Exams > Search for an Exam

Preparation Guide for Exam 70-432

TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance

Published: June 11, 2008
Related Links
•Register for this exam
•Create a customized study plan
•Take a practice test
On This Page
Exam newsExam news
Audience profileAudience profile
Credit toward certificationCredit toward certification
Preparation tools and resourcesPreparation tools and resources
Skills being measuredSkills being measured

Exam news

Exam 70-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance is in development. It is expected to be released in August 2008.

Top of pageTop of page

Audience profile

Candidates should have one to two years of experience using SQL Server 2008 or two to three years of experience using a previous version of SQL Server. Candidates for this exam are IT professionals who have jobs in which database administration is their main area of responsibility, or they work in environments in which databases are central to their job roles. These job roles include the following:

•

IT generalists who work in environments in which SQL Server 2008 is part of an overall solution

•

IT professionals who manage systems that run SQL Server 2008

•

IT professionals who work with third-party applications that are built on SQL Server 2008

•

Developers who build applications that use SQL Server 2008

Top of pageTop of page

Credit toward certification

When you pass Exam 70-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance, you complete the requirements for the following certification:

•Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance

Top of pageTop of page

Preparation tools and resources

To help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the "Skills being measured" section below.

Classroom trainingMicrosoft E-LearningMicrosoft Press booksPractice tests

Course 6231: Maintaining a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Database (five days)

Course 6232: Implementing a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Database (five days)

Availability for both expected in October 2008.

Collection (TBD): Implementing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (12 hours)

Collection (TBD): Maintaining a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Database (12 hours)

Availability for both expected in December 2008.

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-432): Microsoft SQL Server 2008 - Implementation and Maintenance

Availability expected in January 2009.

MeasureUp (Measureup.com)

Self Test Software (Selftestsoftware.com)

Microsoft online resources

•

SQL Server 2008 Learning Portal: Find special offers and information on training and certification.

•

SQL Server 2008 product information: Visit the SQL Server 2008 Web site for detailed product information.

•

Microsoft Learning Community: Join newsgroups and visit community forums to connect with your peers for suggestions on training resources and advice on your certification path and studies.

•

TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes how-to instructions, best practices, downloads, technical resources, newsgroups, and chats.

•

MSDN: Designed for developers, the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) features code samples, technical articles, downloads, newsgroups, and chats.

Top of pageTop of page

Skills being measured

This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed in the following table. The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.

Skills measured by Exam 70-432
Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2008 (10 percent)

Install SQL Server 2008 and related services.
This objective may include but is not limited to: file locations; default paths; service accounts

Configure SQL Server instances.
This objective may include but is not limited to: sp_configure

Configure SQL Server services.
This objective may include but is not limited to: configuration manager; SQL browser

Configure additional SQL Server components.
This objective may include but is not limited to: SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), replication

Implement database mail.
This objective may include but is not limited to: set up and configure

Configure full-text indexing.
This objective may include but is not limited to: enable/disable, index population

Maintaining SQL Server Instances (13 percent)

Manage SQL Server Agent jobs.
This objective may include but is not limited to: create and schedule jobs; notification of job execution; disable/enable jobs; change job step order; logging

Manage SQL Server Agent alerts.
This objective may include but is not limited to: performance condition alerts; SQL event alerts; Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) alerts

Manage SQL Server Agent operators.
This objective may include but is not limited to: operator schedules; fail safe operator; add a new operator; notification methods

Implement the declarative management framework (DMF).
This objective may include but is not limited to: create a policy; verify a policy; schedule a policy compliance check; enforce a policy; create a condition

Back up a SQL Server environment.
This objective may include but is not limited to: operating system-level concepts

Managing SQL Server Security (15 percent)

Manage logins and server roles.
This objective may include but is not limited to: create logins; disable/enable logins; security model (authentication mode); password policy enforcement; fixed server roles; alter logins

Manage users and database roles.
This objective may include but is not limited to: user mapping; user-defined roles; fixed roles; guest, public, dbo; creating and deleting user roles

Manage SQL Server instance permissions.
This objective may include but is not limited to: logon triggers; permissions vs. fixed role membership; cross-database ownership chaining; impersonation

Manage database permissions.
This objective may include but is not limited to: impersonation; cross-database ownership chaining

Manage schema permissions and object permissions.
This objective may include but is not limited to: manage schema ownership

Audit SQL Server instances.
This objective may include but is not limited to: use DDL triggers and logon triggers; C2; common criteria; login failures; event notifications

Manage transparent data encryption.
This objective may include but is not limited to: impact of transparent data encryption on backups

Configure surface area.
This objective may include but is not limited to: sp_configure

Maintaining a SQL Server Database (16 percent)

Back up databases.
This objective may include but is not limited to: full backups; differential backups; transaction log; compressed backups; file and filegroup backups; verifying backup

Restore databases.
This objective may include but is not limited to: online restores; full restores; differential restores; transaction log; file and filegroup restores; verifying restore; tail of the transaction log

Manage and configure databases.
This objective may include but is not limited to: files, file groups, and related options; database options; recovery model; attach/detach data

Manage database snapshots.
This objective may include but is not limited to: create, drop, revert

Maintain database integrity.
This objective may include but is not limited to: DBCC CHECKDB; suspect pages

Maintain a database by using maintenance plans.
This objective may include but is not limited to: Maintenance Plan Wizard; Maintenance Plan Designer

Performing Data Management Tasks (14 percent)

Import and export data.
This objective may include but is not limited to: BCP; BULK INSERT; OPENROWSET; GUI tools

Manage data partitions.
This objective may include but is not limited to: switching data from one partition to another; add a filegroup; alter a partition function; alter a partition scheme

Implement data compression.
This objective may include but is not limited to: sparse columns; page/row

Maintain indexes.
This objective may include but is not limited to: create spatial indexes; create partitioned indexes; clustered and non-clustered indexes; XML indexes; disable and enable indexes; filtered index on sparse columns; indexes with included columns; rebuilding/reorganizing indexes; online/offline

Manage collations.
This objective may include but is not limited to: column collation; database collation; instance collation

Monitoring and Troubleshooting SQL Server (13 percent)

Identify SQL Server service problems.
This objective may include but is not limited to: DB Engine service; SQL Agent service; SQL Browser service

Identify concurrency problems.
This objective may include but is not limited to: blocks, locks, deadlocks, activity monitor; relevant Dynamic Management Views

Identify SQL Agent job execution problems.
This objective may include but is not limited to: proxy accounts; credentials; job history

Locate error information.
This objective may include but is not limited to: error log; agent log; job execution history; event logs

Optimizing SQL Server Performance (10 percent)

Implement Resource Governor.

Use the Database Engine Tuning Advisor.

Collect trace data by using SQL Server Profiler.

Collect performance data by using Dynamic Management Views (DMVs).

Collect performance data by using System Monitor.

Use Performance Studio.

Implementing High Availability (9 percent)

Implement database mirroring.
This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

Implement a SQL Server clustered instance.
This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

Implement log shipping.
This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

Implement replication.
This objective may include but is not limited to: monitoring, configuring, failover

Note This preparation guide is subject to change at any time without prior notice and at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are presented. Please use this preparation guide to prepare for the exam, regardless of its format.

•Learn more and download samples

Top of pageTop of page