In conjunction with the Data Studio team Frank Fillmore just tentatively set the date for a webcast to review the functionality of the *free* Data Studio Administration Console (DSAC) features to monitor and support Q-Replication, as well as to give a preview of the new features in the upcoming V9.7 release due out late this summer.

The date: July 30th. We will do some marketing and also advertise the webcast by way of IDUG. If you are interested in attending, check back in mid-July when I should have the date and time confirmed.

The IBM team made another announcement and juggled product names again. Oh no! Except…this time it’s all beginning to make sense. The rationale behind the products developed and acquired by IBM is coming into focus and the picture that’s formed defines the IBM Information Management strategy.

Holly Hayes is the Program Director, Optim Solutions, at IBM, and she has a new article on Developerworks that really pulls it all together. The first paragraph is below; for the entire article go to:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0807hayes/

From Holly: “With the June 2009 announcements, IBM is consolidating many of its Data Studio offerings under the Optim name. The Optim portfolio will focus on realizing integrated data management with innovative delivery of application-aware solutions for managing data and data-driven applications across the lifecycle, from requirements to retirement. This overview article explains both the vision and reality of Integrated Data Management and how you — whether a data architect, developer or tester, DBA, or data steward — can use IBM solutions today to respond quickly to emerging opportunities, improve quality of service, mitigate risk, and reduce costs.”

The next scheduled Baltimore/Washington DB2 for LUW Track meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 19th at the IBM Technical Exploration Center in McLean, Virginia. Coming in from IBM’s Silicon Valley Lab to present on Data Studio are George Lapis and Anjul Bhambhri. If you will be in town, please join us. The meeting will run from 10am - 2pm; please email kim.may@thefillmoregroup.com to register.

Session 1: Integrated Data Management
This presentation will cover each of the components of Data Studio and how each fits into IBM’s data lifecycle management vision. The presentation includes an overview of the functionality included in Data Studio to support Web Services, Stored Procedures, InfoSphere Data Architect, Data Studio Administrator, Performance Expert, end-to-end monitoring, pureQuery for new and existing applications, and administration capabilities, as well as introduces some new features in the upcoming 2.2 Data Studio release.

Session 2: A Demo of the Data Studio Portfolio
This demo will cover all areas of Data Studio Portfolio which are applicable to DB2 on LUW. The presenter will use Infosphere Data Architect to reverse engineer a database, create logical and physical models, demonstrate SQL Editor and Stored Procedure debugging, will create and deploy a Web Service, create Java Beans from Data Objects, and explore DBA functionality. Attendees will be shown how they can monitor performance with Performance Expert and how the Extended Insight feature helps with end-to-end problem determination.

Presenting will be George Lapis, a technical manager at IBM’s Silicon Valley Lab. He has worked in database software for more than 30 years. For the past several years George led the compiler development team at IBM’s Silicon Valley Lab, working on SQL, XML, and XQuery for DB2, as his primary expertise is in compiler technology and implementation. Currently he is working as an architect with the Data Studio enablement team. George was a member of the R* and Starburst research projects at IBM’s Almaden Research Center.

Co-presenting with George is Anjul Bhambhri, Director of Development for Database Tools at IBM. Anjul is a 20-year veteran of the database industry. Anjul spearheaded the development of XML capabilities in IBM’s database offerings. Prior to her role at IBM, she held various engineering and management positions at Sybase and Informix. Anjul holds a degree in Electrical Engineering.

I asked the 25+ people that attended the last Baltimore/Washington DB2 Users Group LUW track meeting if anyone had ever submitted a proposal to speak at either IDUG or IOD. The response? No one! Ever!

The call for presenters at IOD is out and proposals must be submitted by next Friday, May 29th. Please don’t say, ‘oh no, not me…’ - this is a great opportunity for anyone, at any organization using DB2, to be heard. Go for it!! It is worth it - see the note from Amit Patel below. By the way, Amit is the champion of Data Champions - something else everyone should consider becoming.

“…the call for speakers for the IOD Global Conference is open at the enclosed URL. The deadline to submit proposals is May 29. I have attached below the information on Speaker Entitlements for IBM Customers presenting at IOD. Thanks.

