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Exam Preparation Guide HP0-768 1NonStop Transaction Management Facility - Level 2

HP Certified Professional ProgramNonStop Transaction Management Facility

(TMF)Exam HP0-768

Exam Preparation Guide

Purpose of the Exam Preparation GuideThe intent of this guide is to set expectations about the content and the context of the exam and to help candidates prepare for the exam. In this guide, you will find recommended HP training courses, reference and study material to help you achieve a successful passing score.

Studies conducted by HP and Prometric show that a combination of course attendance and self-study maximizes the likelihood of passing the exam on the first attempt.

AudienceThis exam is targeted for the following audience, with a minimum of three to five years’ experience on the NonStop S-Series platforms running the G-Series NonStop Kernel Operating System. Examples of job roles:

• Professional Services personnel who assist NonStop customers.

• Authorized Service and Support personnel (field support technicians), who perform installations, upgrades, troubleshooting and maintenance tasks.

• Global Customer Support Center (GCSC) personnel, who may have specialized technical expertise in the operating system and NonStop applications and serve as support for both field support technicians and customers.

• Analyst SEs or Pre-SalesTechnical Support (PSTS) personnel, who perform pre-sales consulting and technical account support.

• NonStop Technical Consultants (both internal and external), System Integrators and Consultant Partners, Authorized Service Channel Partners and Distributors, Customers authorized to service their own equipment.

General areas of content include: Transaction Concepts, TMF Architecture, Configuration, Operations, Recovery, and Problem Management.

Certification RequirementsThe NonStop TMF Exam HP0-768 is an elective for certification as an Accredited System Engineer (ASE) in the HP NonStop S-series Systems track. It is also an elective for the HP NonStop Kernel Certified Systems Engineer (CSE) in the HP Operating System certification.


Successful completion of the Accredited Integration Specialist (AIS) - Level 1 is required for the Accredited System Engineer (ASE) - Level 2 certification. One mandatory exam and three electives, totaling four exams, are required for ASE certification. For NonStop Systems track requirements, visit the website at

http://www.hp.com/go/certification

Level 2 mandatory exam:

§ NonStop Kernel Advanced Exam HP0-760

Level 2 electives are based on the participant’s certification goals.

Note that three to five years’ experience or more is highly recommended for ASE certification. “Hands on” experience with the NonStop S-series system is essential.

PrerequisitesThere are no prerequisites for this exam although it is highly recommended that you have three to five years’ experience working in a NonStop TMF environment.

Exam DetailsThe NonStop Transaction Management Facility (TMF) is a live exam. You will receive a score report with your results after testing is complete. You can use the report to identify areas of strength and learn about areas to improve, if necessary.

Test Informationn Number of test items: 77

n Item type: multiple choice

n Time commitment: 90 minutes

n Passing Score: 48

n Percent Correct: 62%

n Reference material: No online or hard copy reference material will be allowed at the testing site.


Exam ContentThe following outline represents the specific areas of content covered in the exam. Use this outline to guide your study and to check your readiness for the exam. The exam measures your understanding of these areas. The approximate percentage of exam questions dedicated to each major content area is included in parenthesis. Typically, the higher the percentage, the more questions will be on the exam.

1) Transaction Concepts (12%)1.1 Demonstrate knowledge of transaction basics

• Describe atomicity (transaction as the unit of work)

• Describe consistency (setting transaction boundaries)

• Describe isolation (controlling concurrency)

• Describe durability (the audit trail)

1.2 Describe the properties of the audit trail

• Explain the importance of serialization of transaction events

• Identify the purpose of before and after images

• Explain the difference between audit and data volumes

1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of locking

• Explain the differences between file and record locks

• Explain the purpose of locking

o Concurrency controlo Data consistency

• Explain problems that arise in locking

o Performance issueso Deadlockso "Forgotten Update" problem

1.4 Demonstrate knowledge of transaction outcomes

• Describe commit processing

• Describe abort processing

• Describe two-phase commit

1.5 Identify transaction standards

• Explain the purpose of open transaction standards

• Identify the functional components of the X/Open DTP model

o AP, RM, TM and CRM• Identify the protocols defined by the X/Open DTP standard


TX, XA, and XA+• Explain the purpose of the global transaction tree

TM domains and cross-domain transactions Superior and subordinate TMs

2) TMF Architecture (27%)2.1 Identify the role of TMF components

• Describe the functions of TMF manager process (TMP)

