September 9, 2008
Volume 9, Issue 17

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. New Online
* Top performance strategies e-book
* DB2 9 DBA exam study questions
* Performance management tips for databases and applications

2. At the Bookstore
* DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Advanced Database Administration Certification: Certification Study Guide

3. Poll Positions
* Judging IOD conference entertainers

4. Informix Update
* Data partitioning advice for IDS users
* IIUG plans for sellout conference

5. Skills Set
* News and information about IBM education

6. In the Zone
* The latest developerWorks articles on DB2, Informix, and more

*******Sponsored by Triton Consulting*******

1. New Online

* Top Performance strategies e-book
Learn the secrets to getting the best performance from DB2, SOA environments, and XML applications from Roger E. Sanders, Robert Catterall, and Nelson King.

* DB2 9 DBA exam study questions
Now is the time to start preparing for the free certification exams available at the Information On Demand Global Conference, which is less than two months away. Try your hand at the latest sample questions to prepare for the DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows DBA exam.

* Performance management tips for databases and applications
Integrated database performance management is critical to information-centric, resource-constrained enterprises. Tools, processes, and organizational structure are all necessary pieces of a "de-siloed" performance management approach.


2. At the Bookstore

* DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Advanced Database Administration Certification: Certification Study Guide
By Roger E. Sanders and Dwaine R Snow
Anyone preparing for the DB2 9 UDB Advanced DBA certification exam will find this new book invaluable. This comprehensive study guide, available for preorder now, covers database design, data partitioning and clustering, high availability, performance and scalability, security and encryption, connectivity and networking, and more. Each chapter contains sample questions, and the book includes a complete practice test modeled after the actual exam along with full explanations of the answers.

--Browse the archive of Roger Sanders' Distributed DBA column.

3. Informix Update

* Data partitioning advice for IDS users
Partitioning proves to be the solution to one of blogger Andrew Ford's "particularly nasty" Informix Dynamic Server tables. What about partitioning overhead? Ford explains how the benefits (like getting around per-table page limits) outweigh the concerns.

* IIUG plans for another sellout conference
The International Informix Users Group is following up its record-breaking conference with a repeat performance at the same location. IIUG's 2009 conference will take place April 26-29 at the newly renovated Marriott in Overland Park, Kans., and will feature more than 60 technical sessions from IBM Informix experts from around the world. The conference committee is currently accepting presentation proposals.

4. Poll Positions

* Judging IOD conference entertainers
Yes, the Information On Demand Global Conference 2008 (Oct. 26-31 in Las Vegas) offers jam-packed days of educational sessions, free certification, a bustling expo, and many other perfectly legitimate business activities to justify the trip to your employer. But, as anyone who attended the past two conferences knows, it also features some thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. Rate your interest in this year's lineup, then go to the blog to discuss how it stacks up against past performers.

5. Skills Set

* Live business intelligence Web seminar
At 12 ET on September 23, IBM is hosting a live Web seminar on the five information challenges that prevent greater adoption - and subsequent success - of business intelligence deployments. You'll learn how to use the IBM Cognos 8 platform, Cognos 8 Data Manager, and InfoSphere Information Server to increase trust in information.

* Hot skills, cool Chumby from IBM Training
IBM Training keeps skills red hot through intensive hands-on classes taught by award-winning instructors. Attend a class by December 12, 2008 and receive a new Chumby: a versatile wireless Internet device that handles music, news, email, videos, photo sharing, and more.

* Online certification practice tests
IBM is offering Information Management certification practice tests at no charge during the two weeks leading up to the Information On Demand conference, where designated IBM professional certification exams will be available, also at no charge.

* New DB2 and U2 exam prep documents
Detailed exam preparation documents are now available for DB2 9.5 SQL Procedure Developer (Exams 735) and UniVerse V10.2 Administration (Exam 718). These documents provide necessary exam information and lay out the advanced certifications that form the next step.

* IOD 2008 pre-conference technical training classes
On Sunday, Oct. 26, IBM is offering nine full-day training classes in conjunction with its Information On Demand conference. Course choices include Cognos, DB2, Optim, and Informix topics; conference attendees pay USD $399 per class.

* IBM Information On Demand 2008 conference pass with IBM HealthCheck
IBM is offering an Information on Demand 2008 pass to those who sign up for an IBM HealthCheck, in which IBM professionals optimize and accelerate database performance.


6. In the Zone

* Optimize existing JDBC applications using pureQuery

* Data Studio pureQuery API best practices

* From Oracle SQL*Loader to DB2 Load

* Configure IBM Informix Web DataBlade Module 4.13 with Apache (2) Web server on UNIX or Linux

* Install the Informix database bundle on Mac OS X

* Build plug-ins for IBM's OpenAdmin Tool for IDS