IBM Certified System Administrator - DB2 9 for z/OS Bundle

Certification overview

This exam of IBM Certified System Administrator - DB2 9 for z/OS is for the guys who are looking out for detailed knowledge on the system administration. Similar to database administration, System Administration hold many responsibilities pertaining to the physical system. Starting with setting up the machine, mounting hardware, installing software, giving permission for the users to access system, responsible for the security of the systems, monitoring the network activity of the users, on setting the passwords, add / delete / configure the file systems, interacting with the users for their technical queries on the system and many more. People interested in the above job profile and who are already performing on this profile can attempt to do this exam from IBM.

Who can do this certification

Those appearing must have skills pertaining to the architecture of the DB2 for z/OS environment. Also they must be able to control and monitor the processes of the system connected to the DB2 database. They must possess knowledge on the installation and tuning the DB2 database. The database security is also an important feature that they must be aware of. Planning on how to do the system administration independently and in a team is also expected out of the candidate. Understanding the minute details of administration is good to have such that the exam could be cleared easily. 

Benefits

Certification will always help any individual to climb up the career ladder easily since they get mastered in the subject they work on. They will be noticed easily for giving a high performance and the pay scale might also get increased depending on the level of knowledge they have and also on the way they implement things in the continuous basis. Many companies are using the IBM products and they are all listed under the Fortune 500 mark. These certification assists you to join the network of IBM certified professionals and in turn helps you acquire more and more ideas related to the subject.

Associated Exam

2 exams are required to be completed for this IBM Certified System Administrator - DB2 9 for z/OS.

1. C2090-730 exam
2. C2090-737 - DB2 9 System Administrator for z/OS Exam

Prerequisites

The initial step for heading this certification is to know the eligibility criteria and prerequisites. IBM as such do not have any mandatory conditions for doing this certification but recommends a certain level of knowledge before the exam is attempted. All the responsibilities entitled for a system administrator should be known for anyone doing this certification exam.  Installation, setting up, monitoring and various other activities should be known as the certification concentrates mainly on these topics. A very detailed requirement could be known from the vendor’s site such that it helps you in planning ahead.

Examination Overview

IBM Certified System Administrator - DB2 9 for z/OS has the following topics to be concentrated on.

1. Planning the process of Installing and Migrating in the systems with DSNZPARM settings as appropriate.  
2. Planning for the security measures and audit for the systems, the subsystems and the resources of DB2.
3. Knowledge in the different techniques of auditing
4. Advantages of deploying the security features that are role-based
5. Maintaining and operating the system using the process and components of DB2.
6. Extensive knowledge on using the commands of DB2 and thread control and monitoring.
7. Recovering and backing up the data using different procedures, recovering the system during unexpected failures and retrieval from a disaster.
8. Database performance tuning by analyzing the routine, pooling the buffers, using the memory efficiently, monitoring the statistics of the database and many more.
9. Troubleshooting the database by knowing the traces, utilities, identification of problems due to contention and usage of appropriate document for the problem identified.

It is very good to know all the concepts listed above in detail such that the exam can be passed easily. This will test your ability to perform as a system administrator at a high level. After completing this successfully you will gain knowledge on all the aspects of system issues that are related to DB2 database.

You would be given 90 minutes for finishing 60 multiple choice format questions out of which 62% of questions should be accurate. The test is available only in English language.

Validity of the Certification

None of the certifications from IBM expire. It only have to be updated as in when there is an upgrade in the subject. A that moment you may have to do the certification again in order to keep yourself up to date on the technology standards of the present world. It is also better to a keep a watch on the status of the certification you have already attempted such that you may take the latest one if you wish to.

Expert Review

 I was totally amused with the topics listed for this exam which perfectly matched my portfolio. I was immensely happy to learn and know things that are so intensive and helped me a lot in my professional career. I lead my team with all their queries and I am consistent and confident to perform any kind of duty that is assigned. All these are possible only because of clearing this exam. Thank you.

Thomas Mathew, IBM Senior System Administrator.

Frankfurt, Germany