MCITP: DBA 2008 Resources

I’m breaking this post up into three parts. The first is books that I have used to study for the DBA Upgrade exam and that I believe are perfect for preparing for any of the DBA exams for SQL Server 2008. The second section is for training material I have found on the web, including a shameless plug for my own blog to which I am posting many of my notes about exam prep. The third section is for books that I believe are good to read for a career as a DBA. If you already work with SQL Server these books will help you get to the next level.

Section One – MCITP: DBA 2008 Books
SQL Server 2008 Administration in Action
SQL Server 2005 DBA Street Smarts: A Real World Guide to SQL Server 2005 Certification Skills - While this book is for SQL Server 2005, all of it is applicable to SQL Server 2008. Learn how to do all of the exercises in this book and know them cold and you will be at a very strong junior level. A similar book for SQL Server 2008 is due to be released in May, 2010.
SQL Server 2008 Administration: Real World Skills for MCITP Certification and Beyond (Exams 70-432 and 40-450)

If you study these two books and know how to do all of the labs in them in the GUI and via T-SQL you will be a very competent SQL Server professional.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Fundamentals – This will set you up to have a strong fundamental understanding of T-SQL and how it works.

These three books lay the foundation for becoming a very strong SQL Server IT Pro. But I cannot stress that you cannot just read them for this to be true. You need to make these as hands on and practical as possible. Do every single exercise you can. Retype every single line of code and run it.

Section Two – Online Resources

BoL 2008
SQLServerPedia
SQL Server 2008 Virtual Labs
SQL Server 2008 How To Videos and other Resources
Microsoft Press : Free ebook: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
SQL Server 2008 R2 and Self-Service BI Solution Downloads
Download details: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 - Express

Section Three – Beyond the Certification

DBA Survivor: Become a Rock Star DBA – Advice and information to help you get and keep your first job a s a full-time DBA.
SQL Server 2008 Troubleshooting and Internals
SQL and Relational Theory – Learn the fundamental concepts of Relational Database theory and how to apply it to your T-SQL.
Beginning Database Design: from Novice to Professional
SQL Server MVP Deep Dives – Advice and knowledge from the best professionals in the field.

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Comments

aaronchristenson

This is a very comprehensive list. I think that if anyone used these matterials they should have no problem passing the exams. All I used for the upgrade exam was the MS TK for 70-432 and Transcender for the 70-453 exam. I would nominate this for a sticky.

bertieb

aaronchristenson wrote: »

I would nominate this for a sticky.

Me too. Another excellent post Robert, thank you.

RobertKaucher

Thanks, guys. Let me tell you I discovered the SQL Server 2008 Administration in Action about a week ago and that book DOES NOT mess around. I have read a few "introductiory" books that just walk you through wizards and you don't ever really learn anything from them. I wish I had this book when I first started with SQL Server back in 2007. I just skipps over the easy stuff that any server admin would easily understand and then gits into the details about what an admin needs to understand. The first few chapters on SQL Server design have been wonderful and I find myself reading that book as if it were a novel I was reading for pleasure.

tenrou

Thanks very much for posting these link Robert. I've got the 2005 DBA street smarts book which is realy good and I'll get onto the 2008 admin book once I've finished. I'm really enjoying my study on DBA workings at the momment, it's making for a nice change of pace.

RobertKaucher

tenrou wrote: »

Thanks very much for posting these link Robert. I've got the 2005 DBA street smarts book which is realy good and I'll get onto the 2008 admin book once I've finished. I'm really enjoying my study on DBA workings at the momment, it's making for a nice change of pace.

You should also check out the DBA Survivor book by Thomas LaRock. A nice, easy read with good information in it. Do not pay regular price, though. It's just not worth the $35.00 or whatever it is at regular price.

importantbrian

Thank you for such a thorough and well thought out post. I'm starting my MS in CIS program here shortly and will be doing a sub-concentration in Database Administration so I think those materials will be very helpful for me. I am defiantly getting the DB Survivor book the next time I make an Amazon order!

marticus

Thanks for the post. I am studying for the 70-432 and have been using the Microsoft training guide. I have started looking at the books online and the administrator in action. They fill in the gaps very nicely.

RobertKaucher

Thanks! I have just added a few links to the online resources.

GagHalfrunt

Very useful post, needs to be a sticky methinks!

But then officially this forum doesn't cover 2008!

Norrlands Turk

Excellent post sir.

Thank you.

RobertKaucher

I've been working on the labs for Amazon.com: SQL Server 2008 Administration: Real-World Skills for and I just wanted to say that I think it is an excellent book. It covers a lot of theory and does it very well. It is an excellent prep source for the 2008 MCITP DBA.

If you really master the material in it and in Amazon.com: SQL Server 2008 Administration in Action (9781933988726): Rod Colledge: Books you will have a very strong foundation in SQL Sserver administration. I wish I had read these two books first. I wasted a lot of time on some really boring stuff because these two did not yet exist.

Matt27[lt]

I'm preparing or 70-432 exam and I started to read MS Press book. Couldn't finish the 2nd chapter simply because of frustration of dealing with incorrect information. Now I got two by this post recommended books - "SQL Server 2008 Administration in Action" and "SQL server administration Real world skills for MCITP...".
My question would be which book should I start to read first? I have no background in MS SQL server (little bit of PostgreSQL) or SQL language.
Goal is to prepare for exam and lay down strong background.
p.s. I started to read "... administration in action" but in the beggining of the book it was stated, that it based on "best practice" examples. I would like first to get basic knowledge and next move to advanced study. So the roud should be "SQL server administration Real world skills for MCITP..." => "SQL Server 2008 Administration in Action"?

RobertKaucher

Yes, I would start with the Real World Skills book and then move on to admin in action. But don't get the wrong idea about admin in action. It is not an advanced book, it just covers things in detail. As for the test: lab, lab, lab, lab and when you think you understand something lab it again. I would read the T-SQL in 10 Minutes in conjunction with the the Real World Skills book.

LCA

Found these resources on Buck Woody's blog over at MSDN yesterday which has an extensive list of resources to 70-432 topics on MSDN. The topics are also on Books Online but these are much more usable when read from MSDN.

Buck Woody's 70-432 exam resources

HAT TIP to Buck Woody

dTardis

Thank you for this. I am just starting my studying and I needed this info!

amcnow

Microsoft has delayed the discontinuation of exam 70-450 (PRO: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Designing, Optimizing, and Maintaining a Database Administrative Solution) yet again. It will now retire on July 31st, 2014 (a full year past the original retirement date).

Exam 70-450: Pro: Designing, optimizing, and maintaining a database administrative solution using Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Retired exams