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Exam Objectives

Exam Objectives

This exam is divided into eight major portions. Each of these main objectives map to roles database administrators typically fulfill on a daily basis. The percentages listed alongside each heading indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.

Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2008 (10%)

  • Install SQL Server 2008 and related services.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: file locations; default paths; service accounts

  • Configure SQL Server instances.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: sp_configure

  • Configure SQL Server services.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: configuration manager; SQL browser

  • Configure additional SQL Server components.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), replication

  • Implement database mail.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: set up and configure

  • Configure full-text indexing.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: enable/disable, index population

Maintaining SQL Server Instances (13%)

  • Manage SQL Server Agent jobs.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create and schedule jobs; notification of job execution; disable/enable jobs; change job step order; logging

  • Manage SQL Server Agent alerts.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: performance condition alerts; SQL event alerts; Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) alerts

  • Manage SQL Server Agent operators.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: operator schedules; fail safe operator; add a new operator; notification methods

  • Implement the declarative management framework (DMF).

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create a policy; verify a policy; schedule a policy compliance check; enforce a policy; create a condition

  • Back up a SQL Server environment.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: operating system-level concepts

Managing SQL Server Security (15%)

  • Manage logins and server roles.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create logins; disable/enable logins; security model (authentication mode); password policy enforcement; fixed server roles; alter logins

  • Manage users and database roles.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: user mapping; user-defined roles; fixed roles; guest, public, dbo; creating and deleting user roles

  • Manage SQL Server instance permissions.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: logon triggers; permissions vs. fixed role membership; cross-database ownership chaining; impersonation

  • Manage database permissions.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: impersonation; cross-database ownership chaining

  • Manage schema permissions and object permissions.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: manage schema ownership

  • Audit SQL Server instances.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: use DDL triggers and logon triggers; C2; common criteria; login failures; event notifications

  • Manage transparent data encryption.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: impact of transparent data encryption on backups

  • Configure surface area.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: sp_configure

Maintaining a SQL Server Database (16%)

  • Back up databases.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: full backups; differential backups; transaction log; compressed backups; file and filegroup backups; verifying backup

  • Restore databases.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: online restores; full restores; differential restores; transaction log; file and filegroup restores; verifying restore; tail of the transaction log

  • Manage and configure databases.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: files, file groups, and related options; database options; recovery model; attach/detach data

  • Manage database snapshots.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: create, drop, revert

  • Maintain database integrity.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: DBCC CHECKDB; suspect pages

  • Maintain a database by using maintenance plans.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: Maintenance Plan Wizard; Maintenance Plan Designer

Performing Data Management Tasks (14%)

  • Import and export data.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: BCP; BULK INSERT; OPENROWSET; GUI tools

  • Manage data partitions.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: switching data from one partition to another; add a filegroup; alter a partition function; alter a partition scheme

  • Implement data compression.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: sparse columns; page/row

  • Maintain indexes.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: 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

  • Manage collations.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: column collation; database collation; instance collation

Monitoring and Troubleshooting SQL Server (13%)

  • Identify SQL Server service problems.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: DB Engine service; SQL Agent service; SQL Browser service

  • Identify concurrency problems.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: blocks, locks, deadlocks, activity monitor; relevant Dynamic Management Views

  • Identify SQL Agent job execution problems.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: proxy accounts; credentials; job history

  • Locate error information.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: error log; agent log; job execution history; event logs

Optimizing SQL Server Performance (10%)

  • Implement Resource Governor.

  • Use the Database Engine Tuning Advisor.

  • Collect trace data by using SQL Server Profiler.

  • Collect performance data by using Dynamic Management Views (DMVs).

  • Collect performance data by using System Monitor.

  • Use Performance Studio.

Implementing High Availability (9%)

  • Implement database mirroring.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

  • Implement a SQL Server clustered instance.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

  • Implement log shipping.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

  • Implement replication.

    • This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

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