Virtual IDUG North America Call for Speakers is OPEN until October 30th

Posted by Frank Fillmore on October 12, 2020 under DB2 Education, DB2 for Linux Unix Windows, DB2 for z/Linux, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Gold Consultants, DB2 Stars, International DB2 Users Group (IDUG), TFG Blog.

Having participated in many board meeting debates over the years about the best place to hold meetings of the Baltimore/Washington Db2 Users Group, it’s a bit sad to learn that the 2021 IDUG North America Conference is already being planned as a virtual event, with the possibility of an in-person component.  Let’s hope we can all get together sometime in 2021!

In the meantime, it’s certainly worth noting that with so many people working remotely, many conferences and users groups have actually been quite successful adopting a virtual format.  Some changes resulting from the transition from in-person to virtual events are welcome improvements.  One of these is the more flexible session scheduling IDUG is offering.  I think it’s great, as one-size-fits-all is difficult to accommodate with technical topics.

To the many people I’ve spoken to who have said they have a topic but aren’t sure they have enough (or maybe have too much) material, IDUG 2021 may be a great option as, new this year, IDUG is offering three different presentation timeslots—30, 60, and 120 minutes. You can choose what length works best for you. You can also opt out of the live session and instead pre-record your presentation. To help inspire you, here are some of the most popular session categories:

New Db2 releases: migrating and effective usage
Analytics & Business Intelligence
New technologies: mobile applications, cloud, XaaS, etc.
Application development and data modelling
Db2 and packaged applications (ERP, etc.)
Performance, availability, & security
User experiences and best practices: what did you achieve with Db2?
Db2 and non-standard data types (JSON, etc.)

This is your chance to share your technical expertise and connect with the global community of Db2 users. If you’ve never presented at an IDUG event, this is a great opportunity. First-time speakers are always welcome, as is material geared toward beginner, intermediate, or advanced users.

To submit an abstract, visit IDUG at:  https://www.idug.org/p/cm/ld/fid=2495

I hope to “see” you at IDUG 2021!

Virtual IDUG Next Week

Posted by Frank Fillmore on July 14, 2020 under DB2 Education, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Stars, International DB2 Users Group (IDUG), TFG Blog.

The proliferation of webinars and events transitioning to virtual meetings is getting hard to keep up with, and maybe some of the event fatigue is a result of an explosion of invitations.  Some events are, however, not to be missed, and one of these is the annual North America International Db2 Users Group (IDUG) conference, scheduled for next week.

Due to the change from an in person to virtual format, IDUG is offering a generous premium membership to everyone who registers for the virtual conference (which is only $199!!) and will allow attendees to view all session recordings and content.

Imagine attending a conference where you can attend ALL sessions, and not spend hours trying to figure out how minimize schedule conflicts and get from one end of the conference center to the other (and get something to drink and hit the restroom) in 10 minutes.  Pretty sweet!

If you haven’t registered yet, consider it.  The session information and keynotes are on the IDUG homepage (www.idug.org), along with the registration link.  Also, if you’ve read this far – I understand IBM still has some remaining vouchers available so customers can attend (as a guest of IBM)…call your IBM rep if you’re interested!

From the webpage:

The event will include 60+ dynamic sessions, live Q&A with industry experts and leaders, opportunities for engagement with your favorite vendors and each other, and most importantly, cutting-edge technical education streaming straight to your home or office. Your registration also includes a complimentary premium membership so you can access exclusive IDUG content all year long.

 

Congratulations to Arvind Krishna!!

Posted by Frank Fillmore on January 31, 2020 under DB2 for Linux Unix Windows, DB2 for z/Linux, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Gold Consultants, DB2 Stars, Replication.

Yesterday was one of those, “Where were you when you heard the news?” days – I was at the gym (yes, I do go once in a very long while), watching the financial news and saw the headline announcing Arvind Krishna as IBM’s New CEO, effective April 6th.  I was so excited I ran out to my car, grabbed my phone and started calling Db2 people.

Arvind has been a great supporter of the Db2 community, is the executive sponsor of the Gold program, and the rare sort of leader who can hand you a challenge and make you feel honored to be asked.  I am so excited for IBM, their customers, and Business Partners to have Arvind in charge.

