MySQL 5 Certification Study Guide

Description:

This is the official guide to passing the two MySQL certification tests for MySQL 5, the long-awaited major revision of MySQL. It includes a voucher for 25 percent off either exam-a $50 value! The number of MySQL certification exams taken has doubled in the last six months.

Certcities.com lists the MySQL certification as one of the top 10 certifications to grow in 2005. MySQL professionals need a way to distinguish themselves from the vast majority of database administrators and developers. With more than 4 million active installations, MySQL is the world's most popular open-source database. Known for its speed, reliability and case of use, MySQL has become a low-cost alternative to expensive database systems such as Oracle, IBM and Microsoft. MySQL AB has aggressively improved the feature set of MySQL with MySQL 5, making it more suitable for enterprise-level applications and uses. The MySQL certification tests, available at over 3,000 PearsonVUE testing centers, is a key component of this enterprise growth strategy, establishing a base level of skills for database users, administrators and programmers.

The MySQL Core Certification is aimed at the database user who wants proof of his or her abilities in such fundamental areas as SQL, data entry and maintenance, and data extraction. The MySQL Professional Certification test is designed for the advanced user who wants to prove his or her knowledge in such areas as database management, installation, security, disaster prevention and optimization. Both tests are thoroughly covered in the MySQL Certification Study Guide. Written by Paul DuBois, the leading author of books on MySQL topics, and reviewed for technical accuracy by MySQL AB, this book is the fastest, most reliable way for MySQL users, developers, and administrators to prepare for either of the MySQL tests.

 

Table of Contents:

Introduction.

About This Book.

    Sample Exercises

    Other Required Reading

      Manuals

      Sample Data

      Study Guide Errata

      Certification Information at www.mysql.com

      The MySQL Certification Candidate Guide

      The Certification Mailing List

    Conventions Used in This Book

      Running MySQL on Microsoft Windows

    About the Exams

      Registering for an Exam

      Going to the Exam

      Taking the Exam

      Reading Questions

      Answering Questions

      After the Exam

      Retaking Exams

      Warning

    Interpreting DESCRIBE Output

    Sample Tables

MYSQL DEVELOPER EXAMS.

MySQL Developer I Exam.

