter 10    This chapter discusses database diagnosis and performance management. You will learn about the Automatic Diagnostic Repository, the Support Workbench, performing block media recovery, and using the SQL Tuning Advisor, the SQL Access Advisor, and the Database Replay feature.

Chapter 11    This chapter discusses the management of Oracle resources. You will learn about automatic memory management features, including Automatic Memory Management (AMM), Automatic Shared Memory Management (ASMM), and Automatic PGA Memory Management (APMM) features. You will learn about resumable space allocation, transportable tablespaces, transportable databases, and shrinking segments to recover unused space.

You will learn about the Database Resource Manager (DRM) and how it can be used to manage resources. You will learn to create resource plans, resource consumer groups, and resource plan directives.

Chapter 12    In this chapter, we discuss the Oracle Scheduler. You will learn how the Scheduler can be used to automate repetitive DBA tasks. You will also learn to create the objects necessary to schedule jobs, including job, schedule, program, window, job group, and window group objects.

Chapter 13    This chapter describes Oracle’s globalization support features. You will learn about linguistic sorting and searching, datetime datatypes, and how to configure the database to support different language and territorial conventions.

Throughout each chapter, we include Real World Scenario sidebars, which are designed to give a real-life perspective on how certain topics affect our everyday duties as DBAs. Each chapter ends with a list of exam essentials, which give you a highlight of the chapter, with an emphasis on the topics that you need to be extra familiar with for the exam. The chapter concludes with 20 review questions, specifically designed to help you retain the knowledge presented. To really nail down your skills, read and answer each question carefully.

How to Use This Book

This book can provide a solid foundation for the serious effort of preparing for the Oracle 11g: Administration II exam. To best benefit from this book, use the following study method:

1.Take the assessment test immediately following this introduction. (The answers are at the end of the test.) Carefully read over the explanations for any questions you get wrong, and note which chapters the material comes from. This information should help you plan your study strategy.

2.Study each chapter carefully, making sure you fully understand the information and the test objectives listed at the beginning of each chapter. Pay extra close attention to any chapter related to questions you missed in the assessment test.

Introduction  xxxiii

3.Complete all hands-on exercises in the chapter, referring back to the chapter text so that you understand the reason for each step you take. If you do not have an Oracle database available, be sure to study the examples carefully.

4.Answer the review questions related to each chapter. (The answers appear at the end of each chapter, after the review questions.) Note the questions that confuse or trick you, and study those sections of the book again.

5.Take the two bonus exams that are included on the accompanying CD. This will give you a complete overview of what you can expect to see on the real test.

6.Remember to use the products on the CD included with this book. The electronic flashcards and the Sybex Test Engine exam-preparation software have been specifically designed to help you study for and pass your exam.

To learn all the material covered in this book, you’ll need to apply yourself regularly and with discipline. Try to set aside the same time period every day to study, and select a comfortable and quiet place to do so. If you work hard, you will be surprised at how quickly you learn this material. All the best!

What’s on the CD?

We have worked hard to provide some really great tools to help you with your certification process. All of the following tools should be loaded on your workstation when you’re studying for the test.

The Wiley Test Engine Preparation Software

This test-preparation software prepares you to pass the 1Z0-053 Oracle Database 11g: Administration II exam. In this test, you will find all of the questions from the book, plus two additional bonus exams that appear exclusively on the CD. You can take the assessment test, test yourself by chapter, or take the practice exams. The test engine will run on either a Microsoft Windows or Linux platform.

Here is a sample screen from the Wiley Test Engine:

xxxiv  Introduction

Electronic Flashcards for PC and Palm Devices

After you read the OCP: Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional Study Guide, read the review questions at the end of each chapter and study the practice exams included in the book and on the CD. You can also test yourself with the flashcards included on the CD.

The flashcards are designed to test your understanding of the fundamental concepts covered in the exam. Here is what the Sybex flashcards interface looks like:

OCP: Oracle 11g Administrator Certified Professional Study Guide in PDF

Many people like the convenience of being able to carry their Study Guide on a CD, which is why we included the book in PDF format. This will be extremely helpful to readers who fly or commute on a bus or train and prefer an e-book, as well as to readers who find it more comfortable reading from their computer. We’ve also included a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader on the CD.