I once got in trouble with a woman I was dating because I bought her an “appliance” for Christmas.  It was a combination VCR/DVD player (this was a while ago) and she liked movies.  Go figure.  I’ve also gotten in trouble with my wife for *not* buying an appliance - in this case a new, energy efficient clothes dryer; she pays the electric bills.  So you would think that I would steer clear of appliances.  You would be wrong.

Database “appliances” are integrated packages of software including operating system, database software (e.g. DB2), and other useful features.  Sometimes these appliances are pre-configured and optimized on hardware servers as well.  Some prominent examples are IBM’s Smart Analytics System (ISAS) and Oracle’s Exadata.  ISAS is the follow-on to IBM’s Balanced Configuration Unit (BCU) which clearly needed a new, better name.  ISAS combines InfoSphere Warehouse with IBM server hardware and a back-end storage system that provide a complete out-of-the-box solution.  The systems are “balanced” in terms of configured machine resources (i.e. CPU, memory, SAN) based on projected data volumes so you don’t have to spend weeks trying to figure all of that out.  That job has been done for you.  You can begin achieving ROI shortly after powering on the unit.

Appliances don’t always include hardware, however.  Some flavors of ISAS are VMWare images that can be deployed on existing hardware.  This benefits organizations which have established hardware standards in their enterprises and don’t want to deviate.

Want to get started with an appliance (and not get in trouble with your “significant other”)?  Check out this link on Channel DB2.  Anil Mahadev has put together Dubuntu, an all-in-one VMWare image DB2 appliance built on the open source Linux operating system Ubuntu.  It’s all *free*.  This is not a trial.  Using open source application development tools and DB2 Express-C, Anil has put together quite a cool package.

You can download Dubuntu at http://www.idug.org/anil-dubuntu/dubuntu-appliance.html from the IDUG website.  This is perfect for small - even one-person - development shops that can’t invest in expensive up-front software licensing.  If you are a DB2 for z/OS specialist and want to expand your skills to the distributed platforms, here’s a terrific tool.

With apologies to Cole Porter: “Do do that Dubuntu that you do so well.”

The countdown to the first day of Spring is below 20!  Spring can’t come soon enough for me, as here in Baltimore we’ve had over 80 inches of snow - our average is 18.  In preparation for Spring I am coordinating events with the local IBM teams to introduce customers to two great technologies we hope everyone will consider implementing in 2010:  InfoSphere Change Data Capture (CDC) and Optim Data Growth Solutions. 

Both events are planned for Baltimore’s beautiful Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles.  The tentative date for the CDC event is Thursday, May 6th, with a PoT scheduled two weeks later on May 20th.  I am working on getting the Optim dates on the calendar.  If you will be in the Baltimore/Washington area please try to join us - both topics should be of value to organizations looking for ways to better control their data.  CDC’s niche is in quickly moving data to where it’s most effective, while Optim Data Growth Solutions can help any organization with a packrat in the IT Department.  You know who you are.

Hope to see you there!

Be sure to upgrade to the latest version of the Q Replication Dashboard v9.7.1.  More flexibility is provided - including monitoring Oracle Q Replication sources.  Check the link for all of the details.

As you know, I work with IBM’s Q Replication technology - a lot.  Q Replication functionality is delivered in InfoSphere Replication Server.  The challenges are amplified when working on DB2 for z/OS with *really* large tables.  One financial institution at which I am working has tables with over 1 billion rows and hundreds of partitions.  Of course, DB2 for z/OS can manage tables of that size, but what about the tooling?

Q Replication comes with a utility called ASNTDIFF.  ASNTDIFF compares a checksum of rows in the source and target tables being replicated to validate that there are no discrepancies.  Challenge #1 is that when replicating between DB2 for z/OS subsystems, ASNTDIFF runs under Unix Systems Services (USS) that provides the Unix APIs enabled in z/OS.  There are considerations for USS applications that will form the basis for another post.

Challenge #2 is that ASNTDIFF retrieves the rows from the remote system (Application Server or AS) using a three-part-name query across a Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA) connection.  For example:

SELECT * FROM <location>.<schema>.<tablename>

where location is found in the DRDA Communications Database (CDB) portion of the DB2 for z/OS Application Requestor (AR) catalog tables.  You typically run the ASNTDIFF utility on the replication target DB2 for z/OS server.  That’s because the CDB has probably already been configured to support cursor-based loading of the target tables.  Why is this a challenge?  Well, a three-part-name query across a DRDA pipe against a 1 billion row table ran for about 18 hours.  Ouch!

So the basic problem is: how can I get three-part-name queries running across a DRDA connection between DB2 for z/OS subsystems to run faster?  I asked a couple of IBMers and Jim Pickel pointed me in the direction of exploiting OPTIMZE FOR n ROWS.  There’s a good explanation of this in “Limiting the number of DRDA network transmissions”.  Right now the ASNTDIFF utility adds OPTIMIZE for 1000 ROWS and FOR READ ONLY to every ASNTDIFF query.  We’re experiementing with the recommendations in the “Limiting…” document to see if we need to override this hardcoded parameter.  I’ll keep you posted as to our findings.

I am happy to announce the return of distance learning to The Fillmore Group.  Our team developed and implemented a proprietary distance learning tool, built using a combination of WebSphere and DB2, with the free RealPlayer plug-in providing the ability to deliver streaming instructor audio and video, after the events of 9/11 made traveling for DB2 training a challenge.  Over the years we perfected the distance learning tool’s use and used it to deliver training to hundreds of people around the world - who would otherwise not have been able to attend classes.

