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Jay123
Yak Posting Veteran
54 Posts |
 Posted - 2010-08-04 : 05:51:57
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| I really need some help. here is my problem.For the past 10 months i have been practicing sql, i have read sql server 2005 implementation and maintenance book. and have read many online tutorials and have also downloaded lots of documentation to help me out.Every time i take a practice test which comes with the book i Fail.It just really puts me off. i mean i choose to do a 45 question test and i raley get above 60%.What can i do to pass this test. Any help and advice would be much appreciated. Thanks... Jay |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 06:16:57
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| Do you really need to pass the test? I had to take the tests for 2008 as part of on-the.job training but I would probably never have done them by choice, unless I was heading into self employment which I'm not. I find the tests too obscure to have any real-world value and even some of the MVPs in here don't have certifications. That being said; learning sql server will take you more than 10 months...I know nothing of your learning abilities but proficiency in databases comes with experience.- LumbagoMy blog (yes, I have a blog now! just not that much content yet) -> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Jay123
Yak Posting Veteran
54 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 06:28:37
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| Thanks for taking the time to answer.Im thinking i need to take the test to get the certifcation, at the minute i do nothing in I T. i work in a warehouse and go college to try to get a better job.If i dont have any Actuall certificates will i even get a foot in the door. Im cluless as to how i go about finding a job in this field. and i dont really have any qualifications, not even gcse's.Will it be enought to say i have been to college, done this and this but i dont have any certificates. |
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GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
4507 Posts |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 06:48:29
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| Ok, I see your point and that changes the perspective a little. I assume you are taking some sort of IT education in college? My best advice (others may have completely different advice!) would probably be to try and do as many database/it projects while in college and not focus too much on the certifications. An employer will probably be intrigued if you do have a certification but he/she will probably know that you are young and unexperienced and that the certification really isn't worth all that much. If you want to get in to the consulting business (either self employed or through a consultant company) however, a certification is very helpful. But I would focus my attention on getting as much hands-on experience as possible first and then take the certification if you need to. Another advice is to try to get a part time job in the it industry instead of the warehouse even if it means selling yourself cheap in the beginning. Any experience really is better than nothing. If you do a good job and work hard I guarantee it will pay off.- LumbagoMy blog (yes, I have a blog now! just not that much content yet) -> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 06:52:52
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...and I forgot the best advice of all: stick around sqlteam!! The stuff you learn and what the people do for you here is beyond any book or exam. If you want stuff to practice on just ask, we're all in the business of helping each other here  - LumbagoMy blog (yes, I have a blog now! just not that much content yet) -> www.thefirstsql.com |
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webfred
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
8781 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 07:39:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Lumbago
...and I forgot the best advice of all: stick around sqlteam!! The stuff you learn and what the people do for you here is beyond any book or exam. If you want stuff to practice on just ask, we're all in the business of helping each other here - LumbagoMy blog (yes, I have a blog now! just not that much content yet) -> www.thefirstsql.com
That's true!I've learned so much here - awesome mates in sqlteam!
No, you're never too old to Yak'n'Roll if you're too young to die. |
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Jay123
Yak Posting Veteran
54 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 07:47:05
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| Ok, first im gonna look into voluntering on the weekends to get some hands on experience. any ideas where i would start?Second i will try to get involved in some database/it projects, but the problem is i really dont know anyone in this feild. where would i start?and i will alos keep my eyes peeld for any type of junior dba job.when it comes to practicing at home where is the best place to find Real World problems. Like things that would be valuable to learn that will be used a lot in a dba job.The only practice i do at the minute is the practice lessons at the end of the chapters in my book.Im dont really like reading and lose focus while reading page after page of a book. which most of the text is proberly there just to make the bigger. i much prefer hands on learning.Thanks again... Jay |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 08:14:55
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| Ok, I got a few ideas that will keep you busy for a while. You'll need some free virtualization software like VirtualBox from Sun or VMware Player to create two separate servers with some kind of windows server software, preferably 2008 but 2003 will do just fine. Install sql server on them both but leave them as stand alone servers, no domain or anything, but try to set up a network so they can "see" eachother.1. Download an Adventureworks database, any of them will do. Set up a daily full backup, 6-hour diff backup and 15 minute trans log backup. Make sure that old backups are cleaned out after 2 days and also mirror the backup folder to the other database server using ROBOCOPY (dos program, download here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd). Do ALL of this using pure sql queries/stored procedures and the sql server agent, NO WIZARDS!2. Once the backup has been established, set up mirroring between the two servers using certificates and initialize the Adventureworks mirroring session from a backup file. NO WIZARDS here either, only pure sql. You are 100% guaranteed to come by backup and mirroring a gazillion times and you need to know this by heart. The mirroring with certificates is a little less common but it's good practice.- LumbagoMy blog (yes, I have a blog now! just not that much content yet) -> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Jay123
Yak Posting Veteran
54 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 09:06:12
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| Thank You very much Lumbago. This looks like a brilliant scenerio.I will Practice this asap. Then when i feel i am proficient in this topic i will try to find other scenerios. any one else reading this if you have a scenerio like this one for me to practice it would be helpfull.Thank you very much, youve given me a few good ideas.p.s Nice Blog |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2010-08-04 : 09:48:02
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| You should of course also practice restoring the databases using script, especially a point in time restore and a restore with moving the data/log files. I used to do this *all* the time...Try to develop all the sql scripts yourself, but if you get stuck don't hesitate to ask. And if you use scripts found on the web, make sure you investigate them properly and understand what they do. You can find scripts for just about anything but simply copying and pasting wont teach you anything. Good luck!! - LumbagoMy blog (yes, I have a blog now! just not that much content yet) -> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Taking the 70-431 exam.