(Continued from previous part...)

Which RAID levels store parity information?

Answer
RAID 5

Explanation
Only RAID 5 (of those listed) contains parity information.

You have a large table that you wish to partition to improve performance. The table contains many columns of data about customers and you decide that basic information about each customer will remain in the current table. Extended information, such as shipping instructions, secretaries' names, etc. will be moved to a new table along with the PK. What type of partitioning is this?

Answer
Vertical partitioning

Explanation
If you are moving some columns from one table to a new table, this is vertical partitioning.

On which platforms can you use Instant File Initialization to improve database growth performance in SQL Server 2005?

Answer
Windows 2003 and XP Pro

Explanation
Both Windows 2003 Server and later as well as Windows XP Professional support Instant File Initialization.

You have created a database snapshot on SQL Server 2005 for the sales database to capture the end-of-month activity. The next day your server fails and you need to recover to a standby server using the previous night's backups. How do you recover the snapshot?

Answer
There is nothing you can do. The snapshot is lost.

Explanation
Database snapshots cannot be backed up, so once the server failed, the database snapshot was lost.

Using Reporting Services 2005, it is true or false that subreports execute a query against the datasource once for every detail row in the report?

Answer
True

Explanation
True. Subreports can be used for a master-detail relationship, or the subreport can be a separate item, but in either case RS will query to get the data for the report once for each detail row. If end users are going to only occasionally look at the data you're displaying in the subreport or only view it for a few rows, a better option is to create a link to the other report.

You have noticed in both your SQL Server 2000 and 2005 instances that when a database grows in SQL Server, there is a delay in the database response. Why is that?

Answer
Once the file is grown, zeros are written to the new space, causing a delay.

Explanation
When a database file grows, unless instant file initialization is turned on, the server must allocate disk space and then write 0s into all that space. This zero-ing out of the file creates the delay.

Which utility is used to administer SQL Server 2005 Notification Services instances?

Answer
nscontrol.exe

Explanation
The nscontrol application can be used with various parameters to administer a SQL Server 2005 Notification Services instance.

(Continued on next part...)