DB2 Magazine E-Newsletter

June 25, 2003

DB2 Magazine Email Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 7
www.db2mag.com

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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Asked and Answered
  * The latest books on DB2 UDB
  * Using intra-partition parallelism on DB2 EEE
  * Detecting unused indexes in DB2 for z/OS
2. IBM News
  * DB2 Express and DB2 Information Integrator
  * .Net Development Support
  * Preview: Connection Router for DB2 Partitioned Databases
  * TCO Reports: DB2 Customers Get More For Less
  * Now Seeking a Few Large Databases
3. DB2 Trivia Contest: Another chance to win $100
4. Skills and Certification
5. At the Bookstore: Making Business Intelligence Work
6. Web Seminar on Content Compliance
7. Now Playing at the DB2 Developer Domain

1. ASKED AND ANSWERED
I have a good understanding of DB2 as an application programmer, but I'm not up on the latest with UDB. Can you suggest a good book that will bring me up to date?
http://www.db2mag.com/qanda/030620a.shtml

Would you recommend turning on intra-parallelism on a DB2 UDB Enterprise-Extended Edition (EEE) data warehouse database?
http://www.db2mag.com/qanda/030620c.shtml

Do you know of any way to detect unused indexes in DB2 UDB for z/OS and OS/390? Are there tools or techniques to facilitate identification of such indexes?
http://www.db2mag.com/qanda/030620b.shtml

2. IBM NEWS
Now Available: DB2 Express, DB2 Information Integrator
Two anticipated DB2 products are now available from IBM: DB2 Information Integrator and DB2 Express. DB2 Information Integrator software is based on open industry standards and provides replication, transformation, caching, XML, Web Services, and Java capabilities, and incorporates IBM's federated data management capabilities. (See "Solving the Data Warehouse Puzzle" at DB2Mag.com for details of how the product fits into an existing business intelligence infrastructure, and watch your mail for the Quarter 3, 2003 issue of DB2 Magazine, which focuses on information integration.) The extra-light price of DB2 Express (available for Windows and Linux platforms) reflects IBM's commitment to small and medium businesses, and makes it the lowest priced, full-function RDBMS on the market.

"Solving the Data Warehouse Puzzle," by Barry Devlin
http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q2/devlin.shtml
DB2 Information Integrator
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/integration/
DB2 Express
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/info/db2express/

DB2 UDB's Improved .Net Development Support
At the recent Microsoft TechEd conference, .Net developers got a preview of three new DB2 UDB capabilities that support the Microsoft .Net Framework: tools that integrate into the Visual Studio .Net 2003 development environment for producing client or server side application logic; tools that enable DB2 Everyplace applications to be developed for mobile platforms using the .Net Compact Framework; and the ability to develop and run stored procedures in Visual Basic.Net, C#, or another .Net language and run them on the Microsoft Common Runtime Language (CLR).

Enhanced Windows support is now available via FixPak for DB2 UDB v.8.1. FixPak enhancements include a native DB2 for .Net Data Provider that requires no third party drivers or bridge solutions; a collection of add-ins for the Visual Studio .Net IDE that simplify creation of the applications that use ADO.NET API; and cross-platform support with access to data stored in thousands of DB2 databases.
http://www7b.software.ibm.com/dmdd/downloads/dotnetbeta/

Related developerWorks resources
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/offers/lp/db2/? S_TACT=103AMW52&S_CMP=DB2mag

alphaWorks Preview: Connection Router for DB2 Partitioned Databases
If you're looking for a Java API that will help you get better performance when accessing a partitioned DB2 database, drop by the IBM alphaWorks site. Connection Router for DB2 Partitioned Databases is available for evaluation on the alphaWorks site. The Connection Router is a Java API that enables a Java application to direct its database connection to the appropriate partition within a DB2 partitioned database. A "local bypass" feature minimizes the network communication cost associated with the processing of certain SQL statements. When a Java application needs to connect to a DB2 partitioned database and execute a SQL statement, the application will first call this API and get the number of the partition in which the desired data is located. A JDBC connection is then made to this particular partition. The user's guide included in the downloadable package for this technology gives additional details.
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/db2connectionrouter

TCO Reports: DB2 Customers Get More For Less
Cost-conscious buyers take note: DB2 UDB has the lowest TCO, according to customers and analysts. See the cost comparisons among DB2 UDB, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, and Oracle 9i and find out how the low-priced DB2 UDB Express provides the same core database functions as its other DB2 siblings.
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/highlights/db2tco.html

Looking For a Few Good Databases
Winter Corp., a research and consulting company known for its annual report on very large databases, wants to find the biggest of the big: the world's largest and most heavily used databases. The company's TopTen Program will identify computing leaders in data size, most rows/records, and highest workload through a two-page survey that the should take only 15 minutes to complete. The 10 winners earn individual awards (including a gourmet chocolate RAID) and company honors, and all entrants receive promotional gifts. For details, go to wintercorp.com before the July 31 entry deadline.
http://www.wintercorp.com/VLDB/2003_TopTen_Survey/TopTenProgram.html

3. DB2 MAGAZINE TRIVIA CONTEST
When DB2 Magazine made its debut in 1996, an important new feature in DB2 v.4 won the lead feature slot. (Hint: the same feature earned a nod in Craig Mullins's article "Eight Breakthroughs That Changed DB2 Forever," in the Quarter 1, 2003 issue.) The correct answer earns you a chance to win a $100 American Express Gift Cheque.

