Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book, a few comments
Review: 10/28/2002
First of all, I used this book as the only source and passed both the exams. Backup = 48/60 (3 weeks prep), Arch+Admin = 50/64 (3 weeks prep). Was disappointed (with myself) with both the scores, because I have good experience, and also had a 90% score on pl/sql exam, and I expected a similar score.I think the main problem was that Oracle has updated their questions bank for 8i, and there are a few questions in there that this book does not cover. Personally, I think Oracle frames these questions to elicit bad responses. In some cases, I understood the questions well, but the answer choices were poorly phrased. In others, you had to select two answers, but more than two were clearly eligible. My comments on B+R :-
1) Look up rman, from Oracle docs.
2) The questions list in the book is not sufficient.
I have heavy rman experience, and I scored perfect on all rman sections, which may have saved me. Architecture + Administration: This part was more relevant to the exam. But again, I feel Oracle has updated their questions bank. Overall, great book, but look up ora docs, for more info to feel secure.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Study Guide
Review: After reading the whole book I can say this is a great study guide for Oracle8i and for the certification too. There are some erros on the book (Sintax Erros), but anyway the book helped me to get certified so I will give 5 stars intead of 4. The book doesn't explain why the things are that way (as Oracle Press books do), just explain that are that way. The questions that are on the book after each chapter are extremely easy comparing to the certification exams. The Oracle sample questions are also easy comparing to the certification, but the ocp.exe exam that is on the book's CD is at the same level or the certification. If you know everything on the book, and did all the questions and sample questions, I think you are ready to pass on the Certification Exam.
Rating: 
Summary: Backup and Recovery is garbage
Review: Backup and Recovery part is garbage. It is full of logs. This is poorest book I ever read. Not only did it waste my money, but also my time. I past IZ0-025 with 53/60 after reading
Exam Cram book in a book store.
However, the Architecure & Administration part is very good.
This book can never be sold out without the Architecure & Administration part.
Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK ever seen for OCP
Review: Best book for passing IZ0-023, without any hands-on experience. Must read. Have not read the part 2 yet, but must be good.
Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK ever seen for OCP
Review: Best book for passing IZ0-023, without any hands-on experience. Must read. Have not read the part 2 yet, but must be good.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for Arch. and Admin. Exam
Review: I am a person with limited exposure to Oracle DBA stuff and this book was wonderful as far as the Part I is concerned. It is very well structured, easy to read and comes with a great CD full of practice exams. I passed the exam with a 58/64 score and I found the real exam much easier after going thro' this book (chapters 1 thro 9). I am not sure about the Backup and Recovery piece as I have just started my preparations..
Rating:
Summary: Will it work for you?
Review: I am in the process of becoming an Oracle DBA and have attended the DBA Architecture & Administration course run by Oracle. I bought this book to suppliment the course and found it to be well structured and pretty easy to read which enabled to me to pass the Prometric exam. The sample questions are very useful. I have since studied the Backup and Recovery section and passed the exam purely by reading this book. Both these exams were achieved within 1 month of each other and I have yet to obtain any real 'hands-on' experience (my background is Cobol, cics, DB2). As a note though, the Backup and Recovery section does not mention Tags; learn this!
Rating:
Summary: Will it work for you?
Review: I am in the process of becoming an Oracle DBA and have attended the DBA Architecture & Administration course run by Oracle. I bought this book to suppliment the course and found it to be well structured and pretty easy to read which enabled to me to pass the Prometric exam. The sample questions are very useful. I have since studied the Backup and Recovery section and passed the exam purely by reading this book. Both these exams were achieved within 1 month of each other and I have yet to obtain any real 'hands-on' experience (my background is Cobol, cics, DB2). As a note though, the Backup and Recovery section does not mention Tags; learn this!
Rating: 
Summary: 5 stars for A&A, 2 stars for B&R, Overall 3.5 stars
Review: I completed my OCP exam last December 2001 and this book helped me passed A&A with a high mark. Part I covers around 99% of the exam objectives. It was very well written and presented. The practice exams were really great and I personally feel it's a bit more challenging than STS. Part II covers only around 40-50% of the exam objectives. It lacks a lot of detail especially on RMAN which covers 30% of the exam. It's a good overview on B&R but definitely not for the exam. Unless you are really experienced in B&R and RMAN, chances are you'll fail the exam using this book alone. Overall, I find it to be a good study guide but you definitely need another book for the B&R exam. I strongly recommend this for book for the A&A exam but unfortunately I can't say the same for the B&R exam. BTW, I still use this book today for reference =)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent part 1 (Architecture ...) Bad part 2 (Backup...)
Review: I have passed the 1z0-023 (architecture...) easily only using that book. But I haven't passed the 1z0-025 (backup ...) whith that book because the 2'nd part is very unreal in relation with the actual exam.
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