Exam 70-432 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance

 

Exam 70-432 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance

Microsoft likes for its people to be certified in as many technologies as possible. Personally, I find certifications useful since they help me focus my study, but I don't think that certification = expert. It's just one part of the puzzle.

To that end, I got one of the earliest certs Microsoft had (long before I worked here) and then went on to get my MCSE and then MCDBA. Again, they are just good ways to help me round out the study I do and the real-world experience I gain on the job. So now I'm starting the process to pass this exam: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-432.mspx

A lot of people study for a couple of weeks and then just jump in to the tests - and that's great. My friend Sean McCown just breezed in and took the test and passed it. I take a long time for my studies, since I fold them into everything else I'm doing. I find that taking longer helps it "sink in" better for me.

I thought I would share the notes I have as I go along. Normally I use this process:

1. Find out what's covered on the test
2. Locate those topics in Books Online and read them
3. Practice (implement the feature, etc)
4. Find a practice test somewhere and take it, gauge where I'm weak
5. Find any extra books, especially those written for the test (if they are good) and read those
6. Take the real test - and Pass!

So with all that in mind, here are the notes I've made so far - a forum link and then the topics from the test, along with Books Online links. I'll modify this list and add to it from time to time, and then post it here. If you have any comments on the test (but not the questions from it or any answers, please) feel free to comment on the article.

Forums:

http://www.proprofs.com/forums/index.php?s=85800194ae36c92bdcfd31a012b72f34&showforum=69

Requirements:

Install SQL Server 2008 and related services - file locations; default paths; service accounts

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143547.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc281953.aspx

Configure SQL Server instances - sp_configure

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188787.aspx

Configure SQL Server services - configuration manager; SQL browser

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174212.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181087.aspx

Implement database mail - set up and configure

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175887.aspx

Configure full-text indexing - enable/disable, index population

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms142571.aspx

Manage SQL Server Agent jobs - create and schedule jobs; notification of job execution; disable/enable jobs; change job step order; logging

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187061.aspx

Manage SQL Server Agent alerts - performance condition alerts; SQL event alerts; Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) alerts

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191508.aspx

Manage SQL Server Agent operators - operator schedules; fail safe operator; add a new operator; notification methods

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179336.aspx

Implement the declarative management framework (DMF) - create a policy; verify a policy; schedule a policy compliance check; enforce a policy; create a condition

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb510667.aspx

Back up a SQL Server environment - operating system-level concepts

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187048.aspx

Manage logins and server roles- create logins; disable/enable logins; security model (authentication mode); password policy enforcement; fixed server roles; alter logins

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb510476.aspx

Manage users and database roles - user mapping; user-defined roles; fixed roles; guest, public, dbo; creating and deleting user roles

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189121.aspx

Manage SQL Server instance permissions- logon triggers; permissions vs fixed role membership; cross-database ownership chaining; impersonation

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191291.aspx

Manage schema permissions and object permissions- manage schema ownership

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190387.aspx

Audit SQL Server instances- use DDL triggers and logon triggers; C2; common criteria; login failures; event notifications

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187634.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb153837.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms186406.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645917.aspx

Manage transparent data encryption- impact of transparent data encryption on backups

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb934049.aspx

Manage and configure databases- files, file groups, and related options; database options; recovery model; attach/detach data

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187087.aspx

Manage database snapshots- create, drop, revert

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175158.aspx

Maintain database integrity- DBCC CHECKDB; suspect pages

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms176064.aspx

Maintain a database by using maintenance plans- Maintenance Plan Wizard; Maintenance Plan Designer

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187658.aspx

Import and export data- BCP; BULK INSERT; OPENROWSET; GUI tools

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms162802.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175915.aspx

Manage data partitions- switching data from one partition to another; add a filegroup; alter a partition function; alter a partition scheme

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188730.aspx

Implement data compression- sparse columns; page/row

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280449.aspx

Maintain indexes- create spatial indexes; create partitioned indexes; clustered and non-clustered indexes; XML indexes; disable and enable indexes; filtered index on sparse columns; indexes with included columns; rebuilding/reorganizing indexes; online/offline

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188783.aspx

Manage collations- column collation; database collation; instance collation

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143503.aspx

Identify SQL Server service problems- DB Engine service; SQL Agent service; SQL Browser service

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143504.aspx

Identify concurrency problems- blocks, locks, deadlocks, activity monitor; relevant Dynamic Management Views
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190615.aspx

Identify SQL Agent job execution problems- proxy accounts; credentials; job history

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189064.aspx

Locate error information- error log; agent log; job execution history; event logs

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191202(sql.90).aspx

Implement Resource Governor

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb933866.aspx

Use the Database Engine Tuning Advisor

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188639.aspx

Collect trace data by using SQL Server Profiler

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187929.aspx

Collect performance data by using Dynamic Management Views (DMVs)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188754.aspx

Collect performance data by using System Monitor

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191246.aspx

Use Performance Studio

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677179.aspx

Implement database mirroring- monitoring, configuring, failover

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189852.aspx

Implement a SQL Server clustered instance- monitoring, configuring, failover

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189134.aspx

Implement log shipping- monitoring, configuring, failover

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb895393.aspx

Implement replication- monitoring, configuring, failover

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms151198.aspx

Published 25 February 09 07:46 by Buck Woody

Carpe Datum : Exam 70-432 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance