DB2 Magazine E-Newsletter

January 29, 2007

DB2 Magazine Email Newsletter
Volume 8, Issue 1
http://www.db2mag.com/

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. From the Editor
*Seeing the light: DBMSs and daylight savings time
2. Poll Positions
* Your thoughts on IBM's Second Life
3. IBM News
* A quick start for DB2 9
* Webcast on integration and business initiatives
4. Skills Set
* News and information about IBM education
5. In the Zone
* The latest articles on DB2, Informix, U2, and more

1. From the Editor
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*Seeing the Light: DBMSs and Daylight Savings Time
For some, January means goal setting, horizon scanning, and general forward looking. For many, it also brings a welcome lengthening of days. No, I'm not advocating longer work days, don't worry. But, the long dark hours of winter (from my northern hemisphere point of view) are steadily and surely accepting a few more minutes of light each day. Soon those of us in the U.S. will experience a four week extension to daylight savings time, thanks to the energy bill President Bush signed into law in 2005 (Canada is following the same schedule). This year, Daylight Savings Time starts on March 11 instead of the traditional first week of April kick off. What does this change mean for DBMSs? IBM's Chris Eaton sheds some light in one of his recent blog entries (link below). DB2 (and other DBMSs) get time information from the operating system, Eaton explains, so operating systems will need a patch. Java applications get time from the JVM, and JVMs will need patches. Java applications that use time, including the DB2 Control Center and the DB2 Query Patroller, will also need patches. IBM has packaged the necessary changes for DB2 customers as fix packs. An IBM Flash lists the steps to take for Informix DBMSs.
Visit the links to Eaton's blog and the IBM support pages for details. In the meantime, maybe you can use your extra daylight hours to scan DB2mag.com's vast library of articles, expert answers, books, and other resources.--Kim Moutsos

--Read Chris Eaton's entry on Daylight Savings Time.
http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/database/technology/archives/changes-to-daylight-savings-time-in-2007-may-affect-your-databases-db2-oracle-and-others-13443

--Go to the IBM Support page for DB2 Daylight Savings Time fixes.
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=56&context= SSEPDU&q1=daylight+saving+time&uid=swg21248542

--Visit the IBM Support page for Informix Daylight Savings fixes.
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&context=SSGU5D&context=SSHMMC&context=SSGU8G&context=SSGKNY&context= SSGU5Y&context=SSCRW7&context=SSGHZP&context=SSVT2J&q1=%22Daylight+ Savings+Time%22&uid=swg21248851&loc=en_US&cs=utf-8&lang=

--Browse the DB2 Magazine archives.
http://db2mag.com/db_area/archives

2. Poll Positions
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*IBM's Second Life
In 2006, IBM CEO Sam Palmisano broke new virtual ground by conducting a town hall meeting with IBM employees inside the 3-D virtual world called Second Life. How do you think IBM's forays into Second Life (SL) might affect you?
--Sound off in the DB2 Magazine poll.
https://db2magazine.com/

--Browse past polls and results.
http://db2mag.com/poll_results

3. IBM News
--------------

* DB2 9 Quick Start Bundles
IBM introduced a series of industry-specific quick start software bundles for the DB2 9 data server that help DBAs and software developers load XML industry exchange messages and schemas and define XML queries and indexes for business applications. The first of these bundles is based on specific industry XML standards that support FIXML and FpML, formats developed for the financial industry.
--Access the industry quick start bundles.
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/purexml

* Webcast: Addressing Business Initiatives With End-To-End Data Integration Platforms
Pete Fiore, VP, IBM Information Integration Solutions and Ted Friedman, Gartner Research VP, discuss the trends, challenges, and solutions for successful information integration.
--Watch the replay
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/sw-events/webcast/T365451F85635T95.html

4. Skills Set
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* New DB2 Podcast Series: Voice of the DB2 Community DB2 experts, users, and solution providers talk about topics vital to the DB2 community.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/db2/podcast/

* Information Management Technical Conference, Dusseldorf, Germany,
May 21-25
This information management event serves business and IT executives, managers, professionals, DBAs and developers. The conference features more than 200 technical sessions across 14 tracks, free certification, and access to IBM Information technologies and experts.
http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c/services/learning/ites.wss/xx/en?pageType=page&c=a0012215

* Interactive DB2 Business Game
A new game from IBM gives DB2 and SQL beginners a chance to learn firsthand how their technical skills will be used in the real world. Players explore a business scenario in which the company's future depends on a key report--produced with relational database skills--needed to secure funds for a critical upgrade.
https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/iwm/web/preLogin.do?lang= en_US&source=dw-dm-0609cao&S_TACT= 105AGX20&S_CMP=EDU

* New Redbooks cover IDS 10, DB2 Data Warehouse Edition, and SOA IBM released three new Redbooks for the information management community. Informix Dynamic Server V10...Extended Functionality for Modern Business provides an overview of version 10's improvements in performance, availability, security, and manageability, including patent-pending technology that virtually eliminates downtime and automates many tasks associated with deploying mission-critical enterprise systems. Leveraging DB2 Data Warehouse Edition for Business Intelligence shares best practices for DWE Version 9.1, a platform for building a business intelligence infrastructure for analytics and Web-based applications. Powering SOA with IBM Data Servers shows readers how to get started with service-oriented architecture (SOA) by explaining minimum implementation requirements.
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/

* Book Discount: Understanding DB2 9 Security
The IBM Press Bookstore is offering a 35 percent discount on the new book Understanding DB2 Security and free FedEx ground shipping within the United States. Use promotion code BOND5709 during the check out process to receive the discount.
http://www.ibmpressbooks.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0131345907&rl=1

* Content Manager Interactive Self Study DVD
A concise set of learning resources included on this DVD show how to use Content Manager Enterprise Edition to increase productivity and turn business information into business value.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/cmdvd.html

* IBM Training Discounts
IBM is offering $500 savings on information management classes scheduled in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2007 and valued at $2,000 or greater. To take advantage of the discount, enroll before March 28, 2007 and reference priority code 6N2KJO4W. Classes must complete by March 30, 2007.
https://www-304.ibm.com/jct03002c/services/learning/itess.wss/us/en?pageType=page&c=a0011845

*Get more skills and education news (including certification tips, FlexLearning opportunities, and IBM's Mobile Academy details).
http://db2mag.com/education

5. In the Zone
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* New Capabilities for Migrating to DB2 and Informix in IBM Migration Toolkit 1.4.9
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0701geib/

* Write PHP applications to access U2 data
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0701xia/

* DB2/Informix and open source: Database defense against the dark
political arts
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0612lurie/

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