A couple years ago IBM’s Information Management training group began evaluating distance learning technologies and limiting their use as they have been trying to find a methodology they can use consistently.   But progress hasn’t been as fast as anyone hoped, so the training team has given us the approval to again offer the public classes we deliver for IBM via distance learning.  Starting with the three classes below students can enroll in the IBM classes, use the same curriculum and lab exercise portal as the students in class, and “see and hear” the instructor lecture on the materials.  If you don’t have a travel budget, you can still join us for class!

Coming up soon are the following courses:

CE821, Using InfoSphere Data Architect, starting March 1

CF602, DB2 Connect for z/OS with DRDA, starting March 8

DW352, InfoSphere Warehouse Components, starting March 15

For course outlines and registration information go to www.ibm.com/training

Or Optim…not sure which.  Oracle is hosting an 11g technology day in Baltimore next week and I am hoping to get a sense of what Oracle users are talking about.  If you are in the area and would like to join me, I would be happy for the company!  Details are:

Discover How You Can Lower IT Costs While Building a Foundation for Innovation

Oracle is pleased to announce Oracle Technology Day featuring the latest updates on Oracle Database 11g Release 2 and Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g. During this interactive event, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Oracle experts while mingling with Oracle partners and industry peers.

This information packed technology day will include keynotes and breakout sessions where attendees will gain first-hand insights on new solutions offerings and related product developments.

Oracle end-users and partners will:
• Hear the latest on Oracle Database 11g Release 2 & Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g
• Meet face-to-face with Oracle subject matter experts
• Network with industry peers in an informal setting
• Visit with Oracle Partners
Don’t miss your chance to get the latest on Oracle’s world-class portfolio of industry-leading technology solutions - register today!

To register call 1.800.820.5592 ext. 6953.

Wednesday,
February 3, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Hilton Baltimore
401 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
+1.443.573.8700

In doing some co-marketing planning with the local IBM team there is clearly a lot of energy behind the push to move Oracle users to DB2.  With V9.7 the claim is that 95% of all Oracle application code will run - untouched - in DB2 V9.7.  So the IBM teams (and me) are looking at customers using both DB2 and Oracle as targets to move to 100% DB2 in 2010. 

I am accumulating information on the migration process and trying to figure out how to accomplish it quickly - and therefore as inexpensively as possible.  I want the ROI to show a return fast!  There is a tool to estimate the migration effort which can then be used to estimate the cost.  It’s 2010 - it’s so much easier than these things used to be…in fact, in looking at older migration plans, Frank dug up a white paper comparing Oracle and DB2 V6.1 that includes migration information.  It’s 148 pages long…take a look (at the link below) if you have absolutely nothing else to do.

Of course, in the world of new reseller programs, ValueNet and Software Advantage Plus, and so on, I must mention The Fillmore Group has a competitive migration VAP in place to enable us to sell DB2 to Oracle users for the best prices anywhere.  Call me if you want to make the change.  Go DB2!

http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/products/White_Papers/Application_Performance/indepth_db2_migration_wp.pdf

The Mid-Atlantic IBM technical team - specifically Linda Snow, Paul Westfall, Warren Heising, Brad Greeley and Martha Fields - were all on hand this past Thursday to assist customers interested in learning more about Optim products using the IBM Proof of Technology hands-on labs.  The PoT format is pretty straightforward, with an IBM tech team member introducing the product and giving a high-level technical product overview for about 30 minutes, followed by the attendees performing hands-on lab exercises for 30-60 minutes. 

The format was well-received and the attendees all stayed until the last exercise was completed.  Each attendee received a lab manual and collateral on the Optim products. 

Warren Heising tells me there are many, many product PoT’s available.  He’s promised me a list; I will share it when I get it.  I encourage anyone interested in learning more about a particular product to call their local IBM team or Business Partner to see if a PoT on the product is available.  These are great!  And oh, by the way, these were delivered at no charge to our customers or us!!

Just announced - The Fillmore Group will host four Optim sessions with the IBM team, featuring Paul Westfall, on Thursday, January 7th, from 9am - 3:30.  If you are “local” and interested in learning more about Optim (regardless of your database of choice), I hope you will join us.  More info below:

Enterprise applications and databases don’t just help run your business - they ARE your business.  And every year, they grow in size and complexity - making them harder and more complicated to manage.

IBM® Optim™ gives you the power to manage enterprise application data through every stage of its lifecycle – regardless of the relational database your organization uses.  These sessions will introduce the Optim products that can enable you to meet your service level agreements, decrease maintenance costs and protect data privacy and security, reducing your legal liability exposure, whether you use Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, DB2 – any or all! Read More…

I was finally able to confirm all the speakers for the LUW track at the December meeting and - wow! - here’s the lineup summary:  Curt Cotner and Paul Westfall from IBM, and the BWDB2UG board’s own Steve Rosenberger from FEPOC doing a user case study on their archiving implementation.  If you are in the area on Wednesday, December 9th, PLEASE join us - it should be great…the z/OS track includes Rick Weaver from BMC and Roger Miller.  Great presenters and great networking.  Hope to see you!  The full agenda is included after the jump and all the registration and PayPal access is through our (new) website at: www.bwdb2ug.org.

Read More…