First FixPak for DB2 9.7 LUW is here

IBM Information Management released long awaited Fixpack for DB2 9.7 also known as Cobra. This fixpack comes with
really impressive list of fixes. This list of fixes is not complete list of fixes included in fixpak. IBM, as usual, omits some included fixes from being listed. This is really annoying because our and customers DBA can not easily check (without running their testcases) if their …

UKCMG Membership

We’re delighted to let you know that Triton have joined the UKCMG - Computer Measurement Group.  This fantastic user group is based around sharing information and best practice on issues affecting the management, planning, performance and administration of computer systems - http://www.ukcmg.org.uk/index.html  UKCMG on LinkedIn Hope to see many of you there! … Continue

The last one

Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye, sometimes not. Sometimes you get used to something and cannot imagine a life without it. Anyway, the day has come to move on in a different, hopefully better way. No more of it for now. The experience is nice to have, but I hopefully can live without it. After putting up some shelves and drawers over the last few weeks, it was time to unpack the remaining … Continue

Recommendations

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!  I hope you have a safe and beautiful holiday with those who you love! For those of us who are not in the US, this is typically a quiet week.  If you are looking for something to do if you are experiencing a few...

Small is beautiful (and fast): LOB Inlining

In the past I had emphasized that LOBs and XML data are different in DB2, even though both are stored in the LONG tablespace if you wish so (LONG IN option during CREATE TABLE). XML data is buffered, i.e., pages with XML data are held in the bufferpool, LOBs require a direct fetch via their descriptor and are not buffered by DB2. XML columns do not have a length specification, LOB columns have … Continue

NY Times: At a Software Powerhouse, the Good Life Is Under Siege

The New York Times ran an article recently on the SAS Institute (at which, incidentally, a number of friends work). While the bulk of the article focuses on SAS's employee amenities, history, and product strategy, it also does a good job of relating why the area of business intelligence and business analytics is so hot right now. The article also highlights competitors that are encroaching on SAS's niche, notably IBM, and quotes Ambuj Goyal, General Manager for IBM's business analytics softwar…

Reliving Client Server Through the “Cloud” of Promises

Recently conferences were all abuzz with demonstrations of cloud computing and wonderful vendors touting its spectacular functions and features. While I was impressed by the technology, the flexibility of resources, the unlimited performance potential and the pay for what you use ideas, the cloud solution is surrounded by incredible hype and alerts the cynic [...]

Announcing refresh of Optim Database Management Professional Edition

Hey, DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows DBAs!  We've enhanced the Optim Database Management Professional Edition with new editions of:

• Optim High Performance Unload for DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
• Optim Database Administrator for DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

If you missed the summer announcement, this solution combines database administration, change management, performance monitoring, and high-speed unload capabilities into a conveniently packaged and attractively priced solution.
Manas blogged about the new release of Optim High Performance Unload 4.1.2, which includes extended offline capabilities to help you reduce the risk of business disruption.  Check out the full announcement here.  
Optim Database Administrator V2.2.2 helps prevent errors and data loss when upgrading databases to support new applications. It helps you:

• Automate and script structural database changes
• Perform extended alters that require dropping and re-creating tables and managing data preservation
• Perform schema compare and synchronization with custom mapping features
• Migrate database objects, data, and privileges and generate maintenance utility commands
• Manage database objects, privileges, and utilities with an embedded components of Data Studio software

New and enhanced capabilities in Version 2.2.2 improve overall administrative tasks by supporting federated objects, enable off-peak task scheduling providing the ability to produce scripts that can run with the DB2 command line processor, add basic pureScale support,  and improve analysis performance for large DB2 environments (think 1000s of tables). The announcement letter is here.
--Holly Hayes

… Continue

DB2's sort pool - Part 2 of the "RDS Sort Series"

I know this has taken months to put out, but here is Part 2 in my RDS sort series. Hopefully Part 3 will make it a lot sooner. In today's installment I'll be looking at SRTWORK, the sort work area. I will be interested to hear from you all about how helpful this post is, if you need any other details. Buffer pools and the actual VSAM page sets that back the buffer pools will be the next to pieces. … Continue

Waseda university using DB2 Express-C book for DB class

This October 3rd 2009, Waseda University in Japan started a DB2 class that is held every Saturday until late November. The course is part of the "Advanced IT Specialist Fostering Program” promoted by the Department of Education and Science Ministry in Japan. The materials are based on the DB2 on Campus workshop, as well as the "Getting started with DB2 Express-C" book, both of which were translated to Japanese.

Congratulations to IBM Japan to establish this great relationship and cla…