Trivia contest:
http://www.db2magazine.com/
DB2 Express
http://www.db2mag.com:8080/db_area/archives/2003/q1/mullins.shtml

4. SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION NEWS
Free Tutorials at developerWorks
IBM developerWorks offers more than 200 developer tutorials on Java, XML, Linux, Wireless, Lotus, WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli, and other topics. The following list is a sample of available titles:

Using Data Access Beans in WebSphere Studio: This tutorial shows how to build an application using Data Access Beans, a set of JavaBeans that provide quick and easy access to data sources when the cost of implementing Enterprise JavaBeans outweighs the benefits.
https://www6.software.ibm.com/reg/devworks/dw-db2-dabeans-i? S_TACT=103AMW52&S_CMP=DB2mag

Creating Web services on Windows to access DB2: This tutorial shows how to make your DB2 data accessible through Web services using the Application Developer configuration of WebSphere Studio v.5 on the Windows platform to develop and test Web services for DB2 data.
https://www6.software.ibm.com/reg/devworks/dw-db2wsw5-i? S_TACT=103AMW52&S_CMP=DB2mag

Creating Web services on Linux to access DB2: Learn how to use the WebSphere Studio V5 Site Developer configuration on the Linux platform to develop and test Web services for DB2 data.
https://www6.software.ibm.com/reg/devworks/dw-db2wsl5-i? S_TACT=103AMW52&S_CMP=DB2mag

Speed-Start Web Services Program: developerWorks offers IBM development tools and middleware including DB2 (on a free CD set or via download), online training, technical briefing days and workshops, and online technical support forum, and more for Web services developers. If you've created a Web service using IBM middleware, developerWorks will mail you a free T-shirt. If you submit your Web service to the IBM UDDI Test Registry for the Speed-start community, you'll receive a free installment of developerWorks Toolbox subscription Starter Level.
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/offers/ws-speed-start/? S_TACT=103AMW52&S_CMP=DB2mag

Use DB2 UDB Professional Certification Vouchers by August 31
If you took advantage of the IBM DB2 UDB certification voucher offer, make sure you take the exam this summer -- vouchers expire August 31. You can schedule an eligible exam at any Prometric testing center. Exams covered by the program include: (#442) DB2 Content Manager V8; (#516) DB2 V7.1 for OS/390 Database Administration; (#701) DB2 UDB V8.1 for Linux, Unix, and Windows Database Administration; (#703) DB2 UDB V8.1 Family Application Development; (#704) DB2 UDB V8.1 for Linux, Unix, and Windows Advanced Database Administration; and (#705) Business Intelligence Solutions V8.1.
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/skills/voucher.html

Free DB2 UDB Fastpath Course Updated for V.8
IBM recently revamped the downloadable Fastpath self-study courses on System Administration for DB2 UDB v.8. The course boosts v.8 skills quickly and helps prepare candidates for the certification exam.
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/education/ct28v8.html

Free DB2 UDB Certification at the WebSphere Exchange Technical Conference
IBM is offering free DB2 UDB certification testing at the WebSphere Technical Exchange Conference July 20-25, 2003 in Las Vegas, NV. Details on available certifications are available at
http://www-1.ibm.com/certify/news/20030423b.shtml

5. AT THE BOOKSTORE
Making Business Intelligence Work: Start-to-Finish Guidance for Managers
by Mike Biere
In this book, IBM expert Mike Biere shows managers how to create and implement a coherent BI plan that reflects users' needs. Biere identifies solutions for obstacles that cause many business intelligence projects to fail. The book covers how to set appropriate expectations and goals; how the key components of a complete BI solution fit together; how to design effective solutions that include content management, unstructured data, and user segmentation; a preview of the next wave in business intelligence; and checklists for planning your BI project.
http://www.db2mag.com/bookstore/

6. WEB SEMINAR ON CONTENT COMPLIANCE:
Managing Corporate Records in the Post-Enron, Post-WorldCom Era Sarbanes-Oxley and other emerging laws and regulations make managing corporate information a whole new ball game - one that requires effective paper and electronic records management. On July 17 at 2 p.m. ET, Transform magazine presents a Web seminar that covers the basics of enterprise content management and true records management systems, and addresses the important organizational and behavioral questions companies must answer to bring the right content into effective life cycle management.
http://webevents.broadcast.com/cmp/wcs/index.asp?event_id=6965

7. NOW PLAYING AT THE DB2 DEVELOPER DOMAIN
A Simple Introduction to Using DB2 Information Integrator with Oracle 9i
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0306bhogal1/0306bhogal1.html

Compiling DB2 UDB Stored Procedures with GCC on Windows
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0306haungs/0306haungs.html

DB2 UDB Express Demo Program
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/demos/db2express/

Installing DB2 UDB Express Transparently with Your Application
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0306gao/0306gao.html

Working With DB2 UDB Tables Using C#Builder With ADO.NET and BDP for .NET
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0306swart/0306swart.html

Installing DB2 Content Manager CommonStore for Lotus Domino
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0306langer/0306langer.html

Sample Program for Setting the DB2 Content Manager Access Control List
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/zones/db2cm/samples/0306zhang/0306zhang.html

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