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Exam Information
Official specifications published by IBM
Exam Format
90 min
60
70%
Professional
Registration
$200 USD
Pearson VUE
Validity
lifetime
Upgrade to IBM Certified Db2 13 for z/OS Database Administrator - Professional (C9006700); Continuous learning through IBM Professional Certification Program
C1000-078 Exam Topics and Domains
C1000-078 is organized into 7 weighted domains. Expect to work with Db2 for z/OS, Db2 DDF, Db2 Catalog, Db2 Directory, and more.
1
Database Design and Implementation
22%
Design tables and views
Table designView design and implementation
- Design tables with appropriate column definitions and data types
- Implement views for data abstraction and security
- Understand when to use temporal tables and their benefits
- Select appropriate data types for LOBs and XML
Explain the different performance implications of identity column, ROWID, and sequence column definitions
Identity columnsROWID columnsSequence objects
- Compare performance characteristics of IDENTITY, ROWID, and SEQUENCE
- Choose appropriate column definition for specific requirements
- Understand utility impact of different column types
Design indexes
Index structures and typesAdvanced index features
- Design effective indexes for query optimization
- Understand index structure and page organization
- Apply advanced index features appropriately
Design universal table spaces
Universal table space architectureClustering considerations
- Design universal table spaces for optimal performance
- Choose appropriate partitioning strategy (PBG vs PBR)
- Determine optimal page size for workload
Perform partitioning
Table partitioning strategiesIndex partitioning
- Implement effective partitioning strategies
- Choose appropriate index partitioning method
- Understand partition pruning and performance benefits
Normalize data (E-R model, process model) and translate data model into physical model
Data normalization
- Apply normalization principles to database design
- Translate logical models to physical implementations
- Make informed denormalization decisions
Understand and describe Db2 database enforced integrity rules
Referential integrityUser-defined integrity
- Implement referential integrity constraints
- Use triggers and UDFs for complex business rules
- Understand performance impact of integrity enforcement
Use the appropriate method to alter Db2 objects
Online schema evolutionObject modification best practices
- Execute online schema changes effectively
- Understand immediate vs pending ALTER operations
- Minimize application impact during object modifications
Explain the use and impact of different encoding schemes
Encoding scheme types
- Select appropriate encoding schemes for data
- Understand storage and performance implications
- Handle encoding conversions properly
2
Operation and Recovery
20%
Explain and execute commands and subcommands for normal operational conditions
Basic Db2 commands
- Execute essential Db2 operational commands
- Monitor database and object status
- Control database availability
Explain and execute commands and utility control statements for use in abnormal conditions
Recovery commands
- Execute recovery operations
- Handle abnormal terminations
- Perform point-in-time recovery
Load and unload data into and from Db2 tables
LOAD utilityUNLOAD utility
- Load data efficiently using LOAD utility
- Unload data for backup or migration
- Handle errors during load operations
Reorganize objects when necessary
REORG utility
- Determine when reorganization is needed
- Execute REORG operations effectively
- Use REORG avoidance features
Monitor objects by collecting statistics
RUNSTATS utility
- Collect accurate database statistics
- Use real-time statistics for monitoring
- Implement autonomic statistics collection
Monitor and manage threads and utilities
Thread managementUtility management
- Monitor thread activity and connections
- Manage utility execution
- Handle utility failures and restarts
Identify and respond to advisory/restrictive statuses on Db2 objects
Object status types
- Identify object pending statuses
- Resolve restrictive statuses
- Prevent status conditions proactively
Identify and perform problem determination
Diagnostic tools
- Use diagnostic tools effectively
- Analyze traces and logs
- Troubleshoot application problems
Perform object and catalog/directory health checks
CHECK utilityCatalog and directory maintenance
- Perform consistency checks on database objects
- Maintain catalog and directory health
- Use offline utilities when necessary
Identify and perform actions needed to protect databases from planned and unplanned outages
Backup strategiesHigh availability configurations
- Implement effective backup strategies
- Protect against data loss
- Minimize downtime during outages
Identify and perform actions needed to recover data to a consistent point in time
Recovery scenariosCatalog and directory recovery
- Execute point-in-time recovery operations
- Recover from various failure scenarios
- Restore catalog and directory when necessary
3
Security and Auditing
10%
Explain privileges and authorities
Db2 authorization model
- Understand Db2 authorization model
- Assign appropriate privileges and authorities
- Implement least-privilege principle
Protect access to Db2 and its objects
Access control implementation
- Grant and revoke privileges effectively
- Implement fine-grained access control
- Secure database objects appropriately
Audit Db2 activity and resources and identify primary audit techniques
Audit implementation
- Implement Db2 auditing
- Analyze audit logs
- Meet regulatory compliance requirements
Identify and respond appropriately to symptoms from trace output or error messages that signify security problems
Security incident response
- Identify security incidents from logs
- Respond to security violations
- Prevent security breaches
Explain and use roles, trusted context, data masking and encryption
Advanced security features
- Implement role-based access control
- Configure trusted contexts
- Apply data masking for privacy
- Use encryption to protect sensitive data
4
Performance
21%
Plan for performance monitoring by setting up and running monitoring procedures
Monitoring strategies
- Design effective monitoring strategy
- Establish performance baselines
- Implement exception-based monitoring
Analyze performance (manage and tune CPU requirements, memory, I/O, locks, response time, index and table compression)
CPU optimizationMemory managementI/O optimizationLock and latch managementCompression optimization
- Analyze and optimize CPU usage
- Tune memory allocation
