OCA Oracle Database 11g Administration I Exam Guide (Exam 1Z0-052) 1st Edition

Other than reading the Oracle manuals this book may be as good as it gets to prepare for 1Z0-052. Granted, there are inaccuracies in the book and in that respect the proofreading should have been better -- from my experience this is a chronic problem with technical books but the errors here are not that often. What I especially like about this book is that the author writes detailed, coherent explanations rather than relying on the usual cut and paste I have seen with many other books. Mr. Watson excels at technical writing and his books are among the most usefully understandable of all Oracle books that I have used over these last two decades. All in all this book is a good investment, but you should not neglect reading the Oracle manuals -- I recommend starting with "Oracle Database 11g Concepts" and selectively reading several others. Let the Oracle detailed 1Z0-052 "Exam Topics" be your guide.

Great book. I'm still working it getting ready for the exam. Yes there are a few mistakes in the book, so don't believe every word, but you should know the mistakes when you see them. I think it was revised from an earlier edition. It comes with two free computer-based test modules that run on a windows-based engine. The questions are great.

Ideas are well explained and there are many pictures, excellent book! Recommended if you want to pass OCA certification on a self-study pace.

New DBAs and those new to Oracle, you'll find this book handy, but I recommend that you familiarize yourself with related topics before diving in.* Using/accessing an Oracle database. Using forms, reports, SQL, and SQL*Plus.* UNIX and Window's command prompt* Operating System and hardware interaction* Networking (Servers vs. Clients)I'm not saying you have to be an expert in these areas, but if you understand these and are comfortable with them, reading this will be less intimidating. It certainly made it easier for me.+ I like this book. I have become more fluent in the terminology and I have acquired handy tools to use as a new DBA. I know I still have a long way to go too.The hardest thing I have with this is sitting down and reading it straight through. I like to read the chapters in order, but I've found that hopping around makes reading easier. For example: Things I would recommend for a new DBA (with previous experience with Oracle on the user end)is Chp 1 (overview), Chp 5 (managing Oracle instances), then even skipping to Chp 8 with administrative tasks. As these things become easy, move on to more detailed chapters about tasks and database structures. It is good (and I recommend) to know what controlfiles, redo log files, OEM, SQL*Developer are and how they can help you; but to first read details about memory structures can make reading this book and the job as a DBA seem dull and only abstract. Explore other chapters, they will reference SGA/PGA and other database architectures, but it'll be easier to vision the interaction and the dependence between applications,files and database architecture. *Everyone is different, this is a method that helped me out... and it's a method I saw throughout college.- Read other reviews and be aware that there are proofreading errors in this book! That's makes me worry that I'll misunderstand a key concept... and the reason why I'd consider giving this 3 stars instead of 4.+ I don't regret my purchase. There's a treasure trove of good information here.

Good book but for some editing mistakes!

If you are specifically looking for Oracle certification, it's a good book. If you are looking to learn Oracle database administration, there are plenty of good/better free resources available. See the Oracle 2 Day DBA website for starters. That has practical explanations and hands-on tutorials using Enterprise Manager Database Control. This book has more of an SQL*Plus (command) focus. Look at this book after the 2 Day DBA resources if you want more detail.

Book needed for school, I completed the courses and were certified for OCA ORACLE DATABASE 11g Administration 1 Exam Guide (Exam 1Zo-o52) the prices were low for the results I received.

The books is very good for Oracle DBA certification. It has all the topics covered with clear explaination and the important tips and points for exams are also highlighted.I am rating the book 4 star.