I'm assuming those people still sticking with me and reading my Blog (with it's very sporadic nature of posting) are either full on dedicated DBA's, waiting for triumph or failure at the end of this little experiment of mine, or you put this feed in your blog feeder and every time you see an update from me, kick yourself for not getting rid of this blog from the list last time.. :-)
Either way, you're here and I've got you for a minute or two.
I have a question for you, doesn't matter which of the above reader you are:
When was the last time you challenged yourself?
Whether it was as big a challenge such as change of careers, or small, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator twice a week?
hmmm?
I like challenges, don't know why, they stress me out most of the time. I just did a google search on "challenge yourself", and found a blog post from a guy called Dwipal. His post on challenging yourself kinda explains it for me..
"...Short term challenges create a sense of tension in us, and when they are achieved, we feel happy. They also keep us busy and minds occupied until they are resolved...."
I don't think I would have lasted this long as a DBA if I was the type to accept a way of doing something and not change (how many DBA's do you know like that...).
Which leads me to the title of this blog :-) Another challenge!
There was an email blast from Oracle University this morning about the New Oracle Expert Program. A series of exams that recognize specialist DBA's. They include:
- Oracle Database 10g: Managing Oracle on Linux Certified Expert
- Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Administrator Certified Expert
- Oracle 11i Workflow Certified Expert
- Oracle 11i System Administrator Certified Expert
If you're thinking, "oh yay, another way for Oracle to get money from me..." , then I'm not sure why you're reading my blog.... that's not the point of the exams, or of this blog.
So anyway. Those that are like me, and enjoy a challenge, take a look. Those that don't want to give money to the Man, fine.. don't.
Let me know if you're interested or are planning to go for any of them. I'd like to hear how it goes, how you're going to get ready for it. Stuff like that.
Or, better yet, instead of me droning on about my lack of preparation for exam type stuff, someone write a blog entry for me on going for one of the exams... the trepidation leading up, the euphoria of thinking you know the answers, the nervous sweat you seem to break into as you press the "Finished" button....
Comments (10)
Well, I just sat for the RAC OCE beta exam yesterday.
The exam is really very long (I used 3 hours of the 3.5 allocated to answer cca 180 questions), and the questions sometimes repeat in small variations. Maybe they will create several variations of the final exam.
It wasn't easy, and it was very 10gR2 oriented. I studied from the R1 course (and luckily updated my knowledge from 10gR2 New Features in Oracle doc), and the experience was comparable with OCP exams (at least 9i versions that I took). As usual, be careful about details when studying.
The nervous sweat before pressing Finish - that's the funny part. First of all, after 3 hours, I was quite tired, and second, in beta, you do not get ANY report of your success, even not number of questions correct.
Posted by Vit Spinka | June 5, 2007 3:09 AM
Posted on June 5, 2007 03:09
Thanks for the news, Vit. Frankly, I am dismayed when I hear about these multiple choice tests that supposed certify someone as an "Expert". Oracle's whole system of certifying people clearly serves one overriding purpose; put money in Oracle's pocket. I wish they did away the OCA and downgraded all the current tests (keep them the same, but make the certification less spectacular), and finally have really hard tests for the advanced certifications. Seriously.
I know what you mean about hitting the Finish button; it must be worse when you are in Beta and have no feedback. *grin*
Gavin, to respond to your question about challenging yourself, I thought that was really good. The OCM is a huge challenge, but as you might tell from my above comments, it is by no means the end of the road. There is a level of expertise that transcends the potential of the current certification tests, a level I find most easily measurable in how well that person teach another. Not only in general, abstract theories, but in real-life, nitty-gritty details. Which is why I respect instructors like Andy Fortunak and Sue Jang.
Oh, just fyi, we are putting together a loose, informal "course" on Mastering the Basics. We will be using the published, online 10g OCM Exam outline as a curriculum. Should be good stuff.
Posted by Charles Schultz | June 15, 2007 4:20 PM
Posted on June 15, 2007 16:20
Hi sir,
I have just taken up OCP10g exam.I cleared it.I am going to start preparing for Linux Expert exam very soon.I shall definitely be updating my blog about how I am going for it.
I just discovered your blog coz if there is anything I like most after music,food(veg) and love after family and very few close friends is ORACLE DATABASE :-).I loved the way you write the posts and very eagerly I shall be waiting for you to finish 150 steps.
I shall be adding it to my fav list of blogs and on my bloglines account!
Hope to have lots of good posts coming up!
Best regards
Aman....
Posted by Aman Sharma | July 10, 2007 1:11 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 13:11
I took both the BETA for RAC (1z1-048)
and LINUX 10g (1z1-046).
It seemed like I could potentially pass
the linux, but then my brain becamse
absolute MUSH MUSH MUSH.
The RAC exam I did not even had a chance.
Im going to take 1z1-046 SQL Soon.
This one I know I can pass, except my
brain will turn to mush again half
way through.
Posted by roger foley | July 24, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted on July 24, 2007 15:26
Hi,
I wish the Expert Level exams really test your expertise rather than offering multiple choice questions.
The tests should put you in a practical situation and ask you to resolve it. I think, this is how one can prove his/her expertise.
Regards
Posted by Asif Momen | July 25, 2007 8:57 AM
Posted on July 25, 2007 08:57
Hello Gavin,
I gave OCE RAC last weekend and cleared. Out of two sections I found Cluster Administration is easier than RAC administration topic. Still Managed to clear with a good score. Put about a weeks effort (of course parallel with my work :) ). Exam is oriented towards 10gR2. OUs RAC course will give bare minimum to clear the same.
Cheers
Pradeep
Posted by Pradeep George | November 17, 2007 7:46 AM
Posted on November 17, 2007 07:46
pradeepgv@hotmail.com
http://www.oracle.com/technology/ocm/pgeorge.html
Posted by Pradeep George | November 17, 2007 11:08 AM
Posted on November 17, 2007 11:08
Congrats Pradeep!
Posted by Gavin Parish | June 3, 2008 9:10 PM
Posted on June 3, 2008 21:10
Dear sir,
I want to be sit for exam 1z0-046 but i have no many books or dumps, i am OCA and RHCE , please help me
and give some suggestion and dumps.
Posted by Amirul Isma | November 1, 2008 2:53 PM
Posted on November 1, 2008 14:53
Amirul,
Have a look at http://blogs.oracle.com/mte1521/mt-search.cgi?tag=cheating&blog_id=163 for a list of reasons why getting "dumps" is wrong...
As to giving some suggestions, practice practice practice. I suggest you find an old PC or laptop, download Oracle Enterprise Linux, download Oracle 10g DB and start there.
Posted by Gavin | January 15, 2009 8:50 AM
Posted on January 15, 2009 08:50