1. Client/Server Concepts.

    General MySQL Architecture

    Invoking Client Programs

      General Command Option Syntax

      Connection Parameter Options

      Using Option Files

      Selecting a Default Database

      Establishing a Connection with a GUI Client

    Server SQL Modes

2. The mysql Client Program.

    Using mysql Interactively

    Statement Terminators

    The mysql Prompts

    Using Editing Keys in mysql

    Using Script Files with mysql

    mysql Output Formats

    Client Commands and SQL Statements

    Using Server-Side Help

    Using the --safe-updates Option

3. MySQL Query Browser.

    MySQL Query Browser Capabilities

    Using MySQL Query Browser

    Using the Query Window

      Entering Queries

      The Result Area

      The Script Editor

      Stored Routine Management

      The Object and Information Browsers

    The MySQL Table Editor

    Connection Management

      Using the Connection Dialog

      Editing Connection Profiles

    The Options Dialog

4. MySQL Connectors.

    MySQL Client Interfaces

    MySQL Connector/ODBC

    MySQL Connector/J

    MySQL Connector/NET

5. Data Types.

    Data Type Overview

    Numeric Data Types

      Integer Data Types

      Floating-Point Data Types

      Fixed-Point Data Types

    The BIT Data Type

    String Data Types

      Character Set Support

      Non-Binary String Data Types: _CHAR, VARCHAR, TEXT

      Binary String Data Types: BINARY, VARBINARY, BLOB

      The ENUM and SET Data Types

    Temporal Data Types

      The DATE, TIME, DATETIME, and YEAR Data Types

      The TIMESTAMP Data Type

      Per-Connection Time Zone Support

    Column Attributes

      Numeric Column Attributes

      String Column Attributes

      General Column Attributes

    Using the AUTO_INCREMENT Column Attribute

    Handling Missing or Invalid Data Values

      Handling Missing Values

      Handling Invalid Values in Non-Strict Mode

      Handling Invalid Values in Strict Mode

      Enabling Additional Input Data Restrictions

      Overriding Input Data Restrictions

6. Identifiers.

    Identifier Syntax

    Case Sensitivity of Identifiers

    Using Qualified Names

    Using Reserved Words as Identifiers

7. Databases.

    Database Properties

    Creating Databases

    Altering Databases

    Dropping Databases

    Obtaining Database Metadata

8. Tables and Indexes.

    Table Properties

    Creating Tables

      Creating Tables Using an Explicit Definition

      Specifying the Storage Engine for a Table

      Creating Tables Based on Existing Tables

      Using TEMPORARY Tables

    Altering Tables

      Adding and Dropping Columns

      Modifying Existing Columns

      Renaming a Table

      Specifying Multiple Table Alterations

    Dropping Tables

    Emptying Tables

    Indexes

      Types of Indexes

      Creating Indexes

      Choosing an Indexing Algorithm

    Dropping Indexes

    Obtaining Table and Index Metadata

9. Querying for Data.

    Using SELECT to Retrieve Data

    Specifying Which Columns to Retrieve

      Renaming Retrieved Columns

      Identifying the Database Containing a Table

    Specifying Which Rows to Retrieve

      Using ORDER BY to Sort Query Results

      The Natural Sort Order of Data Types

      Limiting a Selection Using LIMIT

      Using DISTINCT to Eliminate Duplicates

    Aggregating Results

      The MIN() and MAX() Aggregate Functions

      The SUM() and AVG() Aggregate Functions

      The COUNT() Aggregate Function

      The GROUP_CONCAT() Function

      Aggregation for NULL Values or Empty Sets

    Grouping Results

      GROUP BY and Sorting

      Selecting Groups with HAVING

      Using GROUP BY and WITH ROLLUP

    Using UNION

10. SQL Expressions.

    Components of SQL Expressions

    Numeric Expressions

    String Expressions

      Case Sensitivity in String Comparisons

      Using LIKE for Pattern Matching

    Temporal Expressions

    NULL Values

    Functions in SQL Expressions

      Comparison Functions

      Control Flow Functions

      Aggregate Functions

      Mathematical Functions

      String Functions

      Temporal Functions

      NULL-Related Functions

    Comments in SQL Statements

11. Updating Data.

    Update Operations

    The INSERT Statement

      Adding Multiple Records with a Single INSERT Statement

      Handling Duplicate Key Values

      Using INSERT ... ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE

    The REPLACE Statement

    The UPDATE Statement

      Using UPDATE with ORDER BY and LIMIT

      Preventing Dangerous UPDATE Statements

      Multiple-Table UPDATE Statements

    The DELETE and TRUNCATE TABLE Statements

      Using DELETE with ORDER BY and LIMIT

      Multiple-Table DELETE Statements

    Privileges Required for Update Statements

MySQL Developer II Exam.