• Identify the role of TMFMON and TMFMON2

• Describe the purpose of the TMF catalog process

• Identify the role of the backout process

• Identify the role of volume recovery

• Identify the role of TMF file recovery and file recovery list

• Identify the roles of TMF dump and recovery (TMFDR)

AuditDumpAuditRestoreOnlineDumpOnlineRestoreOverflowCopy

• Explain the roles of TMFCOM and TMFSERV

2.2 Identify TMF files and data structures

• TMF system data segment (TMFLIB)

• Describe the TMF configuration subvol (ZTMFCONF)

LocationContents

∼ TMF catalog files∼ AUDINFO file∼ GLOBINFO file∼ PROCCONF file

• Describe the role of the TMF master audit trail (MAT)

2.3 Explain the characteristics of the TMF audit trail

• Compare master and auxiliary audit trails (MAT/AUXs)

DP2 and the audit trail Configuration

∼ Auxillary audit trails (AUX01-AUX15)∼ Active audit volumes (ACTIVEVOLS)


∼ Overflow volumes (OVERFLOWVOLS)∼ Location of audit trail files (ZTMFAT)∼ Required attributes for audit trail files

RoleContents

• Describe the advantages of round robin file allocation

• Describe special protection for ZTMFAT subvolume

• Explain the purpose of the ARLIB audit reading routines

2.4 Describe the purpose of TMF recovery

• Describe transaction backout (transaction failure)

• Describe volume recovery (system failure)

• Describe file recovery

2.5 Describe TMF transaction control

• Describe a TMF transaction identifier

Lock ownership

Explain local transactions

Commit processing∼ Commit coordinator

Abort processing∼ Abort coordinator

• Explain network transactions

Network coordinatorNetwork transaction distributionNetwork transaction (2-phase) commit

• Explain the system-generated (unilateral) transaction abort

• Describe the causes of a unilateral abort

2.6 Demonstrate knowledge of application programming with TMF

• Describe the function of BeginTransaction

• Describe the function of EndTransaction

Detecting unilateral aborts• Describe the function of AbortTransaction

• Explain the concept of transaction multithreading

Multithreaded requester facilitiesMultithreaded server facilities


• Describe the interaction of the file system with TMF

Transaction Pseudofile (TFILE)Transactional messaging

∼ Requester (WRITEREAD)∼ Server (READUPDATE and REPLY)

• Explain the role of AutoTMF for providing TMF protection

3) Configuration (19%)3.1 Describe TMF configuration planning

• Demonstrate knowledge of capacity planning issues

DP2 and TMF audited filesApplication Data mapping => Datavols => ATsAudit trail configurationMAT

∼ AUX∼ Audit trail size∼ Number of audit trails (MAT and AUX)∼ Files per volume

TapesLoad balancingCatalog management (loc, size, copies, retaindepth)Describe activities that can generate audit

• Demonstrate knowledge of disaster recovery issues

What to protectFull or minimal protectionDump frequency

• Describe hardware dependencies

Tape drivesDisk volume locationsDisk mirroring

3.2 Demonstrate knowledge of static configuration parameters

• Set initial AT size

• Set TMF processes

TMFMONTMFMON2$TMPCPUEXTSEG


• Set auxiliary audit trails

• Set TMF catalog

• Set Begintrans

3.3 Demonstrate knowledge of dynamic configuration changes

• Alter audit trail parameters

OverflowRestoreActiveAlter Process parametersSubprocessesTMFSERVBackoutTMFDR

• Alter TapeMedia

StatusDeletions/ additions

• Alter Dumps

Catalog entries.

• Alter BeginTrans

• Alter thresholds

4) Operations (20%)4.1 Demonstrate the ability to monitor TMF

• Interpret EMS messages

Explain how operations are tracked by EMS events

• Demonstrate usage of TMFCOM

Status Commands∼ ATs∼ TXNs∼ TMF∼ Datavols∼ Dumps∼ Operations

Info commands∼ ATs∼ TMF


∼ Datavols∼ Process∼ Dumps

• Identify other TMF monitoring tools

ASAPOVNM

4.2 Demonstrate the ability to manage tape media

• MEDIACOM

Mount messagesSpecify a different tape

• Label tape support

• TMFCOM

Initialize tapes• Media life cycle

4.3 Identify dumping requirements

• Audit trail dumps (disk or tape)