The photo below is from an IBM dinner I was invited to attend a few years back with two of the best IBM’ers I know – Arvind and Db2 and replication superstar Christian Zentgraf.  I am looking forward to an exciting 2020 for the Db2 community!!

 

Db2 12 Certification Input and Master Class – Help the Db2 Community – and you!

Posted by Frank Fillmore on January 29, 2020 under DB2 Education, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Gold Consultants, DB2 Stars, IBM Champion, International DB2 Users Group (IDUG), TFG Blog.

With 2020 off to a positive start for Db2 12 there are two current events I hope are on your radar.

First, IDUG is supporting an effort to create a new Db2 12 certification, led by IBM Gold Consultant and Champion Dan Luksetich, who also manages the Db2-L listserv.  A survey was created to gather responses to the specific technical issues the community considers important.  If you have time to complete the survey and contribute, it is much appreciated by the IBM community.  Take the survey here.  And of course, if you aren’t already monitoring (or better yet, contributing to!) Db2-L, sign-up.  It’s easy and free – Db2-L.

Second, IBM is offering a week-long Db2 Master Class for advanced Db2 for z/OS system and database administrators clients, led by Distinguished Engineer, John Campbell.  John will be joined by Adrian Burke and Michael Dewert. The US-based session will be held at IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory (SVL), Monday, September 28 (8 am) to Friday, October 2, 2020 (2:30 pm), in San Jose, California.  The complete outline is attached.

Participants will meet the Db2 for z/OS development team – visit the incredible people whose work is known worldwide!

If you are interested in attending this class, fill in and submit the application form.  Class is a client-only course, participation is BY INVITATION only, and seating is very limited.  Applications will be reviewed and acceptance notices will be emailed.  Apply HERE.

A registration link with payment instructions will be included in the invitation. If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Lin (dclin@us.ibm.com)

There are pre-requisites, and attendees must have at least 1 of the following certifications (or the equivalent experience level):
– IBM Certified System Administrator – Db2 for z/OS
– IBM Certified Database Administrator – Db2 for z/OS

Cost
$2,500 USD per client participant
Client participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and meal expenses
A registration link with payment instructions will be included in the invitation.

Db2 for z 2020 Master Class Summary and Outline

Congratulations to the 2020 IBM Champions!

Posted by Frank Fillmore on January 14, 2020 under DB2 for Linux Unix Windows, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Stars, Frank Fillmore, IBM Champion, TFG Blog.

 

IBM Champion Program Director Libby Ingrassia sent messages to the selected 2020 IBM Champions last night.  Congratulations to all – particularly new Champions!  Libby posted a complete list of Champions, by competency, on the IBM Developer Blog.

Congratulations to Frank Fillmore for being selected as both a Data and AI Champion and a System z Champion.  Along with Frank, I am proud to have been selected as a Data and AI Champion.  As long-time participants in the program we recommend it to anyone actively supporting the Db2 community – through outreach efforts such as conference presentations, blogging and promoting IBM events, as well as internal events, such as mentoring co-workers and facilitating skills enablement for your peers.  The goal of the program is to support – and celebrate – your success.  If I can help guide you through the process so that you can be a 2021 Champion let me know.  I would be happy to help!

What are IBM Champions?  From Libby’s blog:

These individuals evangelize IBM solutions, share their knowledge, and help grow the community of professionals who are focused on IBM offerings. IBM Champions spend a considerable amount of their own time, energy, and resources on community efforts—organizing and leading user group events, answering questions in forums, contributing articles and applications, publishing podcasts, sharing instructional videos, and more. We have book authors and YouTube stars, as well as those who work behind the scenes as client, press, or analyst references. The program selects Champions annually based on individual contributions that go beyond the scope of a person’s job, so that we can recognize and reward those who give so generously of their time, effort, and energy.”

Libby also hosts a Champions in Action series, coordinates Champion events at Think and IDUG conferences, and maintains a directory of all Champions. Keep up with the IBM Champions and their activities on Twitter either by @IBMChampions or by the #IBMChampion hashtag.

Thanks Libby and Congrats 2020 Champions!!!

