A comprehensive disaster recovery plan for a DB2 environment typically includes provisions for ________, ________, and ________.

  • Data encryption, offsite storage
  • Failover strategies
  • Log shipping, replication
  • Regular backups
A comprehensive disaster recovery plan for a DB2 environment typically includes provisions for log shipping, replication, and failover strategies. Log shipping and replication ensure that data is continuously replicated to a standby server, while failover strategies ensure a seamless transition to the standby server in the event of a primary server failure. 

Weak entities in an ERD depend on the existence of ________ entities.

  • Dependent
  • Independent
  • Related
  • Strong
Weak entities in an ERD are entities that cannot exist without the presence of another related entity, known as the identifying or parent entity. Therefore, weak entities depend on the existence of other entities for their own existence. 

Scenario: A company is migrating from a different database system to DB2 and needs to script the entire process for consistency and efficiency. How can Command Line Tools assist in this migration process?

  • Exporting data using db2move
  • Generating DDL scripts using db2look
  • Generating migration reports using db2pd
  • Importing data using db2move
Command Line Tools such as db2look can assist in scripting the migration process by generating Data Definition Language (DDL) scripts. These scripts capture the structure of the database objects (tables, indexes, etc.) in a format that can be easily executed on the target DB2 system. By automating the generation of DDL scripts, Command Line Tools help ensure consistency and efficiency throughout the migration process. 

What is the impact of having too many indexes on a table in DB2?

  • Excessive indexes on a DB2 table may lead to fragmentation and increased I/O overhead during query execution.
  • Having too many indexes on a table in DB2 can lead to increased storage requirements and slower performance for data modification operations.
  • The impact of excessive indexes on a DB2 table includes increased storage space utilization and slower query performance.
  • Too many indexes on a DB2 table can result in higher memory usage and decreased query optimization.
The presence of numerous indexes on a DB2 table can negatively impact system performance and resource utilization. It can lead to increased storage requirements due to the additional space needed for index structures. Moreover, excessive indexes can result in slower performance for data modification operations, such as inserts, updates, and deletes, as each modification operation must also update the corresponding index entries. Understanding the consequences of excessive indexing is essential for optimizing the database design and maintaining efficient query processing in DB2 environments. 

Log shipping in disaster recovery involves periodically copying ________ from the primary to the standby server.

  • Data files
  • Entire database
  • Log files
  • Transaction logs
Log shipping in disaster recovery typically involves copying transaction logs from the primary database server to the standby server. These transaction logs contain a record of all changes made to the database, allowing the standby server to maintain a synchronized copy of the primary database for disaster recovery purposes. 

In high availability setups, the primary goal is to minimize ________ in case of a system failure.

  • Data corruption
  • Downtime
  • Network latency
  • Performance degradation
High availability setups aim to minimize downtime in case of system failure. Downtime refers to the period when a system is unavailable or inaccessible, which can result in significant losses for businesses. 

Scenario: A critical table in the database was accidentally deleted. What recovery strategy can the DBA employ to restore the table and minimize data loss?

  • Manually recreate the table structure and insert data from application logs.
  • Perform a table-level restore from the last backup and apply transaction logs to recover data up to the point of deletion.
  • Roll back the entire database to the state before the deletion occurred.
  • Use DB2's flashback feature to recover the table to its state before deletion.
To restore a critical table accidentally deleted in DB2, the DBA can perform a table-level restore from the last backup and apply transaction logs to recover data up to the point of deletion. This strategy helps minimize data loss by selectively restoring only the affected table without affecting the rest of the database. 

How do different editions of DB2 cater to varying enterprise needs?

  • Basic edition for entry-level users, Professional edition for mid-sized enterprises, Corporate edition for multinational corporations, Ultimate edition for comprehensive solutions
  • Developer edition for testing and development, Community edition for open-source enthusiasts, Standard edition for general-purpose usage, Premium edition for mission-critical applications
  • Express edition for small businesses, Workgroup edition for departmental use, Enterprise edition for large-scale deployments, Advanced edition for specialized workloads
  • Starter edition for educational institutions, Basic edition for non-commercial use, Professional edition for consultancy firms, Expert edition for data-intensive industries
Different editions of DB2 are tailored to meet the diverse requirements of enterprises. These editions cater to varying needs such as the size of the organization, the complexity of workloads, and budget constraints. For instance, the Express edition targets small businesses with its cost-effective features, while the Enterprise edition is designed for large-scale deployments requiring robust performance and scalability. Understanding these editions helps organizations align their database solutions with their specific business objectives. 

How does buffer pool tuning impact DB2 performance?

  • Enhances network throughput
  • Improves disk I/O efficiency
  • Increases memory usage
  • Reduces CPU consumption
Buffer pool tuning in DB2 involves adjusting the sizes and configurations of buffer pools, which are memory areas used to cache frequently accessed data. Proper buffer pool tuning can significantly improve performance by reducing the need for disk I/O operations, as data can be retrieved from memory more quickly. This can lead to lower CPU consumption and better overall response times for database queries and transactions. 

What does the version number of DB2 signify?

  • Edition
  • Patch level
  • Release level
  • Year of release
The version number of DB2 signifies the release level of the software. It indicates the specific version or release of DB2, which includes enhancements, bug fixes, and new features introduced by IBM. For instance, version 11.5 denotes a different release than version 11.1, with each release potentially offering improvements and new functionalities. Database administrators need to be aware of the version number to ensure compatibility with their existing systems and to leverage the latest features available. 

What is the primary purpose of data compression in DB2?

  • Enhance data security
  • Improve query performance
  • Reduce storage space
  • Streamline data backup
Data compression in DB2 primarily aims to reduce storage space by compressing data, leading to efficient storage management and cost savings. It allows for storing more data in less space without compromising data integrity or accessibility. This can significantly benefit organizations dealing with large volumes of data by optimizing storage resources and enhancing overall system performance. 

In DB2, a self-join is used to join a table to itself based on a ________.

  • Common column
  • Foreign key
  • Primary key
  • Unique column
In a self-join, a table is joined with itself based on a common column, allowing comparisons between rows within the same table. This is useful for hierarchical data or when comparing related records.