IDUG - North America's pre-conference educational seminars provide in-depth training delivered by leading industry experts. These full-day, intensive sessions provide an invaluable educational opportunity. Taking place Monday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., choose from one of the following:

Things I Wish They'd Told Me 8 Years Ago, Part 12

Bonnie Baker, Bonnie Baker Corporation
Platform: Cross Platform
Level: Intermediate,Advanced

Every year Bonnie Baker comes up with a new addition to her "Things I Wish" series of seminars.  And this is being offered for the first time at IDUG North America.  In this seminar she will cover a smorgasbord of topics including:

• SQL tips
• Insights into how DB2 works inside the black box
• DB2 9 solutions for prior version problems
• DB2 Myths versus DB2 Facts
• Unusual ways of using traditional SQL

DB2 z/OS 9 Administration Certification Exam

Susan M Lawson, YL&A
Platform: DB2 for z/OS
Level: Intermediate

This seminar will discuss many issues surrounding alternative table and index designs for performance and availability current with DB2 9 for z/OS. We will look at many different alternatives to help design tables and indexes for the best performance possible for the type of application process and how to achieve high availability. There are many issues to consider for high volume insert and update transactions, and a balancing act to be achieved for responsiveness to readers. Table issues such as denormalization, non-column attributes, indicator columns, repeating columns, derived data, aggregated columns, table flipping, identify columns, surrogate keys, horizontal and vertical partitioning. We will also look at issues with designing VLTBs (Very Large Tables) and XVLTBs (eXtremely Large Tables) – the rules have changed!  Index issues such as minimizing indexes, using NPSIs or DPSI, and using indexes for best possible performance will be discussed.

Fundamentals of DB2 z/OS Query Optimization

Terry Purcell, IBM Silicon Valley Lab
Platform: DB2 for z/OS
Level: Beginner,Intermediate

How many of us understood query optimization when DB2 was introduced 25 years ago, and have kept pace with the enhancements since then? Not many. But to appreciate the performance implications of the SQL written by your developers, the indexes you create, or the statistics you collect, requires a basic understanding of query optimization.    That's why this presentation goes back to the basics of the DB2 z/OS Optimizer, but not too basic to ensure that everyone wont learn something.

DB2 9 for z/OS - In Depth

Phil Grainger, CA
Platform: DB2 for z/OS
Level: Beginner

This presentation looks in detail at what is new in DB2 9 for z/OS. We will try and cover ALL of the new options, features and techniques that make this one of the most exciting new releases of DB2 ever. We will also cover the new things that have been creeping in via the maintenance stream since GA.

DB2 for LUW 9 Database Administrator Certification Exam (Exam 731) Preparation

Bob Harbus, IBM Toronto Laboratory
Platform: DB2 for Linux, UNIX, Windows
Level: Intermediate

This training is designed to introduce the student to the concepts a test candidate must know in order to take and pass the DB2 UDB V9.1 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration certification exam (Exam 731). The material for this course is aligned with the 731 exam objectives – the outline is as follows:

• Introduction  Exam Preparation
• Section 1 - DB2 Server Management
• Section 2 - Data Placement
• Section 3 - Database Access
• Section 4 - Analyzing DB2 ActivitySection
• 5 - DB2 Utilities
• Section 6 - High Availability
• Section 7 - Security 
• Overview of the Certification Testing Software  Questions and Comments

300 Fabulous Fast DB2 Facts and Performance Tips

Scott Hayes, DBI
Platform: DB2 for Linux, UNIX, Windows
Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Caution - Your brain might hurt after this day of rapid paced facts, tidbits, and tips on DB2 LUW performance, STMM, Autonomics, Snapshot functions, Health Monitoring, GREEN IT, physical design for DB2 9, and so much more.  The speaker will have pain relievers available in case there is an overdose of information that makes your brain hurt.

DB2 LUW Support: Deep Dive into DB2 LUW Problem Determination and Troubleshooting

Pavel Sustr, IBM Canada Ltd.
Platform: DB2 for Linux, UNIX, Windows
Level: Advanced

Learn how to identify and resolve problems such as database hangs, locking problems, crashes and optimizer/performance problems. DB2 V9 also provides various problem determination facilities and tools such as DB2PD. Knowing how and when to use these tools is critical in resolving problems quickly. Topics covered include: Performance; Optimizer; FODC; Hangs; Locking/Latching; and Crashes/Traps. This seminar will provide information on tools and techniques that can be used to identify performance problems caused by resource bottlenecks, locking and poor query access plans. Attendees will be able to characterize a problem in order to expedite resolution, learn how and what data to collect during intermittent hangs, slow-downs and other problems in order to decrease problem resolution time, and understand DB2 Support’s methodology in troubleshooting DB2 problems.