 

Torn Between IDUG and Think? Call for Speakers Closes Nov 12 – For Both

Posted by Frank Fillmore on October 21, 2019 under DB2 Education, DB2 Stars, IBM Think Conference, International DB2 Users Group (IDUG), TFG Blog.

This month the International Db2 Users Group (IDUG) hosted their annual European conference in Rotterdam, and this week IBM is hosting the Data and AI Forum in Miami.  With so many conference options it can be difficult to decide where to invest your organization’s conference funding – if you are lucky enough to have it available.

One way to reduce attendance cost is to be a speaker, as conference presenters typically receive a free conference pass.  You are still responsible for your travel expenses, but the overall cost will be greatly reduced.  And of course end user conference presentations are always welcome and appreciated.

One way to decide between IDUG North America (Dallas) and Think (San Francisco), is to submit presentation abstracts to both and see if you are selected.  But hurry!  The call for speakers is open for both; details are below.

Think 2020, San Francisco, May 4 – 7.  Registration cost $1995-$2495.  Call for speakers deadline November 12, 2019.

IDUG North America, Dallas, June 8 – 11.  Registration cost $1865 – $2295.  Call for speakers deadline November 12, 2019.

Coincidence???

Details on submitting presentation abstracts for IDUG are here.  Details on submitting abstracts for Think are in the attachment below.

Good luck!!

Think 2020 Speaker Guidelines

Join Gold Consultants for a V12 Upgrade Webinar Wednesday, October 9th

Posted by Frank Fillmore on September 10, 2019 under DB2 Education, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Gold Consultants, DB2 Migrations, DB2 Stars, IBM DB2 Services, International DB2 Users Group (IDUG), TFG Blog, Webinar.

The Time is NOW!
Upgrade to Db2 12 for z/OS!

Date:           Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Time:          11:00am EDT
Register:     HERE

You are invited to join a live webcast hosted by IBM Gold Consultants to learn why this is the right time to upgrade to Db2 12.

Gold Consultants are an independent voice, delivering Db2 consulting and support to  customers worldwide. Learn more about the Golds and how they can help your organization by visiting the IBM Gold Consultant webpage.

During this webcast expert Golds will discuss:

• The benefits of upgrading to Db2 12
• Continuous availability and potential cost savings
• In-memory Features
• Pre-planning tasks and their importance
• Costs and risks associated with failing to migrate by September 30, 2020

The session will close with a live Q&A session with several of the Golds who contributed recommendations and content to the presentation.

The session was developed and will be delivered by the following IBM Gold Consultants.  Bio’s for each presenter are below.

Julian Stuhler
Triton Consulting

Julian has over 30 years of Db2 experience in application programming, database administration, technical architecture, performance tuning and systems programming, working within the insurance, telecommunications, banking, financial services and manufacturing sectors. He is an IBM Redbook and White Paper author and IDUG Best Speaker, and has lectured widely on DB2 subjects in the UK, Europe and US. In 1999 Julian was invited to join the IBM Gold Consultants program, and in May 2008, Julian was recognized as one of IBM’s inaugural Data Champions. Julian served on the IDUG Board of directors from 2003 to 2010, and is an IDUG Past President.

Frank Fillmore, Jr.
The Fillmore Group, Inc.

Frank is the Founder and President of The Fillmore Group, Inc., a Premier IBM Business Partner.  Frank is an IBM Gold Consultant and IBM Champion for both Analytics and System z.  The Fillmore Group’s areas of expertise include data interoperability, replication and high availability, InfoSphere, Db2 Server for VSE&VM, competitive migrations and technical Project Management. Frank oversees a staff of talented employees and contractors, and manages projects ranging from new database implementations to health checks.  In addition to consulting Frank and his team deliver IBM Authorized Training and are IBM software resellers.

Isaac Yassin
DBX-Consulting

Isaac is an IBM Gold Consultant and Champion with over 40 years of experience consulting on IT and security at cross-industry customers covering areas of global system tuning including Sysplex and Parallel Sysplex, Security (RACF, Top-Secret, Guardium) and large-scale projects involving Data Warehouse / Big Data and Machine Learning as well as data analysis in heterogeneous environments.

Isaac has vast knowledge in DB2 (both Z & LUW), IMS and other major DBMSs and has installed and migrated every release of Db2 starting with V1.2 and up to V12, including “skip & jump” migrations and worked on a variety of migrations to and from other vendor databases.  Isaac’s Db2 technical work includes wide-scale problem analysis, performance, troubleshooting, education/training, security problems and audits and BCP/DRP scenarios.  Isaac is an active IDUG contributor and frequent presenter.

Gerald Hodge
HLS Technologies

Gerry began working with Db2 V2 in 1985 while a First Vice President at Security Pacific National Bank. While there he headed the Capacity Planning and Performance Planning for 11 of the bank’s data centers. In 1990 he moved to BMC Software’s International Sales as their SME for their Db2 products, and was the primary on sight support for sales and Db2 Products in both Europe and Asia.

In 1995 Mr. Hodge started HLS Technologies, Inc. His company developed the following DB2 products: Avoid Bind, DBRM Check, Path Check, and Express Hints. He was invited to join IBM’s Gold Consultants the year the program was formed. He has been an active member every year since.  HLS Technologies has provided detailed planning and support for Db2 migrations since V5 and is currently supporting a large V12 migration project.

Dan Luksetich
DanL Database Consulting

Dan is a Db2 DBA consultant, an IBM Gold Consultant and IBM Analytics Champion. He works as a DBA, application architect, presenter, author, and teacher. Dan has been in IT for over 34 years, and has worked with Db2 for over 29 years. He has been an application programmer, Db2 system programmer, Db2 DBA, and DB2 application architect. His experience includes major implementations on z/OS, AIX, i Series, Windows, and Linux environments. His industry experience includes retail, banking, fraud detection, analytics, government, and utility. He specializes in highly available, high-volume transaction processing against very large database systems.

Dan’s experience includes, but is not limited to:

· Application design and architecture
· Business analytics
· SQL consulting and education
· SQL coding and application programming
· Database administration
· Complex SQL
· SQL tuning
· DB2 performance audits
· Replication
· Disaster recovery
· Stored procedures, user-defined functions, and triggers

IBM Highlights Gold Consultants on IBM.com

Posted by Frank Fillmore on May 31, 2019 under DB2 for Linux Unix Windows, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Stars, IBM Champion, TFG Blog.

Thanks to the combined efforts of several Gold Consultants, notably Julian Stuhler and Ted Alexander, IBM Gold Program sponsors and advocates Jim Reed and Reid Gerson, and The Fillmore Group’s Megan Byrne, a new page highlighting the Gold Consultants program is available on IBM.com.

The page provides links to consultant specialty and contact information.  The directory is attached here:  IBM Gold Consultants Profiles

Best of all, the page answers the frequently asked question, “What exactly are the Gold Consultants?”

An elite group of independent consultants with vast experience in IBM data repositories, unified governance, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning

IBM Gold Consultants bring extensive industry experience and technical expertise to help IBM clients define and implement strong strategies for their data and analytics initiatives using IBM Db2® on all platforms, IBM Informix, IBM InfoSphere®, IBM CICS® and related technologies. This group is recognized as some of the world’s most experienced independent consultants for these products. With in-depth technical knowledge and communication skills, the consultants can fill in skill gaps within a client’s organization and facilitate better performing solutions, optimal database designs and high availability.”

The new page link is:  https://www.ibm.com/analytics/ibm-gold-consultants

Check it out – it looks much better on screen!

 

 

 

IBM 2019 Replication Updates – 4 in 45 Minutes – Featuring Kafka!

Posted by Frank Fillmore on January 8, 2019 under Attunity, DB2 Education, DB2 for i, DB2 for Linux Unix Windows, DB2 for z/Linux, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Gold Consultants, DB2 Migrations, DB2 Stars, Frank Fillmore, IBM Champion, IBM DB2 Services, IBM Information Management Software Sales, pureScale, Q-Replication, Replication, TFG Blog, Webinar. Tags: .

Join replication experts Frank Fillmore and Ed Lynch for this information-packed webinar with news and announcements about IBM’s replication solutions. Whether you are a current IBM replication user, investigating replication for a new deployment, or working with a competitor’s solution, this webinar will help you understand what IBM offers today, and the enhancements that will help you succeed with replication in 2019.

