Scenario: During peak hours, several users report slow query performance. How can the DB2 administrator identify the cause and resolve the issue promptly?

  • Disable unnecessary applications to reduce system load
  • Enable monitoring tools to capture SQL performance metrics
  • Increase hardware resources such as CPU and memory
  • Restart the DB2 instance to clear any temporary bottlenecks
Enabling monitoring tools to capture SQL performance metrics allows the DB2 administrator to identify poorly performing queries during peak hours. These tools can provide insights into various metrics such as execution time, I/O operations, and locking behavior, enabling the administrator to pinpoint the cause of slow query performance. Increasing hardware resources or restarting the DB2 instance may provide temporary relief but may not address the root cause of the issue. Disabling unnecessary applications can reduce system load but may not directly address SQL performance concerns. 

Common troubleshooting methods for DB2 installation errors involve checking ________.

  • Hardware compatibility
  • Log files
  • Network connectivity
  • System requirements
Troubleshooting DB2 installation errors often involves examining log files generated during the installation process. Log files contain valuable information about errors, warnings, and other diagnostic messages, aiding in identifying and resolving installation issues. 

In DB2, what type of data can be stored in XML or JSON format?

  • Any structured data
  • Binary data
  • Numerical data
  • Only textual data
In DB2, XML or JSON format can store any structured data, including textual, numerical, or binary data. This flexibility allows for versatile data storage and retrieval. 

Scenario: A data analyst wants to calculate the total number of orders placed by each customer. Which aggregation function would be appropriate in DB2, and what additional operation may be required?

  • COUNT() with GROUP BY
  • SUM() with WHERE clause
  • AVG() with DISTINCT
  • MAX() with HAVING clause
The correct option is COUNT() with GROUP BY. COUNT() is used to count the number of rows, and GROUP BY is used to group the results by a specific column, in this case, the customer. This combination allows the data analyst to calculate the total number of orders placed by each customer. SUM() with WHERE clause calculates the total sum based on a condition, AVG() with DISTINCT calculates the average of distinct values, and MAX() with HAVING clause filters groups based on a condition after grouping. 

Which configuration file in DB2 stores database connection information?

  • db2cli.ini
  • db2coninfo
  • db2dsdriver.cfg
  • db2nodes.cfg
The configuration file in DB2 that stores database connection information is the db2cli.ini file. This file contains details such as database aliases, hostnames, ports, and other connection parameters necessary for establishing connections to databases. It plays a crucial role in configuring and managing database connections within DB2. 

In DB2, what is the purpose of the ROLLFORWARD command?

  • To create a new database instance
  • To delete the database
  • To roll back changes made to the database
  • To roll forward changes made to the database
The ROLLFORWARD command in DB2 is used to apply logged changes to the database that have occurred since the last backup was taken. It brings the database to a specified point-in-time, ensuring that all committed transactions are reflected in the database, thus maintaining data consistency. 

Which data type is commonly used for storing binary data in DB2?

  • BLOB
  • CHAR
  • CLOB
  • VARCHAR
BLOB (Binary Large Object) data type is commonly used in DB2 for storing binary data, such as images, audio files, and video files. Unlike character data types like CHAR and VARCHAR, BLOB is specifically designed to efficiently handle binary data without any character set conversions or size limitations. 

In DB2, a table defines the ________ of a database object.

  • Data
  • Relationship
  • Schema
  • Structure
In DB2, a table defines the data of a database object. It holds the actual data organized in rows and columns, each column representing a different attribute or field, and each row representing a record or tuple. The structure of a table includes the column names, data types, constraints, and other properties. Thus, it defines how the data is stored and organized within the database. 

During the IMPORT process in DB2, the ________ clause is used to specify the delimiter used in the data file.

  • DELIMITER
  • FORMAT
  • SEPARATE
  • TERMINATE
During the IMPORT process in DB2, the DELIMITER clause is used to specify the character that separates the fields in the data file being imported. This is crucial for accurately parsing the data and loading it into the appropriate columns in the database table. Specifying the correct delimiter ensures that the data is imported correctly and maintains its integrity. 

What is the purpose of Visual Explain in DB2?

  • To analyze and optimize SQL queries
  • To create graphical user interfaces for DB2
  • To design database schemas
  • To visualize query execution plans
Visual Explain in DB2 is a tool used to provide a graphical representation of the query execution plans generated by the DB2 Optimizer. It helps database administrators and developers understand how queries are processed and identify potential performance bottlenecks.