Paragraphs from the President

Welcome to the October
e-Bulletin!

“May you live in interesting times” is purported to be an ancient Chinese proverb and curse, and the recent turmoil in the world economy has certainly made life “interesting” for many of us. So what impact is all of this going to have on DB2 professionals around the world?

Until recently, the biggest increases in IT spending were driven by financial institutions and governments - a trend which is likely to be dramatically reversed as the impact of the credit crunch makes itself felt. IT departments are being asked to “do more with less”, which may result in pressure to defer major hardware upgrades and further increase developer and support staff productivity. Could you work smarter as well as harder? Are there some techniques out there that will allow you to become more efficient in your role and provide a better service?  Is there perhaps a free tool or a code snippet that could save you hours?

Deferring a planned hardware upgrade may require existing DB2 workloads to be tuned to reduce overall resource usage and allow the same server to support higher transaction loads. If you possess the right DB2 performance skills to successfully undertake this task, you could be making a direct and valuable contribution to your organization’s bottom line.

So, how can you get the DB2 knowledge you need to make a difference in your workplace? I am writing this column from the beautiful city of Warsaw on the third day of IDUG’s European Conference. All around me, DB2 professionals are acquiring new skills and making valuable new contacts that will allow them to tune their DB2 applications, exploit valuable new functionality, and become more productive in their day to day jobs. There will be similar opportunities at other forthcoming IDUG events around the world.

Can’t attend a conference? All of the sessions from the European event will shortly be available in synchronized PowerPoint/audio format within our Online Learning Center, and the North American Conference sessions are already available. The DB2-L Listserv has hundreds of knowledgeable and dedicated DB2 experts able and willing to help you with your DB2-related questions and issues.

In times of hardship, it can be incredibly comforting to have a solid community to provide you with support and guidance. I'll leave you with another Chinese proverb: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else."

Until next month,

Julian Stuhler
IDUG President

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 IDUG Solutions Journal

The latest issue of the IDUG Solutions Journal is now available for download on the IDUG Web site.  Below is just a small taste of all the great technical content available in this new issue:

DB2 9 - XML and the Unprepared DBA

Mike Sniezek
DB2 9 is not a small release. If you are looking to use the XML data type or if your company has XML directions, there is a lot to learn. The author suggests getting a handle on the XML documents that will be manipulated in your database. Spend some time getting on DB2 9 and creating some objects and manipulating data. This article touches some points but does not suggest what administration, performance, and recovery issues need to be addressed.

Build Replication in a Snap!

Ray Houle
This article addresses long-standing replication definition challenges by stepping away from the granular table level work. This solution is great for systematically plowing through a large volume of replication definition work by invoking a single script. Even when defining a single table for replication this scripted approach can ensure the quality and consistency of the definition work. It can address the schema change challenge, and it can satisfy change control requirements.

Selected Performance Features of DB2 9 for z/OS, Tested in a PeopleSoft Enterprise Applications Environment (Part 1)

Brian Holroyd
This article introduces you to the major performance enhancements of interest to PeopleSoft customers. It focuses on approximately 50 enhancements that are considered the most beneficial to PeopleSoft customers. Many of them apply equally as well to non-PeopleSoft applications as to PeopleSoft applications. A subset of them has been specifically tested in a PeopleSoft Enterprise Applications environment, so actual test results are also presented.

The Changing Priorities of Database Administration

Lockwood Lyon
Performance tools, autonomics, and outsourcing are already with us, and IT shops are beginning to look at infrastructure costs with an eye to reducing expenses. Performance tuning is a likely candidate to be reassigned to less experienced personnel, leaving the experienced database technician with fewer options. Systems tuning provides an opportunity to significantly reduce costs. By beginning with basic performance measurements and constraint analysis, we can find and correct resource hogs, re-allocate underutilized resources, and be more proactive about future resource usage.

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Technical Library

Here are a few tasty tidbits from IDUG 2007 - North America in San Jose, California, that were released to all IDUG Basic Members during the month of September.  

Ruby on Rails: Introducing a Real Gem of DB2 Application Development

Leon Katsnelson - NA07F10 (Part 1) and NA07F11 (Part 2)
Designed to achieve an almost impossible task of marrying very rapid application development and enterprise class performance Ruby on Rails is a new technology that is taking the world of web application development by storm. This open source technology marries the best of the enterprise architectures and simplicity and agility of scripting languages like PHP, PERL, and Python. This session will introduce Ruby as the programming language and Rails framework. It will feature an introduction of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and a dive into Active Record - the main database access method in Rails. This presentation will also address the topics of rich client using another hot technology called AJAX. Web Services and SOA will also be key topics of discussion. This session applies to all DB2 servers including DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows as well as DB2 for z/OS and DB2 for iSeries. Come learn this new technology and what IBM DB2 has in store for Ruby on Rails.    
      

Techniques for the Well-Dressed DB2 Stored Procedure

Donna Bell - NA07F12
Do your business and Application users know what DB2 stored procedures are? Learn the benefits of DB2 stored procedures, and when NOT to use them.  Learn the importance of techniques to use when calling DB2 stored procedures, bind considerations, and the roles DBAs play in developing and maintaining DB2 stored procedures.  Discuss case histories, with both the good, bad and downright ugly experiences with stored procedures.

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IDUG Free Technical Webcast

DB2 9: What's New Since GA?

IDUG is pleased to partner with CA to deliver a free Webcast by renowned presenter Phil Grainger, Sr. Principal Product Manager. This live event will run approximately 60 minutes and participants will have the opportunity to pose questions to the presenter. Capacity is limited, so register early.