At a sprint!

In forty-five minutes Ed and Frank will deliver an overview of IBM’s current offerings, the four most important 2019 enhancement announcements, and 3 special pricing offers that can help your organization realize significant savings. We know you want your data to be available when you need it and where you need it, and fast. We can help.

Registration is required. Please register HERE.

Date: Thursday, 2/7/19

Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST

Presenters:

Frank Fillmore is the Founder and President of The Fillmore Group, Inc., an IBM Business Partner specializing in replication solutions in the IBM Analytics portfolio. Frank has been a Db2 Gold Consultant since 1998 and is currently an IBM Champion for both Analytics and System z. Frank frequently presents on cutting-edge topics at regional and international Db2 Users Group meetings and is an IBM authorized instructor for delivery of replication courses including Q Replication, ICDC and pureScale. Frank leads a team of expert consultants delivering presales, implementation and enablement support to IBM customers. Frank is currently supporting a pureScale implementation for a US Federal agency.

Ed Lynch was with IBM for over 25 years as a leader and innovator in Data Analytics and Information Integration.  Leveraging his balanced and diversified knowledge of data and Information Technology with business needs and capabilities, Ed consistently recommends and delivers best of breed technical solutions. A trusted advisor to his customers and colleagues, Ed’s cross-industry knowledge enables him to be an effective go-to resource, particularly for difficult and complex challenges, and his success in many diverse roles at IBM, including development, technical team management, marketing and sales, showcase his flexibility. Ed is currently supporting a complex replication implementation for a large, US-based financial institution.

Celebrate DB2 in the Baltimore-Washington-NoVA Area!

Posted by Frank Fillmore on November 29, 2018 under Baltimore Washington DB2 Users Group, DB2 Education, DB2 for Linux Unix Windows, DB2 for z/OS, DB2 Stars, International DB2 Users Group (IDUG), TFG Blog.

December User Group Meetings

Coming up in December are two (yes 2, TWO!!) Db2 Users Group events in the Baltimore-Washington-NoVA area:  first, the Mid-Atlantic Db2 LUW group is scheduled to meet December 6th in Bethesda.  This meeting is sponsored by IBM, there is no fee to attend, and features two sessions on Data Server Manager with DSM Offering Manager Peter Kohlmann, and a session on the future of Db2 by Dr. Jon Lind, the Db2 Product Offering Manager.  This meeting is being held in conjunction with Washington Area Informix Users Group, and we are looking forward to sharing lunch and networking with their session attendees.  Registration is required; register HERE.

Details on the Mid-Atlantic Db2 sessions and the registration link (registration is required) are below; information on the Washington Informix sessions is HERE.

The following week, the Baltimore/Washington Db2 Users Group will host our quarterly meeting Wednesday, December 12th at the BWI Hilton.  The day’s sessions include presentations by IBM’s Master Inventor Terry Purcell, along with 3 (yes, 3!) user presentations, from Steve Cricchi, and NFCU’s Joe Huang and Joe Watson.  Details on the sessions and agenda are below, and attached.  Registration is required; register HERE.

If you are in the area, please join us.  And if you are going to join us, bring a friend!

Mid-Atlantic Db2 User Group Meeting
Sponsored by IBM

Date:                 December 6, 2018
Time:                10:00am – 3:00pm (registration opens at 9:30am)
Location:           IBM, 6710 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Cost:                 There is no cost but attendees must pre-register HERE

Agenda:

9:30am – 10:00am  Registration and Continental Breakfast
10:00am – 11:15am  Data Server Manager, Part 1. Peter Kohlmann, presenter
11:15am – 11:30am  Break
11:30am – 12:45pm  Data Server Manager, Part 2. Peter Kohlmann, presenter
12:45pm – 1:45pm  Lunch, sponsored by IBM
1:45pm – 3:00pm  What’s New in Db2?   Jon Lind, presenter

Session Abstracts
Data Server Manager, Part 1
Learn about the latest trends, directions and updates to the full line of Data Management Consoles for the Db2 family of offerings from ground to cloud. Where are we today, what is our vision and how are we getting there.