12. Joins.

    Overview

    Writing Inner Joins

      Writing Inner Joins with the Comma Operator

      Writing Inner Joins with INNER JOIN

    Writing Outer Joins

      Writing LEFT JOIN Queries

      Writing RIGHT JOIN Queries

    Resolving Name Clashes Using Qualifiers and Aliases

      Qualifying Column Names

      Qualifying and Aliasing Table Names

    Multiple-Table UPDATE and DELETE Statements

13. Subqueries.

    Types of Subqueries

    Subqueries as Scalar Expressions

    Correlated Subqueries

    Comparing Subquery Results to Outer Query Columns

      Using ALL, ANY, and SOME

      Using IN

      Using EXISTS

    Comparison Using Row Subqueries

    Using Subqueries in the FROM Clause

    Converting Subqueries to Joins

      Converting Subqueries to Inner Joins

      Converting Subqueries to Outer Joins

    Using Subqueries in Updates

14. Views.

    Reasons to Use Views

    Creating Views

      Restrictions on Views

      View Algorithms

      Updatable Views

    Altering Views

    Dropping Views

    Checking Views

    Obtaining View Metadata

    Privileges Required for Views

15. Importing and Exporting Data.

    Import and Export Operations

    Importing and Exporting Using SQL

      Importing Data with LOAD DATA INFILE

      Exporting Data with SELECT ... INTO OUTFILE

      Data File Format Specifiers

      Importing and Exporting NULL Values

    Importing and Exporting Data from the Command Line

      Importing Data with mysqlimport

      Exporting Data with mysqldump

16. User Variables.

    User Variable Syntax

    User Variable Properties

17. Prepared Statements.

    Benefits of Prepared Statements

    Using Prepared Statements from the mysql Client

    Preparing a Statement

    Executing a Prepared Statement

    Deallocating Prepared Statements

18. Stored Procedures and Functions.

    Benefits of Stored Routines

    Differences Between Stored Procedures and Functions

    The Namespace for Stored Routines

    Defining Stored Routines

    Creating Stored Routines

      Compound Statements

      Declaring Parameters

      The DECLARE Statement

      Variables in Stored Routines

      Conditions and Handlers

      Cursors

      Retrieving Multiple Result Sets

      Flow Control

    Altering Stored Routines

    Dropping Stored Routines

    Invoking Stored Routines

    Obtaining Stored Routine Metadata

    Stored Routine Privileges and Execution Security

19. Triggers.

    Reasons to Use Triggers

    Trigger Concepts

    Creating a Trigger

    Restrictions on Triggers

    Referring to Old and New Column Values

    Destroying a Trigger

    Privileges Required for Triggers

20. Obtaining Database Metadata.

    Overview of Metadata Access Methods

    Using INFORMATION_SCHEMA to Obtain Metadata

    Using SHOW and DESCRIBE to Obtain Metadata

    Using mysqlshow to Obtain Metadata

21. Debugging MySQL Applications.

    Interpreting Error Messages

    The SHOW WARNINGS Statement

    The SHOW ERRORS Statement

    The perror Utility

22. Basic Optimizations.

    Overview of Optimization Principles

    Using Indexes for Optimization

      Types of Indexes

      Principles for Index Creation

      Indexing Column Prefixes

      Leftmost Index Prefixes

    General Query Enhancement

      Query Rewriting Techniques

      Using EXPLAIN to Obtain Optimizer Information

      Optimizing Queries by Limiting Output

      Using Summary Tables

      Optimizing Updates

    Choosing Appropriate Storage Engines

    Normalization

MYSQL DBA EXAMS.

MySQL DBA I Exam.

