March 2008
Volume 9, Issue 4

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. From the Blogs
* Analyzing lock wait times
* DB2 9 DBA certification sample questions
2. From the Wiki
* System z10 software details
3. Online Only
* How to protect your privacy with free software
4. Poll Positions
* The most appealing 2008 conferences
5. IBM Database Magazine e-book
* All about optimistic locking
6. At the Bookstore
* Joe Celko's Thinking in Sets: Auxiliary, Temporal, and Virtual Tables in SQL
7. Informix Update
* IIUG conference nearly sold out
* New Informix white paper
8. Skills Set
* News and information about IBM education
9. In the Zone
* The latest developerWorks articles on DB2, Informix, and more

**** Sponsored by IBM *****

Bring together transactional data and XML data, allowing them to be stored in the same place. IBM DB2 9 lets you combine data types for real-time access to information, which helps to speed intelligent business decisions. It also enables storage consolidation and cuts down on costs.

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1. FROM THE BLOGS

* Another Benefit of Better Statement Performance: Lower Lock Wait Times
How long are your locks waiting for necessary resources? How long is the average wait per transaction? DB2 for Linux, Unix, and Windows performance expert Scott Hayes explains how to find out, and why shorter lock wait times are a happy side effect of better-performing SQL statements. For more on locks, read his earlier post, or browse the archive of his DB2 performance blogs.

* Certification Challenge: DB2 Indexes and Create Table Statements
The latest post from Roger E. Sanders, author of the DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration: Certification Study Guide, offers more sample questions to test DB2 9 DBA know-how. Try your hand at the current batch, or browse previous entries.

2. FROM THE WIKI

* Information on Demand Software for the System z10
IBM analyst liaison (and behind-the-scenes IBM Database Magazine contributor) Jeff Jones posted an entry on new information management offerings that take advantage of the System z10 server that debuted last month. Jones shares details about Cognos 8 BI, DB2 for z/OS Value Unit Edition, Data Warehousing on System z, and InfoSphere Master Data Management Server, along with pointers to more information.

3. ONLINE ONLY

* How to Protect Your Privacy With Free Software
This downloadable guide from IBM Database Magazine columnist Howard Fosdick outlines the simple steps everyone should (but hardly anyone does) take to secure information on desktops and laptops, and over wireless connections.

4. POLL POSITIONS

* The Most Appealing Conferences in 2008
Given the current economic outlook, it's a fair guess that travel and training budgets are tightening. Are you still planning to attend a conference this year? If so, which one(s)? Share your thoughts in this month's poll.

* The DBA's day is done. At least, that's the opinion most of you have of the "database administrator" title. A whopping 71 percent of those polled say the term no longer describes what DBAs actually do. So, what should the job be called? Share your ideas for a better name in the blogs.

5. IBM DATABASE MAGAZINE E-BOOK

* Understanding Optimistic Locking
DB2 database readers and writers can all get along. It just takes a positive outlook — and an optimistic approach to locking. In this downloadable e-book, columnist Bonnie Baker explains why pessimism rarely pays when it comes to locking techniques.

6. AT THE BOOKSTORE

* Joe Celko's Thinking in Sets: Auxiliary, Temporal, and Virtual Tables in SQL by Joe Celko
Joe Celko, author of SQL for Smarties and a noted consultant and lecturer, has noticed a troubling pattern in the code of novice SQL programmers: They're writing more code, and more complex code, than necessary. Why? In his latest book, Celko says it's because these programmers haven't changed their approach from writing code for a procedural language to a declarative language like SQL. And he's setting out to change that by teaching programmers to think in sets — and to master table-based SQL techniques.

7. INFORMIX UPDATE

* IIUG Conference Near Capacity
The International Informix Users Group is reporting that its 2008 Informix conference in Overland Park, Kansas, is nearly sold out. Register before the remaining slots are filled.

* New Informix White Paper Calls Informix Dynamic Server IBM's Secret Weapon
A new white paper from IDC explains how Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) capabilities, which meet the needs of high-volume transaction applications, have spurred an Informix renaissance. The paper recaps the history of the product, including the IBM acquisition and subsequent recommitment, and highlights the performance, reliability, and flexibility customers achieve with the product.

8. SKILLS SET

* New Information Management Skills Blog: Data Servers Skills
The ranks of information management bloggers continue to expand. One of the newest recruits, IBM's Kate Dawson uses her experience as a recent IBM hire on the Data Server Education team at the IBM lab in Toronto (and recent college grad) to bring a sense of discovery to her posts on new data server training, certification, and education resources. Dawson's new blog complements the Information Management Skills posts by IBM veteran Susan Visser, who shares insights gleaned from her training, certification, and publishing work along with news, tips, and interesting statistics.

* Online Information Management Assessment Exams
Test your readiness for any IBM Information Management professional test with an Online Assessment Exam. The tests, offered through Prometric for $10, help certification candidates identify areas in need of study before the exam.

* Free eBook, Author Podcasts, and Discounts from IBM Press
IBM Press is offering a free 200-page eBook with topics ranging from the pureXML storage engine to database security along with three new author podcasts. Ten new and best-selling DB2 and Information Management titles are also available on the site at a 35 percent discount.

* IDUG North America: No-Charge IBM Information Management Certification
Free certification exams are being offered at this year's IDUG North America Conference in Dallas, May 18-22. To prepare for your next exam, consider one of these certification guides.

* IBM Information on Demand 2008 Early Registration
Registration opened March 1 for this year's IOD conference (October 26-31 in Las Vegas) with early-bird rates. At the conference, attendees can take up to three Information Management exams at no charge, and IBM certified professionals will have access to a café-style, members-only lounge with comfortable seating and quiet study areas.

9. IN THE ZONE

* Use the Business Intelligence Reporting Tool with DB2 Data Warehouse Edition, Part 4: Interactivity in reports and charts

* Develop a security plug-in for DB2 database authentication

* Get the most out of the Informix Dynamic Server optimizer through UPDATE STATISTICS

* Tour Data Studio and pureQuery for Informix databases

* CallableStatement handling using named parameters in IDS

* The value and use of WebSphere Business Glossary in SOA design