Deferring dumpsDisabling auditdumpSerial vs. parallel

• Online dumps (disk or tape)

• Multiple copies

• Media availability

4.4 Identify shutdown considerations for TMF

• Identify types of shutdown

• Identify obstacles to a clean shutdown

• Identify the consequences of a abrupt shutdown

5) Recovery (16%)5.1 Explain the fundamentals of recovery planning

• Quantify recovery requirements

Recovery goalsService Level Agreements

Equipment constraints5.2 Explain the implementation of a dump strategy

• Describe the implementation of an online dump strategy


FrequencyGranularityConcurrencyLocation of storage (onsite, offsite)Disk vs tapeNumber of copies of online dumpLocal vs networkPreserving the TMF catalog

• Describe the implementation of an audit dump strategy

Number of copies of audit dump∼ Serial vs. parallel

Disk vs tapeLocal vs networkRESTOREVOLSMultiple ACTIVEVOLSSegregation of audit trails

5.3 Describe the various recovery procedures

• Describe volume recovery

• Describe ZTMFCONF subvolume recovery

• Describe file recovery

ConcurrencyGranularityPerformanceSyntax/parameters of RECOVER FILESRecovery phasesRecovering a damaged fileRecovering a purged fileSQL vs. EnscribeWhy RECOVER FILES at all?Recovery components

∼ Processes∼ Parameters that affect the processes

5.4 Describe TMF remote recovery

• Describe the planning strategy for remote recovery

• Describe the requirements for TMF disaster recovery

• Describe the steps for recovery from a remote TMF system

6) Problem Management (6%)


6.1 Describe the various interfaces used in TMF problem management

• Demonstrate the usage of the TMFCOM interface

DP2 and the TMF Data Volume • Demonstrate use of EMS messages in problem isolation

• Demonstrate knowledge of file system error codes in problem isolation

• Describe the use of FUP in problem isolation

LISTLOCKSLISTOPENS

• Describe the use of Inspect in problem isolation

6.2 Identify data required for problem resolution

• Demonstrate ability to find version information

• Demonstrate the ability to identify information stores

Supply the appropriate data


Recommended Training and Study References This section lists training courses and documents that can help you acquire a majority of the knowledge and skills needed to pass the exam. You must also gain the practical experience outlined in this guide.

You are not required to take the courses listed in this section. However, HP strongly recommends that you attend the class, participate in class labs, and thoroughly review all course material and documents before taking the exam, even if you believe you have sufficient on-the-job experience.

Instructor-Led TrainingUse the information in this guide and the practical experience you have gained to determine your need for the HP instructor-led training.

The HP Certified Professional Program (Level 2) includes references to a variety of materials that provide information included on this certification exam. Completion of these HP courses and review of materials is recommended, but not required, for success on this exam.

Recommended Minimum Courses

Course Title Part Number

Type Length

Hp NonStop Transaction Management Facility (TMF) operations and management

U4186S ILT 4 days

Additional Highly Recommended CoursesCourse Title Part

NumberType Length

Also Refer to AIS (Level 1) training requirements on the HP Certified Professional website http://www.hp.com/go/certification.

ILT = Instructor-Led TrainingISP = Independent Study Program

Other Level 2 Recommended ResourcesFor all Level 2 NonStop ASE exams, it is highly recommended that the certification candidates be familiar with the contents of the book (not available on NTL, but can be ordered through hp publishing):

n Performance Analysis of Transaction Processing Systems by Wilbur H. Highleyman, ISBN 0136570089, HP publications.

Courses DescriptionsCheck web site course descriptions for prerequisites at:http://www.hp.com/education/sections/nonstop.html

To register in HP NonStop courses, go to:http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/education/regform.cgi


You can also call 1 (800) 472-5277 in North America, to speak with an education consultant or register for courses. If you are in Canada, call 1 (800) 563-5089 or contact your local education and training resource. For other locations, refer to the HP certification web page for your geography and your regional or local contacts.http://www.hp.com/go/certification

Or, you can send an email to [email protected]

Additional Recommended Reference Materials for This ExamReferences for exam questions are found in the web-based HP NonStop Technical Library (NTL). Technical documentation previously found on TIM (Total Information Manager) collections now resides on NTL, which is now the single interface to all NonStop documentation and support information. The NTL can be accessed from these URLs:

Internal: http://techlibrary.cac.cpqcorp.net/ntl/.