23. MySQL Architecture.

    Client/Server Overview

    Communication Protocols

    The SQL Parser and Storage Engine Tiers

    How MySQL Uses Disk Space

    How MySQL Uses Memory

24. Starting, Stopping, and Configuring MySQL.

    Types of MySQL Distributions

      MySQL Binary Distributions

      MySQL Source Distributions

    Starting and Stopping MySQL Server on Windows

      Server Startup Prerequisites on Windows

      Running MySQL Server Manually on Windows

      Running MySQL Server as a Windows Service

    Starting and Stopping MySQL Server on Unix

      Server Startup Prerequisites on Unix

      Choosing a Server Startup Method on Unix

    Runtime MySQL Configuration

    Log and Status Files

      The General Query Log

      The Binary Log

      The Slow Query Log

      The Error Log

      Status Files

    Loading Time Zone Tables

    Security-Related Configuration

    Setting the Default SQL Mode

    Upgrading MySQL

25. Client Programs for DBA Work.

    Overview of Administrative Clients

    MySQL Administrator

    mysql

    mysqladmin

    mysqlimport

    mysqldump

    Client Program Limitations

26. MySQL Administrator.

    MySQL Administrator Capabilities

    Using MySQL Administrator

      Starting MySQL Administrator

      Selecting an Operational Mode

    Server Monitoring Capabilities

      Server Information

      Server Connections

      Health

      Server Logs

      Replication Status

      Catalogs

    Server Configuration

      Service Control

      Startup Variables

      User Administration

    Backup and Restore Capabilities

      Making Backups

      Restoring Backups

    MySQL Administrator System Tray Monitor

27. Character Set Support.

    Performance Issues

    Choosing Data Types for Character Columns

28. Locking.

    Locking Concepts

    Explicit Table Locking

    Advisory Locking

29. Storage Engines.

    MySQL Storage Engines

    The MyISAM Engine

      MyISAM Locking Characteristics

      MyISAM Row-Storage Formats

    The MERGE Engine

      MERGE Locking Characteristics

    The InnoDB Engine

      The InnoDB Tablespace and Logs

      InnoDB and ACID Compliance

      The InnoDB Transaction Model

      InnoDB Locking Characteristics

       InnoDB Isolation Levels, Multi-Versioning, and Concurrency

      Using Foreign Keys

      Configuring and Monitoring InnoDB

    The MEMORY Engine

      MEMORY Indexing Options

    The FEDERATED Engine

    The Cluster Storage Engine

    Other Storage Engines

30. Table Maintenance.

    Types of Table Maintenance Operations

    SQL Statements for Table Maintenance

      CHECK TABLE

      REPAIR TABLE

      ANALYZE TABLE

      OPTIMIZE TABLE

    Client and Utility Programs for Table Maintenance

      The mysqlcheck Client Program

      The myisamchk Utility

      Options for mysqlcheck and myisamchk

    Repairing InnoDB Tables

    Enabling MyISAM Auto-Repair

31. The INFORMATION_SCHEMA Database.

    INFORMATION_SCHEMA Access Syntax

    INFORMATION_SCHEMA Versus SHOW

    Limitations of INFORMATION_SCHEMA

32. Data Backup and Recovery Methods.

    Introduction

    Binary Versus Textual Backups

    Making Binary Backups

      Making Binary MyISAM Backups

      Making Binary InnoDB Backups

      Other Binary Backup Tools

      Conditions for Binary Portability

    Making Text Backups

      Making Text Backups via SQL

      Making Text Backups with mysqldump

      Making Text Backups with MySQL Administrator

    Backing Up Log and Status Files

    Replication as an Aid to Backup

    MySQL Cluster as Disaster Prevention

    Data Recovery

      Reloading mysqldump Output

      Reloading Dumps with MySQL Administrator

      Processing Binary Log Contents

33. Using Stored Routines and Triggers for Administration.

    Using Stored Routines and Triggers for Security Purposes

    Using Stored Routines to Enhance Performance

MySQL DBA II EXAM.

34. User Management.

    User Account Management

      Types of Privileges That MySQL Supports

      The Grant Tables

      Approaches to Account Management

      Creating and Dropping User Accounts

      Specifying Account Names

      Granting Privileges

      Revoking Privileges

      Changing Account Passwords

      When Privilege Changes Take Effect

      Specifying Resource Limits

      Privileges Needed for Account Management

    Client Access Control

      Connection Request Checking

      Statement Privilege Checking

      Resource Limit Checking

      Disabling Client Access Control

35. Securing the MySQL Installation.

    Security Issues

    Operating System Security

    Filesystem Security

    Log Files and Security

    Network Security

      Securing the Initial MySQL Accounts

      General Privilege Precautions

      MySQL Cluster Network Security

    FEDERATED Table Security

36. Upgrade-Related Security Issues.

    Upgrading the Privilege Tables

    Security-Related SQL Mode Values

37. Optimizing Queries.

    Identifying Candidates for Query Analysis

    Using EXPLAIN to Analyze Queries

      How EXPLAIN Works

      Analyzing a Query

      EXPLAIN Output Columns

    Using SHOW WARNINGS for Optimization

    MyISAM Index Caching

38. Optimizing Databases.

    General Table Optimizations

    Normalization

    MyISAM-Specific Optimizations

      MyISAM Row-Storage Formats

      Keep Optimizer Information Up to Date

      FULLTEXT Indexes

      Specifying MyISAM Maximum Row Count

    InnoDB-Specific Optimizations

    MERGE-Specific Optimizations

    MEMORY-Specific Optimizations

39. Optimizing the Server.

    Interpreting mysqld Server Information

      Accessing Server System Variables

      Accessing Server Status Variables

    Measuring Server Load

    Tuning Memory Parameters

      Global (Server-Wide) Parameters

      Per-Client Parameters

    Using the Query Cache

      Enabling the Query Cache

      Measuring Query Cache Utilization

40. Interpreting Diagnostic Messages.

    Sources of Diagnostic Information

    Using the Error Log for Diagnostic Purposes

    Using The Slow Query Log for Diagnostic Purposes

41. Optimizing the Environment.

    Choosing Hardware for MySQL Use

    Configuring Disks for MySQL Use

      Moving Databases Using Symbolic Links

      MyISAM Table Symlinking

    Network Issues

    Optimizing the Operating System for MySQL Use

42. Scaling MySQL.

    Using Multiple Servers

    Replication

      Setting Up Replication

      The Binary and Relay Logs

      Replication-Related Threads

      Replication Troubleshooting

      Replication Compatibility and Upgrading

APPENDIXES.

A. References.

B. Other Offers.

Index.