About the Webcast:
Well, it's been a while since DB2 9 for z/OS went GA, but development did not stop there. Join Phil Grainger of CA as we look at some of the new features and functions that have been added to DB2 9 in the last year or so.

The presentation will also cover some new XML functionality (such as XMLTABLE and XMLCAST) as well as some other things that have snuck in during maintenance.

About the Presenter:
Phil Grainger, Sr. Principal Product Manager, CA, has more than 17 years experience with DB2, starting in 1987 with DB2 Version 1.2. Since then he has worked with all versions, including Version 8. Beginning as a DBA for one of the largest users of DB2 in the UK,. Phil moved to PLATINUM technology and then to his present role as Product Management Director for CA solutions for DB2.

Phil has always been a keen supporter of user groups and is a regular speaker at CA events, as well as independent industry events. He currently serves as the CA representative on the IDUG Europe Conference Planning Committee, and is a regular contributor to the IDUG sponsored DB2-L discussion list.

Webcast Schedule – Wednesday, November 05, 2008:
USA (Pacific Standard Time)                     8:00 a.m.
USA (Central Standard Time)                   10:00 a.m.
USA (Eastern Standard Time)                  11:00 a.m.
UK (Greenwich Mean Time)                      4:00 p.m.
Universal Coordinated Time                     4:00 p.m.
Switzerland (Central European Time)     5:00 p.m.

Register Today!

A replay of this Webcast will be available for a short period of time after November 10.  Look for future announcements for direction on how to access the pre-recorded Webcast.

IDUG is pleased to sponsor this free distance learning opportunity. Questions about the Webcast can be directed to idug@idug.org.

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IDUG News 

IDUG - DB2 9 for z/OS Bundles of Content

IDUG introduces a new format to provide its members with educational material “bundled” together on a specific platform, or area within a platform. The first such “bundle” we have produced highlights DB2 9 for z/OS. The bundle is comprised of twelve different educational materials (articles, Webcasts, e-tips, etc.) that provide information on the basics of what to expect in DB2 9, application development hints and tips, tuning information, and even how DB2 9 can help one of our favorite packaged applications – PeopleSoft. See this and the latest technical listings on the www.IDUG.org Members Area page by logging in to your member account.

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Upcoming Events  

IDUG 2008 - Europe
13 - 17 October 2008
Warsaw, Poland

IDUG 2008 - Europe is a Success in Warsaw
After a fantastic week of great DB2-related technical education and networking, IDUG 2008 - Europe has come to a close.  IDUG would like to sincerely thank all of this year's delegates, speakers, vendors, and more for helping to make this event the great success that it was!  For complete details on all of the great education and networking read the IDUG 2008 - Europe Wrap-up Article.

Mark Your Diary!
IDUG is proud to annouce the location of IDUG 2009 - Europe:  Rome, Italy!  Mark your diary now for next 5 - 9 October as IDUG brings its prestigious DB2 educational and networking opportunities to the beautiful Rome Marriott Park Hotel.  Check back often as more details become available.

Call for Presentations
IDUG 2009 - Europe is now accepting presentation submissions for next year's conference.  If you have a presentation or idea you would like to share with fellow DB2 colleagues at our next European event, simply fill out our convenient online submission form.  Presentations for One-Day Seminar topics are also being considered.  If you would like to submit a presentation topic for a One-Day Seminar, please indicate so on the submission form.  Additional questions? Contact euspeakers@idug.org.

Volunteer with IDUG
IDUG 2009 - Europe is now accepting applications for volunteers to become a part of the IDUG Experience.  Interested in learning about how you can expand your role within the DB2 community?  Volunteer to be a member of the Conference Planning Committee, Web Team, RUG Team and more!  Visit www.IDUG.org/volunteer for complete details.
      

IDUG 2008 - Regional Forums

IDUG is expanding its commitment to providing DB2 users with meaningful education opportunities. We're bringing the top-notch caliber of speakers you've come to know and trust from IDUG right to your area!

IDUG is hosting three regional forums in November:

IDUG Regional Forum – Northern California - November 10-11, 2008
San Ramon IBM Facility
4000 Executive Parkway
Suite # 300
San Ramon, California

IDUG Regional Forum – Central Pennsylvania - November 17-18, 2008
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Facility
1800 Center Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011

IDUG Regional Forum – Kansas City - November 19-20, 2008
IBM Facility in Lenexa
16011 College Blvd
Lenexa, KS 66219

Database management professionals of all backgrounds will benefit from this event as a wide-variety of DB2 topics will be covered by well-known DB2 experts.

Registration is open for these events! November is just around the corner, so leverage your opportunity to Experience IDUG close to home.

IDUG 2009 - Australasia
18 - 20 March 2009
Melbourne, Australia

IDUG 2009 - Australasia: The premier technical conference for DB2 professionals in the Asia-Pacific.

Save the Date!
Join us 18-20 March in Melbourne, Australia, for a jam-packed three-day event that is designed to enhance your experience with DB2. Additional details, including the forum schedule, speaker line-up, and registration will be available shortly. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates from IDUG.

IDUG 2009 - North America
May 11 - 15, 2009
Denver, Colorado

Save the Date!
Plan to join us for IDUG 2009 - North America in Denver, May 11-15, 2009, for in-depth training presented for users, selected by users, Special Interest Group sessions, and the opportunity to network with DB2 users and experts from around the globe.

Additional details, including the forum schedule, speaker line-up, and registration will be available shortly. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates from IDUG.

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