Oracle Certified Masters exam

Sometime ago, I mentioned that I would be attending the pilot of the Oracle Certified Masters practicum exam, and would provide you folks with some feedback on it. This was in relation to a discussion about the Oracle Certified Professional program being too easy to pass without hands-on knowledge of the database.

Well, rest assured you will NEVER get through the OCM exam without handson experience. I've been using Oracle database technology for 16 odd years now, and I finished each day of the two day exam feeling like a wrung out dish rag. It's a very tough exam to get through, and as such certainly answers every piece of negative feedback I've seen on the OCP program. You can rest assured that anyone who gets through the OCM will really know their stuff with the Oracle database.

Now if someone will kindly pass me a bottle of whiskey so I have an excuse to pass out ...

Pete

For full details of the requirements for the OCM, go to http://www.oracle.com/education/certification/index.html?dba9i_ocm.html, but here's the list of things that may be covered in the exam FYI:

Database Configuration

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 from any failure scenario. Create and manage database configuration files.

Oracle Network Configuration

Create and manage multiple network configuration files. Configure the database instance to support shared server connections. Setup 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.

Oracle Enterprise Manager

Install and configure Oracle Enterprise Manager. Install and configure the OEM Tuning Pack. Install and configure the OEM Diagnostics Pack. Use OEM to modify a database configuration. Configure OEM to manage database availability. Perform database administration operations using OEM.  

Database Availability

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. Configure the TNSNAMES.ORA file to support remote connections to a catalog database using TCP.
Perform a complete recovery from any failure scenario.

Data Management

Create and manage tablespaces to support database access activities. Manage partitioning within a database environment. Configure auditing within the database. Provide users with access to data.
Provide access to data using flashback.

Database Management

Implement fine-grained security.
Generate table, index, column, and system statistics. Manage the SGA.
Manage new users.
Implement Replication.

Performance Management

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.
Use events to collect performance information.

Standby Databases and Data Guard

Create and utilize a standby database.
Add data to the primary database in preparation for transfer to a standby database.
Setup 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 database and the primary database.
Open the standby database in a "Read-Only" state.

HTH. Additions and corrections welcome.

Pete

SELECT standard_disclaimer, witty_remark FROM company_requirements; Received on Wed Aug 21 2002 - 17:12:37 CDT