DB2 Magazine E-Newsletter

May 10, 2006

DB2 Magazine Email Newsletter
Volume 7, Issue 5
www.db2mag.com

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1. From the Editor
* DB2 Magazine Quarter 2 issue now online
2. Poll Positions
* Are you concerned about managing master data?
3. IBM News
* New data compression in DB2 Viper
* IBM and SAP expand DB2 integration
4. Asked and Answered
* How to reduce the impact of DDF enclave CPU activity
5. Skills Set
* Certification information, discounts, blogs, tutorials and more
6. In the Zone
* The latest DB2 and Informix articles from developerWorks

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1. FROM THE EDITOR
I spent a couple of days at the IDUG North America Conference in Tampa, Fla. this week, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many readers (and authors) in person. Conferences make possible the kind of idea exchange that still happens best face-to-face, whether it's hanging around the water cooler at break time, lingering in the back of a classroom, or having a late night meeting in, say, the sports bar in the hotel lobby. Another opportunity for these kinds of spirited exchanges is coming up this October, at the IBM Information On Demand 2006 Global Conference in Anaheim, Calif. (home of Disneyland). That assembly combines the technical topics near and dear to DB2 Magazine readers with business-level information that developers and DBAs are increasingly expected to understand. In fact, it looks to be a place where business and IT folks can get a glimpse into each other's worlds. You can find out more about the conference here at http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/ondemandbusiness/conf2006/ .

Of course, conferences are also a place to keep up with the changing technology behind information management. And so is the Quarter 2 issue of DB2 Magazine, which is now online. Here's a selection of the articles. Take a moment to let me know what you think (mailto:db2mag@cmp.com). --Kim Moutsos

--Out of Many, One. Panasonic and Bell Canada Enterprises took control of their vital information with targeted master data management solutions. Today, they have a single system of record, without forcing a centralized repository on diverse divisions.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500822

--The Rubber Meets the Road. How will DB2 Viper's hybrid XML-relational data server work in the real world? Customers and partners are kicking the tires, revving the engine, and testing performance and handling. Here's what to look for when you take it out for a spin.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500835

--High Design. In the face of soaring business pressures, DBAs are moving up from simple administrators to become architects of information-based innovation.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500839

--Birds of a Feather. IBM's WebSphere Information Server (code-named Hawk) unites the products formerly known as Ascential into a unified offering with a common metadata store.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500841

2. POLL POSITIONS

* Does your company have a master data management strategy in place?
Answer the DB2 Magazine instant poll--and see how your peers respond.
--Participate in the poll.
http://www.db2magazine.com/

* Serious about iSeries
Last month, we asked readers to help us find out just how many of you would like to hear more about DB2 for iSeries.
--See the iSeries results.
http://db2mag.com/poll_results

****SPONSOR: IBM INFORMATION ON DEMAND 2006****

IBM Information On Demand 2006, October 15-20th, 2006, Anaheim, CA.
The premier information management event for business and IT professionals. Register Now!

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/ondemandbusiness/conf2006/
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3. IBM NEWS

* DB2 Viper Data Compression
IBM announced that DB2 "Viper," the code name for the next release of DB2, will feature breakthrough storage compression technology (code-named Venom). Early Viper users report that Venom has reduced their storage needs by up to 70 percent. Venom is a mainframe-like storage compression capability that allows DBAs to use row compression and provides a dictionary-based approach for compressing data objects.
--Learn more about Venom.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/viper/

* IBM and SAP Expand DB2/SAP Integration
IBM and SAP have been partners in delivering solutions to the market for over 30 years. In 2005 IBM and SAP announced DB2 Version 8.2.2, the first version of DB2 specifically optimized for SAP.DB2 V8.2.2 became the first database to deliver enhanced interoperability for the SAP environment.Building on that momentum, IBM and SAP will again release new enhancements to DB2. DB2 "Viper" takes a major step toward the goal of an invisible database, delivering unlimited scalability with minimal administration and configuration requirements.
--Learn about DB2 Viper features optimized for SAP.
http://www.sap.info/index.php4?ACTION= noframe&url= http://www.sap.info/public/INT/int/prnt/PrintEdition- 3961444543d2c9116/0/articlesVersions-347944453c6a739dd

4. ASKED AND ANSWERED

* Q. We're implementing a Web services-based application that uses the Distributed Data Facility (DDF). Initial monitoring analysis shows very high CPU enclave consumption, which limits the number of users we can support without degrading the performance of other critical online applications. IBM recommended caching dynamic SQL statements, but that approach didn't provide enough relief to support the number of users required. What else can we try to reduce the impact of DDF enclave CPU activity?
--Read Robert Catterall's answer.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500716

5. SKILLS SET

* DB2 Content Manager V8.3 Certification Exam
The new IBM Certified Solution Designer for DB2 Content Manager V8.3 exam is now available. Preparation resources and test objectives and requirements are available online.
--Find out more.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/v8cert.html

* Certification Study Guide Discounts
This collection of certification books is now available at $58 off the regular list price. DB2 expert Roger Sanders, one of the test developers, provides meaningful sample questions and covers all the material you need to pass version 8 certification exams 700, 701, 703, and 706.
--Take advantage of the discount.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/bookstore/

* Blog: Information Management Skills Planning & Development
Blogging is about sharing expertise, knowledge, and ideas. It's about learning what others are thinking and exchanging ideas with like-minded people. Find out what's on the mind of the skills planning and development team in this blog from IBM certification and book publishing guru Susan Visser.
--Read Susan's blog.
http://www-03.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/page/SusanVisser

* Tutorial: Replicate Data In the Fast Lane
Learn how to set up a straightforward Q replication scenario: one-way or unidirectional replication between two remote databases. Find out how to create and use WebSphere MQ queue managers, message queues, and channels that provide the transport layer for replication.
--Download the tutorial.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/selfstudy.html#3

6. IN THE ZONE

* Tutorial: Label-Based Access Control, A New Approach to Security in DB2 Viper
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/edu/dm-dw-dm-0605wong-i.html?S_TACT=105AGX11&S_CMP=WN

* Tutorial: Integrate DB2 Express-C Into Service-Oriented Applications Using Activegrid Lamp Studio
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/edu/dm-dw-dm-0604schott-i.html?S_TACT=105AGX11&S_CMP=WN

* Develop Java Applications for DB2 XML Data
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0605saracco/

* Use Microsoft Access to Interact With Your DB2 Data
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0605bhogal/

* DB2 Data Warehouse Edition V9.1 Information Roadmap for Administrators
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/roadmaps/dwe-roadmap-v9.1.html

* Chat with the Lab: Range Partitioning and Large RID support
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/viper/learn_chats.html

* DB2 Viper Forum
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/forums/dw_forum.jsp?forum=842&cat=19

* Kick-Start Your Java Apps: Free Software, Fast Development
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/edu/j-dw-java-kickstart-i.html?S_TACT=105AGX11&S_CMP=SIMPLE

* Webcast: Enabling XML and SOA Applications with DB2 Viper
https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/preLogin.do?lang=en_US&source= dw-c-wcsdp&S_PKG=041906&S_TACT=105AGX11

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