Data Server Manager, Part 2
Go on a deep dive of how to monitor the overall performance of your Db2 family database. Learn how to dive deeply into the three levels of statement monitoring and choose which to use for your specific challenge. And learn how to use Db2 Workloads to surgically decompose your database performance by application and by user to see exactly who is doing what.

What’s New in Db2?
In this session attendees will gain an understanding of IBM’s Db2 product roadmap.  IBM’s current strategy and plans for Db2 include increased functionality and support for a variety of deployment options – on premise, cloud, and several “mix and match” offerings.

Presented by IBM Db2 Product Offering Manager Dr. Jon Lind, you will gain an understanding of IBM’s plans for the future of Db2.  Whether your organization has been running Db2 for LUW for years or weeks, or if you are just beginning to consider Db2, this session will provide an excellent summary of what’s available today and what IBM’s investment in Db2 will deliver in the future.

Presenters

Peter Kohlmann
Peter Kohlmann has been a member of the IBM database and Analytics development and product management teams since Version 2 of Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows. He is currently an IBM Offering Manager with a focus on tools for database and data services and IBM Data Server Manager used for the Db2 family. He was one of the original developers and designers of the Db2 Control Center and also created the Technology Explorer for IBM Db2 open source project. As the Db2 Release Manager he oversaw the delivery of Db2 for LUW 10.1 and 10.5 and he also directed the new technology adoption program for Db2 pureScale Version 9.8.

Jon Lind
Jon Lind is the Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Product Manager, supporting one of the largest software products at IBM.  Dr. Lind’s responsibilities include managing, positioning, marketing, and deploying Db2.  He works with customers, internal product teams and key partners to drive product enhancements as well as the IBM marketing, sales and channel teams to determine the various routes to market for successful product launch and go-to-market campaigns.

Prior to this role he held various technical positions in the IBM Toronto Lab and IBM Beaverton Lab, from technical development, project management, technical support, to management. With his solid technical background and broad experience in many areas of enterprise software business, Dr. Lind has assisted customers across all geographic areas at all levels – from development to C-level executives.

Washington Area Informix Users Group (WAIUG) Meeting
Sponsored by IBM

Date:       Thursday, December 6, 2018
Time:       9:30am – 2:30pm (registration opens at 9:30am)
Location: IBM, 6710 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Cost:       There is no cost but attendees must pre-register HERE

Session Abstracts

Docker & Informix – What can Docker do for you? 
Presenter:   Darin Tracy
Understand what Docker is, how it works.   How to create an Informix Docker image and best practices. Docker containerization is the first step into using Kubernetes as a fault tolerant clustering service.

Darin began working for Informix in 1994 and continues to work for IBM now. He has worked in the openlink support group, and the Down Systems Group and has been with the APD (RT) group. Darin has presented at many IIUG events as well as many internal classes to IBM support.

Informix roadmap – Where do we go from here?
Presenter:  Karen Qualley
What might we expect from Informix in 5 years? Join IBM to learn about the Informix roadmap and what the team is working on.

Informix HCL Licensing
Presenter:  Karen Qualley
Information about changes and plans for the Informix licensing model from HCL.

Baltimore/Washington Db2 Users Group – sponsored by IBM

Date:          Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Time:         9:00am – 3:30pm (registration at 8:30am)
Location:    Hilton BWI Airport, 1739 W Nursery Rd, Linthicum Heights, MD  21090
Fees:           $30 Pre-registered and $40 At-the-door
Register:     HERE

Agenda:
9:00am – 10:15am Optimize Db2 for z/OS with Machine Learning using IBM Db2 AI for z/OS
Presenter:  Terry Purcell, IBM
10:15am – 10:30am  Break
10:30am – 11:45am Db2 12 and Continuous Delivery – What’s New from the Optimizer?
Presenter:  Terry Purcell, IBM
11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch Sponsored by IBM
12:45pm – 2:00pm Automating Accelerator Batch Loads in Single Instance Environments
Presenter:  Steve Cricchi
2:00pm – 2:15pm Break
2:15pm – 2:45pm  Using and Implementing the Db2 Profiles
Presenter:  Joe Huang, NFCU
2:45pm – 3:30pm NFCU Db2 12 Migration Experience
Presenter:  Joe Watson, NFCU

