DB2 Fundamentals Certification For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

IBM's competitor in the database server wars is DB2, and an IBM certification that proves your skill with that database is valuable in any IBM shop. DB2 Fundamentals Certification for Dummies does a lot to prepare its readers for the DB2 Family Fundamentals (512) exam, explaining much of what IBM expects successful certification candidates to know and understand about DB2 version 7.1. The truth be told, this book focuses almost exclusively on the Windows NT/2000 implementation of the DB2 server and the Windows version of the DB2 client. Evaluation copies of both of these appear on the book's companion CD-ROM. You can indeed pick up all the concepts on the Fundamentals exam by studying the Microsoft environment exclusively, but more coverage of other operating systems would fit well into this book.

In any case, the three authors do a praiseworthy job of describing the purpose and operation of DB2 components, combining clarifying text with procedures in an appropriate mix. They've made some strange decisions. For example, they include a super-basic tutorial on how to free RAM when installing software but relegate a Structured Query Language (SQL) tutorial to the book's aft end. All the material is here, though, and the proficiency tests that open each chapter are good for gauging your level of preparedness in specific areas of DB2. --David Wall

Topics covered: IBM DB2 7.1 client and server, with emphasis on the Windows platform. The DB2 product line, installation of components, the Control Center, database design, security, concurrency, and Structured Query Language (SQL) all get attention.