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/conf/speakers.html

Speaker Entitlements:

Customer Speakers
Customer speakers who are selected to deliver one or more Business Leadership or Technical Skill Building educational sessions will receive complimentary conference registration valued at USD $2,195. Conference registration entitles admission to all conference meals, education sessions, EXPO Solution Center, entertainment events and programs Sunday evening through Thursday. Customer speakers will also receive 3 nights (single room rate + tax) at an IBM-designated conference hotel if the customer is based in North America or up to 4 nights if the customer is based outside of North America. No other hotel or travel expense entitlements will be offered by the conference organizing committee. Only one customer speaker per session qualifies. The only exception is for a pre-approved customer panel, in which case prior written approval is required from Nancy Kreps, the conference education manager.

Customer speakers from government or public sector organizations must sign a document verifying that they are aware of IOD conference expense entitlements for customers and whether their organization allows them to accept. This documentation must be received by the conference team prior to IBM extending the conference fee or hotel night waiver.

Business Partner Speakers
IBM Business Partners who are invited or selected to speak are not entitled to registration, hotel or other expense entitlements offered by the conference organizing committee.”

The Fillmore Group 2009 Capabilities Statement

All those name changes - grrrrr!

I am attaching our updated 2009 capabilities statement. I updated some of the names of the skills and areas where we deliver DB2 services. And of course I am now proving to the world that I can actually attach files to my blog entries. Ta da!

2009 Integrated Data Management

We were honored to have Curt Cotner join us in Baltimore for a customer luncheon in early April. Curt presented on IBM’s 2009 strategy and impressed everyone in the room. Curt generously sent me a copy of the presentation the next day, and I’ve been back and forth with our hosting company trying to figure out how to enable sharing a file of this size. It’s working now, so I want to share it.

It’s not only a big file - there are some huge ideas and concepts. Please review it when you get a chance - I hope you get the same “wow!” we got during the live presentation back in April.

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate my colleague, Kim May, on being named an IBM Data Champion.
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/champion/profiles/may.html

Kim started with The Fillmore Group a little over four years ago with a background in Java application development services and Microsoft desktop and applications training. From a standing start, she has become an expert on the IBM Information Management software portfolio. Moreover, she has been a tireless evangelist for IBM IM training: she developed and promoted *free* webcasts delivered via the International DB2 Users Group and launched the Baltimore/Washington DB2 Users Group Linux, Unix, Windows track.

Kim has also established The Fillmore Group as an IBM Authorized Training Partner for in-depth for-fee classroom education.
IBM Authorized Training

Take a moment to give Kim a well-deserved shout out at kim.may@thefillmoregroup.com

For more information on the IBM Data Champions Program, go to
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/champion

The Data Studio team suggested a review of a new article on developerWorks, and it’s great!

Performance monitoring and tuning are critical tasks for a database administrator (DBA). DB2® Performance Expert helps DBAs tackle immediate performance problems, as well as avoid problems in the future. This article is the first of two in a series that describes the top 6 things you can do to get the most out of DB2 Performance Expert.

The top 6 tips for a successful DB2 Performance Expert deployment for DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, Part 1: Modifying settings, setting up alerts, and using System Health data views

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/techarticle/dm-0904db2performanceexpert1/index.html

When the next article is published I will post the link. Please let me know if you find this helpful.

BETTER than an attachment on Cobra new features…here’s the link to the Early Access program site for Cobra.

The Early Access Program is designed to encourage DB2 users to check out DB2 new features in a sandbox environment. Sign up for the Early Access Program at:

http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2/technology-sandbox/

As I hope many people know, IBM announced the release of Cobra (DB2 V9.7) last week.  In preparation for the early announcement I was invited to a briefing to review the new features.  The technical portion was delivered by Cobra guru Chris Eaton.  The presentation is scheduled to be released publicly this week and as soon as I get it I will add it to this blog.  The content is excellent and as you view it, you will see they tried to include a little something for everyone.  I hope you find it helpful - and hope to have it available in the next day or so.