Session Abstracts

Optimize Db2 for z/OS with Machine Learning using IBM Db2 AI for z/OS   Terry Purcell, presenter
Machine learning is now prevalent in our day to day activities as it helps us make better data driven decisions. Therefore, it makes sense to extend that same technology to help tune performance for Db2 for z/OS. Db2 AI for z/OS applies machine learning insights from your workload characteristics to empower the Db2 optimizer and find better access paths for SQL queries. This offering enables clients to see out-of-the-box CPU and elapsed time savings. Db2AI for z/OS embeds machine learning and IBM domain expertise to provide customized recommendations for performance tuning. Learn how Db2AI for z/OS applies IBM Machine Learning for z/OS to better optimize Db2 for z/OS performance.

Db2 12 and Continuous Delivery – What’s New from the Optimizer?  Terry Purcell, presenter
DB2 12 for z/OS has been announced and DB2 has embarked on Continuous Delivery for ongoing features. So what’s coming from the optimizer team regarding further performance enhancements? DB2 12 for z/OS had already delivered outstanding performance and scalability improvements from UNION ALL and outer join performance improvements, sort optimizations, improved predicate indexability and tighter integration of the Optimizer and RUNSTATS. This presentation will outline what was delivered and how future optimizer enhancements apply to continuous delivery.

Automating Accelerator Batch Loads in Single Instance Environments    Steve Cricchi, presenter
When concurrency is not needed for warehouse applications it is possible to use standard z/OS tools to load a Db2 Analytics Accelerator without sample programs or 3rd party tools.  See the mechanics of how to do this for a cycle-driven process with a high degree of usability and easy job output management.

Using and Implementing the Db2 Profiles     Joe Huang, presenter
How to implement the Db2 Profiles at your shop with real life use cases. The presentation will show you how to configure and activate a Db2 Profile. The components of PROFILE tables and the relationship between PROFILE and ATTRIBUTE table. The presentation will also introduce the Navy Federal Credit Union use cases such as: to control number of active DBAT threads, to control IDLE THREAD TIMEOUT, bind DISTRIBUTED packages using multiple COLLID and Simulate PROD environment in TEST to trick optimizer.

NFCU Db2 12 Migration Experience   Joe Watson, presenter
Navy Federal Credit Union recently migrated DB2 to V12 from V11.  The migration occurred ‘online’ where production workflow continued to process without interruption.  This was a major achievement for increased system availability / less system downtime, and the first major software implementation of this type for NFC.  This implementation also ranks among a very few number of organizations that have done online migration. This presentation will outline the basic concepts pertinent to the NFC DB2 system configuration that enabled online migration to be pursued, along with challenges that existed and the approaches to resolve them.

Presenter Bio’s

Terry Purcell is a Senior Technical Staff Member with the IBM Silicon Valley Lab, where he is lead designer for the Db2 for z/OS Optimizer. Terry has 25 years of experience with Db2 in SQL Performance and optimization as a customer, consultant and Db2 developer. Terry is an IBM Master Inventor with more than 25 U.S. patents for database search Technology.

Steve Cricchi has over 25 years of Db2 DBA experience starting with V1.3. He currently supports Db2 applications on V11 for a major financial organization.

Joe Huang is a Certified Db2 DBA with 30 years of IT experience. During his career, Joe has held several job roles in Application Programming, Db2 z/OS system administration, IBM Mainframe System Architecture and Db2 z/OS Database Administration. Joe is an IBM Certified Db2 V11 Database Administrator and an IBM Certified Db2 V11 System Administrator. Joe plays Classic Guitar and he performs at a local 5 star rated restaurant in Northern Virginia.

Joseph Watson is a Senior DB2 database administrator with Navy Federal Credit Union, with experience as database and system administration since version 1.3. Joe earned Master of Computer Science degree from Howard University; Certificate In Information Systems from George Washington University. Previous duties include DB2 administration, IMS programming, CICS programming, application consulting/training for EDS, Verizon, and consulting/training for IBM including government top secret security assignments. In a past life Joe was a science and math teacher for the MD Montgomery County school district.

Db2 and Informix Users Groups 12.6.18 Agenda

Baltimore Washington Db2 Users Group 12.6.18 Agenda