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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent for test and reference
Review: I don't think there is any important topic that this book doesn't cover. Very good reference of the most important Oracle performance-related dynamic views (can be very useful not only for the test, but equally for DBA job-related tuning tasks afterwards) and a good collection of sample questions. I think the book can also be used for the Oracle8i Performance Tuning test (at least until the 8i Tuning Exam Cram comes out).
Rating: 
Summary: I used it and now I am an Oracle8 DBA!
Review: I failed my first Oracle8 performance tuning exam almost a month ago. I found the questions cover many things that I had no idea of. Then I bought this book from a local book store and started reading it. Although it contains some errors and some of the paragraphs need to be read more than once to get the meanings, the tips and notes that the book provides are very useful. Someone like me who has no experience in any database software can pass this test with help from this book only (53/61). I'm now officially an Oracle 8 DBA! Thanks!
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommend book but...
Review: I highly recommend this book for preparation of exam; however, beware of several errors within (that's why I didn't give it 5 stars). Review the Oracle documentation in the areas that this book's logic seems fishy and you'll discover discrepancies. The book is still a huge help but it actually promoted confusion in a couple of spots. Example: Sizing the rollback segment storage clause variables based on the V$ROLLSTAT view. This area of book contained blatant errors. Using this book and Oracle documentation, I got a 95% on the exam on the first try, and I don't know of a better source of condensed Oracle performance info. So, buy it!
Rating: 
Summary: could be better if stick to the objective of test
Review: i use exam cram series, oracle documents and selftest software for the preparation of oracle dba test. Some of the exam cram books are really good, like network administration, it saved me several days in preparation, but i am kind of regret that i bought this one and backup and recovery book, i would rather use oracle documents plus the selfttest software if i have to retake the tests. I think an exam cram book should be stick to the test objective, even in the content organization.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for praparation of OCP exam
Review: I used the Oracle8 DBA Cert Exam Guide by Couchman for all of my reading and then I bought the SelfTest practice test. I passed all but this exam on the first try (and I've never used Oracle in my life). I decided I needed something more, so I bought this book. Not only did it talk about things that the Couchman book completely missed, it had some of the exact same questions that the SelfTest software had (which I consider the best practice tests). In short, it was perfect.
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff!
Review: If you have had some experience in actually doing performance tuning, but are fuzzy about a lot of situations, then this book will clear those confusions. But if you are a novice in Oracle, and has never really done actual DBA work, you will have to look elsewhere for more comprehensible reading material. At times, the book digresses a bit from the real "syllabus", but that is in fact helpful if you wish to become a knowledgeable DBA, NOT just a certified DBA.
Rating:
Summary: Well organized and thorough!
Review: The performance tuning exam is the toughest one in the 8 track, primarily because the score required to pass is higher. This book covers almost everything you'll see on the exam. I would not have been able to pass without it. Well worth the money!
Rating: 
Summary: Not good prepared
Review: You can find all chapters taken from revealnet (now: quest) oracle knowleadge expert program, which evaluation version you can download for free. Explenations in the book are not clear. Do not try to use this book for preparation for Oracle8i exam - it will be waste of money. Many parameters are made obsolete in Oracle 8i, which this book describe. Moreover - there are mistakes (eg: how you call tkprof?). My advice: search for something else.
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