This is a well-written DB2 11 book that could easily stand on its own as a reference manual, not just a certification guide.

Are you thinking about taking the IBM certification test C2090-312—IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 11 DBA for z/OS? After all, it is being offered at no charge at the IBM World of Watson 2016 conference (formerly Insight) and IDUG EMEA 2016, both just around the corner, and at IDUG North America 2017 next spring, also only months away. If you are, you might be facing a bit of test anxiety, even if you know the exam topics well. For many people, the prospect of taking a test can cause them to start questioning their skills.

One method to successfully “tune up” your skills and your confidence prior to taking the IBM certification test C2090-312 is by using a certification guide. For those who are considering taking the test, the good news is that a new book from MC Press, DB2 11 for z/OS Database Administration: Certification Study Guide, can help you prepare for the exam with confidence.

Written by a DB2 11 for z/OS Expert

Why invest in this certification guide? There are a couple of reasons. One of the best reasons is the guide’s author, Susan Lawson. Susan is not only an IBM Gold Consultant (DB2 for z/OS), an IBM Champion (Analytics), and a highly respected consultant and educator around the world, she also participated as part of the team who designed, wrote, and validated the IBM certification test C2090-312. What better way to prepare for a certification test than by using the guide written by one of the architects of that test?

A more tangible reason for using DB2 11 for z/OS Database Administration: Certification Study Guide in your test preparation is how the book has been assembled. It’s well organized in a way that gets you straight to the subject details you are interested in. It contains chapters on database design and implementation, developing applications, data management, managing the DB2 environment, and performance and tuning. Each chapter is logically subdivided into sections, making it quick and straightforward to locate whatever DB2 topic you’re interested in. Read it cover to cover to ensure that you are technically in sync with all things DB2 11, or read individual chapters, focusing on areas where you want to reinforce your knowledge.

Practice Exam Questions Reinforce Your Learning

A set of 15 questions is included at the conclusion of each chapter, which enables you to test your retention of the subject matter and also gives you an idea of the types of questions you could be presented with when taking the certification test. Following each set of questions is a separate section containing the answers. With six chapters in the book, you get a total of 90 questions to help test your preparedness for exam 312. Considering the actual certification test contains only 67 questions, the practice questions and answers alone could be a huge study aid.

Need More Reasons to Invest in This Book?

Susan’s book is also easy to read. The language is straightforward and to the point, with examples and clear and concise explanations. Unlike many technical publications, this book also has an excellent, meaningful index that allows direct access to the specific words or phrases used in a DB2 conversation.

This is a well-written DB2 11 book that could easily stand on its own as a reference manual, not just a certification guide. Thus it’s a good investment for any DB2 professional who works with DB2 11, not just a person preparing for a certification test. However, if you are planning to take the DB2 11 DBA certification exam, speaking as a member of the team who created the test, I believe you will find this book very worthwhile.