- Optimize I/O performance
- Manage locks and latches effectively
- Use compression appropriately
Analyze and respond to RUNSTATS statistics analysis
Statistics interpretation
- Analyze database statistics effectively
- Use statistics for performance tuning
- Maintain current and accurate statistics
Determine when and how to perform REBIND
REBIND operations
- Determine when REBIND is necessary
- Use APCOMPARE and APREUSE effectively
- Maintain optimal access paths
Describe Db2 interaction with Workload Manager (WLM)
WLM integration
- Configure WLM for Db2 workloads
- Optimize stored procedure execution
- Understand WLM impact on performance
Review and tune SQL
SQL optimization
- Analyze and optimize SQL statements
- Use EXPLAIN for access path analysis
- Apply SQL tuning best practices
Monitor dynamic SQL performance
Dynamic SQL optimization
- Monitor dynamic SQL cache effectiveness
- Optimize dynamic SQL performance
- Use REOPT for access path optimization
Design features for performance
Performance-oriented design
- Design databases for optimal performance
- Use advanced performance features
- Make informed design trade-offs
Explain how to control and influence access paths
Access path control
- Control optimizer behavior
- Influence access path selection
- Maintain consistent performance
5
Installation and Migration
9%
Recommend settings for critical Db2 system parameters
ZPARM configuration
- Configure critical Db2 system parameters
- Tune ZPARMs for optimal performance
- Understand ZPARM impact on behavior
Identify and explain Db2 data sharing components and commands
Data sharing architecture
- Understand data sharing architecture
- Configure data sharing components
- Manage data sharing environment
Describe use of premigration checklists
Migration planning
- Plan Db2 migrations effectively
- Use premigration checklists
- Assess migration readiness
Describe the function of the catalog and directory
Catalog and directory structure
- Understand catalog and directory structure
- Maintain catalog health
- Recover catalog and directory when necessary
Demonstrate understanding of the Db2 12 continuous delivery process
Continuous delivery model
- Understand continuous delivery model
- Activate function levels appropriately
- Plan function level progression
Explain the migration process and activation of new function levels
Migration and activation
- Execute Db2 migrations successfully
- Activate function levels safely
- Understand fallback options
6
Additional Database Functionality
9%
Explain and use SQL constructs
Advanced SQL features
- Use advanced SQL constructs effectively
- Implement temporal and archive tables
- Write recursive queries and CTEs
Explain the use of stored procedures
Stored procedure types and usage
- Implement different types of stored procedures
- Use autonomous procedures appropriately
- Optimize stored procedure performance
Explain the use of SQL/XML and XQuery
XML support in Db2
- Store and query XML data
- Use XQuery and XPath effectively
- Optimize XML data handling
Explain the use of user-defined functions
UDF types and implementation
- Create and use user-defined functions
- Choose appropriate UDF type
- Optimize UDF performance
Explain and use global variables
Global variable usage
- Create and use global variables
- Understand variable scope
- Use variables in procedures and SQL/PL
Describe the use of triggers, merge statement, pagination options and JSON support
TriggersMERGE statementPaginationJSON support
- Implement triggers appropriately
- Use MERGE for upsert operations
- Implement efficient pagination
- Store and query JSON data
7
Distributed Access
9%
Demonstrate understanding of distributed data access and the role of the communications database
Distributed data architecture
- Configure communications database
- Enable distributed data access
- Manage distributed transactions
Demonstrate understanding of Distributed Data Facility (DDF) implementation options
DDF architecture and components
- Configure DDF for distributed access
- Set up client connectivity
- Implement resource limits
Recommend values for critical DDF configuration settings
DDF ZPARMs and tuning
- Configure DDF parameters optimally
- Tune DDF for performance
- Manage connection pooling
Understanding and implementing distributed data access
Distributed access performance
- Implement distributed access efficiently
- Optimize distributed query performance
- Monitor distributed connections
Describe Db2 support for Native REST services and differentiate from RESTful API
Native REST services
- Implement native REST services
- Understand REST vs RESTful API differences
- Secure REST endpoints
How do I earn this certification?
Passing C1000-078 earns the IBM Certified Administrator - Db2 12 for z/OS certification. It sits in the IBM Db2 for z/OS track.
Current Level Exams
- C1000-078 - IBM Db2 12 for z/OS Administrator
- 08003802 - IBM Certified System Administrator - DB2 12 for z/OS
Next Level Options
C9006700 - IBM Certified Db2 13 for z/OS Database Administrator - Professional Next-generation Db2 certification for z/OS administrators
Alternative Paths
- C9006800 - IBM Certified Db2 13 for z/OS Database Administrator - Associate Entry-level DBA certification for Db2 13
- Various - IBM Data and AI Certifications Complementary certifications in IBM's Data and AI portfolio
Practice with Precision
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How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for C1000-078 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-01-01
- Announcement date: 2025-01-01
Updates
- Native JSON Support Db2 12 Function Level 506 JSON data type and functions are covered in exam domain 6 (Additional Database Functionality) • Release date: 2024-01-01
- Native REST Services Db2 12 Native REST services covered in exam domain 7 (Distributed Access) with 9% weight • Release date: 2020-01-01
- Temporal Tables and Archive Tables Db2 12 Temporal tables are key concept in domain 1 (Database Design and Implementation) • Release date: 2020-01-01
- Enhanced Security (Data Masking, RBAC) Db2 12 Security enhancements covered in domain 3 (Security and Auditing) with 10% weight • Release date: 2020-01-01
- Continuous Delivery Model Db2 12 Function level activation and continuous delivery process covered in domain 5 (Installation and Migration) • Release date: 2020-01-01
Who should take this exam?
- Significant experience as a database administrator
- Extensive knowledge of Db2 for z/OS
- Basic knowledge of z/OS and Workload Manager
- Basic knowledge of SQL, XML and JSON
- Basic knowledge of database security
- Basic knowledge of Db2 routines (stored procedures, UDFs)