External: www.hp.com/go/ntl

Note that this exam preparation guide typically references the latest documentation release available at the time the exam was created.

.


DocumentationThe information in this exam preparation guide pertains to release G06.20 documentation. However, you may find the information in earlier or later documentation versions on the HP NonStop Technical Library (NTL). Release-specific page numbers for exam references are provided below though they are subject to change.

Availability Guide for Application Design (525637-002) Mod 1-1 Mod 3-2, 3, 4

TMF Application Programmer's Guide (522419-003) Mod 1- 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 19 Mod 2-3, 4, 5, 6, 7 All Mod 3 and 3-13 Mod 4-2, 6, 8, 10 Mod 5-1, 13, 63,

HP NonStop Transaction Management Facility (TMF) Introduction (522414-001) Mod 1-5,11, 13 All Mod 2-1, 2, 8,11 Mod 3-2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 13,15 Mod 5-2, 3, 7, 8 Mod 6-2, 3, 4

TMF Glossary (522415-001) 1,2,3, 10, 17,18, 20

Enscribe Programmer's Manual, Mod 10-1(520369-001)

Guardian Programmer's Guide (421922-001) Mod 2-4, 5, Mod 3-8 Mod 22-2

Nonstop TUXEDO /Domain Guide (125178) Mod 1

NonStop Planning and Configuration Guide (522416-003) G06.20, Mod 1-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 Mod 2-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Mod 3-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Mod 4-1, 2, 3, All Mod 5 pg 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 Mod 6 p2, 3, 4, 6 Mod 8-4 Mod A-1

NonStop Transaction Management Facility (TMF) Reference Manual (522418-001) G06.20, Mod 1-4 Mod 3-5, 13,16,17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 40, 45, 46, 56, 65, 69, 79, 88, 94, 101, 115, 119, 128, 150,160, 166, 171, 181, 198, 199, 205, 249, 255, 257, 268, 284, 289, 298, 299 Mod 4-2, 3, 4

TMF Operations and Recovery Guide (522417-001) Mod 1-8, Mod 2-12, 13, 17, 18, 26 Mod 3-2, 3, 20 Mod 4-1, 4 Mod 5-2, 3, 4 Mod 6-6, 12, 13 All Mod 7-1, 3, 7, 9, 14, 15 Mod 9-14 Mod D-4

NonStop TMF Operations and Management Student Text, HP Education (U4186S E.01) Mod 2-13 Mod 3-8 Mod 4-4 Mod 6-1, 5, 7, 38 Mod 7-7, 8, 12, 19, 23 Mod B-1, 3

Auto TMF User's Guide (429952-002) Mod 1-1

File Utility Program (FUP) Reference Manual (523323-002) Mod 2-18, 58

Operator Messages Manual (522687-007) G06.20, Mod 113-40, 46 Mod B-4

DSM/Tape Catalog Operator Interface (MEDIACOM) Manual (429828-003) Mod 2-2,158

SCF Reference Manual for the Storage Subsystem (523408-001) Mod 12-5

NonStop SQL/MP Installation and Management (523353-001) Mod11-18

NonStop S-Series Servers Introduction (U30961-001) Mod 4-10


Other References

Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques by Jim Gray and Andreas Reuter, Morgan Kauffmann, 1993.

Part 1, The Basics of TP, Mod 1, Intro, page 6

Part 1, Basics of TP, Module 2, Section 7, page 80Part 4, Concurrency Control, Module 7, Section. 11.2 page 424Part 4, Concurrency Control, Module 7, Section 2, page 375Part 5, Recovery, Module 10, Section 4, page 562Module 10

GCSC, Support Note S01005A, NTL, 31 Aug 2001, p72

TMF Development, Support Note S02073, 14 Aug 02, All

TMF Development, Support Note S96048C, All

Open Group, http://www.opengroup.org/pubs/catalog/g504.htm specification

Open Group, http://www.rdg.opengroup.org/public/pubs/catalog/tp.htm,specification

http://h71033.www7.hp.com/object/TMFTCBF.html, HP, July 2002, All. Enter TMFTCBF in the Search field.

ConclusionHP wishes you success in the HP Certified Professional Program and in passing the exam for which you are preparing.

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