February 2008
Volume 9, Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. From the Editor
* DB2 Magazine is now IBM Database Magazine
2. Now Online: IBM Database Magazine Issue 1, 2008
* A new era dawns for enterprise data management
* Governing for data security
* WLM: DB2 9's traffic cop
* More articles from this issue
3. Poll Positions
* Is "database administrator" the right name for the job?
4. Informix Update
* More Sysmaster tuning tips
* Hints, conspiracies, and news from the IIUG leader
* Online exclusive certification tips for IDS professionals
* IDS flies high with game developers
5. IBM News
* InfoSphere Data Warehouse with Optim Technology
* InfoSphere Master Data Management Server
* IBM Compliance Warehouse for Legal Control
6. Skills Set
* News and information about IBM education
7. In the Zone
* The latest developerWorks articles on DB2, Informix, and more

1. FROM THE EDITOR: DB2 MAGAZINE IS NOW IBM DATABASE MAGAZINE

* Welcoming Change
Welcome to the first issue of IBM Database Magazine—or, more accurately, the first issue using that particular name. Truth be told, this venerable publication (more recently called DB2 Magazine) has been about more than just DB2 for years. Find out what's changed, what's stayed the same, and the reasoning behind it. Then, let us know what you think in the blogs.

2. NOW ONLINE: IBM DATABASE MAGAZINE ISSUE 1, 2008

* IBM Data Studio Ushers in a New Era in Enterprise Data Management
IBM's ambitious vision for its Data Studio suite, which works with DB2 and Informix today and other vendors' platforms in the future, will change the way data is handled from creation through destruction.

* Data Governance Best Practices For Secure, Accurate Data
Securing private information and keeping financial data accurate should be top of mind for every organization. IBM's Deb Jenson presents data governance best practices that hold true for every data server environment, with specifics drawn from DB2 and Informix.

* WLM: The Traffic Cop in DB2 9
DB2 9's Workload Manager lets you set workload priorities that meet service-level agreements and keep all other traffic flowing smoothly.

Also in this Issue:
* Deep Compression in DB2 9.5
* Derived key indexes in DB2 for i5/OS
* pureQuery and DB2 9 shine together

3. POLL POSITIONS

In his latest column, Robert Catterall questions whether the title "database administrator" accurately describes the real work DBAs handle today. What do you think? Suggest a better title in the blogs.

4. INFORMIX UPDATE

* Informix DBA Tuning Tips
Lester Knutsen continues his series on using the IDS 11 Sysmaster database to monitor and tune Informix servers.

* IIUG User Views
International Informix User Group president Stuart Litel teases the faithful with three hints, a conspiracy theory, plus an update on Informix's rising fortunes.

* Online Exclusive: Informix Certification Tips
Test 918, or System Administration for IBM IDS 11, requires a score of 70% to pass. Eric Herber, who runs Informix-zone.com -- http://news.db2mag.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/eA0HXOQ50A0FpED0ED -- shares what he knows about the exam, including which topics are covered and how to prepare.

* IDS Flies With Icarus Studios
At the recent Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, Icarus Studios announced that it finished porting its database systems to Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) 11 from mySQL for game and virtual world data storage and retrieval, a critical component for delivering the 3D Internet reliability and performance that consumers demand. Icarus works with leading entertainment companies, intellectual property owners, and e-learning customers, serving as a comprehensive resource center for builders of 3D virtual worlds, massively multiplayer online games, and simulation projects.

5. IBM NEWS

* IBM Introduces InfoSphere Data Warehouse with Optim Technology
IBM introduced the InfoSphere Warehouse with Optim Data Retention to help companies manage enterprise data throughout its lifecycle. InfoSphere Warehouse combines IBM data warehouse software and recently acquired Princeton Softech's Optim Data Retention solution. The new offering is based on DB2 database software and will be available at the end of Q1. Future updates to the IBM data warehouse portfolio will adopt the new InfoSphere family name.

* InfoSphere Master Data Management Server Launches
IBM announced availability of the IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management (MDM) Server, new software that allows businesses to centrally manage customer, product, and account data for use enterprise-wide. IBM InfoSphere MDM Server provides out-of-the-box capabilities for managing master data on customers, products, accounts, suppliers, citizens, employees, prospects, guests, agents, items, product bundles, parts, agreements, and more. It offers sophisticated functionality and security rules to create, view, and edit data. In addition, it contains built-in intelligence and insight from the data that can be injected into day-to-day business transactions for improved operations across sales, marketing, and finance.

* New Compliance Warehouse Feature Real-Time Monitoring
IBM introduced the IBM Compliance Warehouse for Legal Control, an integrated offering that features an information vault for storing all required evidence and tools that automatically identify, classify, and aggregate content and process information from multiple sources. The solution, using technology from recently acquired Cognos, allows organizations to monitor operations in real-time, allowing them to prevent or correct compliance violations rather than simply reporting them after the fact.

6. SKILLS SET

* DB2 9 Certification Exam: Upgrade or Long Version?
Howard Fosdick explains what DBAs certified on DB2 8 need to consider when deciding whether to take the shorter "upgrade" exam or the more comprehensive standard exam for DB2 9.

* IBM Optim Podcast: Creating a Secure Test Environment
How can IT create test cases based on production data and assign values for key fields so records contain "real" values while test cases remain secure? This new podcast provides some answers.

* IBM Introduces Training for Optim Solutions
IBM is now offering nine courses for Optim Solutions that address hot topics such as managing data growth, protecting data privacy, and test data management. The curriculum combines lecture, discussion and hands-on experience in a lab environment.

* Information Management Blog: Build Your Skills on DB2
This information management blog by Susan Visser, IBM Press program manager for Information Management, covers the latest in DB2 books, certifications, tutorials, and more. Susan works with more than 40 authors to bring DB2 books to market and provides useful tips, insight into publishing, and book discounts.

* Complimentary Certification at the 2008 IIUG Informix Conference
All Information Management certification exams will be available at no charge at the IIUG Informix Conference in Lenexa, Kansas, April 27-30. IIUG members who register by April 18 will save $50 off the registration fee.

* Instructor-Led Online Training: 2008 Course Offerings
Instructor-Led Online (ILO) courses provide the quality content and personal interaction of a classroom course and the cost-savings of online training. Browse the ILO course catalog and check out the new course offerings.

* Understanding DB2: Learning Visually with Examples, 2nd Edition
Written by four IBM experts, this book covers manageability, performance, XML support, API integration, and other DB2 9 innovations. Hundreds of well-designed review questions and answers help readers prepare for IBM DB2 Certification Exams 730, 731, or 736. The Information Management Bookstore is now offering the book at a 35 percent discount.

* Meet the IBM Software Services Consultants
IBM Software Services techies have helped companies improve performance, expand businesses and deliver real-time results. Find out how.

7. IN THE ZONE:

Build next-gen applications using UniVerse, UniData, and ASP.NET 2.0

Easy Database applications with WebSphere Application Server Community Edition, DB2 Express-C, and Eclipse

IBM Cognos 8 v3 details

Use the IBM Information Server to transform legacy data into information services

IBM Migration Toolkit compatibility features and command line interface enhancements