Over the last 10 years I have become deeply immersed in three major (then) new IBM Information Management software technologies:

• IBM InfoSphere Data Replication (IIDR – Q Replication)
• InfoSphere Information Server (legacy DataStage, et al)
• PureData System for Analytics (nee Netezza) and – it’s sibling for System z – IBM DB2 Analytics Accelerator (IDAA)

If there’s a theme it’s data in motion, data transformation, and deep analytics.  In 2014 The Fillmore Group is focusing on BigData which encompasses all three.  As an IBM authorized Training Sales and Delivery Partner we offer IBM’s BigData curriculum.  As such I am gathering all of the resources I can find to dive into

1. InfoSphere BigInsights – IBM’s distribution of Hadoop (and a whole lot more)
2. InfoSphere Streams – Real Time Analytical Processing (RTAP) for data in motion like stock trades and social networking feeds
3. InfoSphere Data Explorer – federated discovery, navigation, and search in the BigData world

This week I am attending an IBM BigData Fundamentals Bootcamp.  I have four free resources that I would like to share with anyone who wants to try to understand BigData.  Two Redbooks:

• Just published: “IBM InfoSphere Streams: Accelerating Deployments with Analytic Accelerators“
• “Implementing IBM InfoSphere BigInsights on IBM System x“

In addition, there are two free VMWare images of fully-functional software available for download.  Please note: these images are to be used for education and demonstration purposes only; they cannot be used to support production workloads.

• IBM InfoSphere BigInsights Quick Start Edition
• IBM InfoSphere Streams Quick Start Edition

More to follow on my return from the Bootcamp.

With IBM’s 2014 focus on Big Data solutions I want to highlight The Fillmore Group’s IBM authorized training classes coming this Spring – and invite new BigInsights and Streams customers to join us.  We have students enrolled and expect these sessions to run as scheduled.

All classes may be attended either in our classroom in Towson, Maryland, or remotely via distance learning.

Feb 26 DW652  IBM BigInsights Analytics for Programmers      2 days; $1500

Mar 17 DW723  Program for InfoSphere Streams V3 with SPL   4 days; $3000

Mar 21 DW730  Administration of InfoSphere Streams                 1 day; $750

Apr 2   DW641   BigInsights Analytics for Business Analysts        1 day; $750

If you are interested in learning more click on the course code above for the complete outline of topics to be covered and registration information.  If you have any questions on these classes or other training classes available from The Fillmore Group please contact me here.

One note:  these classes are being delivered through The Fillmore Group’s affiliation with Global Training Provider Arrow ECS; you will need to register for classes on the Arrow website.

Thanks!

To everyone joining us at IOD, I invite you to stop by Arrow ECS’s booth in the Expo, #1309, to pop a balloon and possibly win a valuable training class prize – or an iPad!  Arrow ECS is one of the four new IBM-selected Global Training Partners, and in addition to being The Fillmore Group’s software distributor, Arrow is the partner TFG has aligned with to continue to deliver IBM Authorized Information Management classes.

To qualify to win you must stop by the booth and pop a balloon.  Special prizes are in *some* balloons.  Good luck!  Let’s get IBM IM training restarted with a BANG!

For those of you planning to attend this year’s Information on Demand (IOD) conference in Las Vegas, starting November 3rd, please join us for Frank Fillmore’s session, IPT-2150-B, “IBM Data Retrieval Technologies: RDBMS, BLU, IBM Netezza, and Hadoop“.  The session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th, from 1:45-2:45pm.

The session abstract is below.  In the session Frank will share his experience with IBM’s solutions to help determine which is best to meet your organization’s unique needs.

Abstract:  IBM offers four distinct data retrieval technologies: the traditional RDBMS, which primarily relies on indexes to speed access; the new BLU Acceleration columnar compression database; IBM PureData System for Analytics (IBM Netezza), which deploys racks of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) processors to parse the data; and IBM InfoSphere BigInsights, which is the IBM distribution of Hadoop. Choices are good to have, but how do you choose which technology to apply to a particular business use case? In this session, you learn how these techniques differ, including their relative strengths and weaknesses, to help you make an informed choice.

Congratulations to Frank Fillmore for being invited to present at this year’s IBM Information on Demand Conference!  Frank’s presentation is titled, “IBM Data Retrieval Technologies: RDBMS, BLU, Netezza and Hadoop”.   Check back to the blog for the session date and time.  The abstract is below. 

IBM vends four distinct data retrieval technologies:
1. The traditional relational database management system (RDBMS) which primarily relies on indexes to speed access
2. The new BLU acceleration columnar compression database
3. PureData System for Analytics (nee Netezza) which deploys racks of FPGA processors to parse the data, and
4. BigInsights, IBM’s Hadoop distribution.

It’s good to have choices, but how do you choose which technology to apply to a particular business use case? Learn how these techniques differ and their relative strengths and weaknesses in order to make an informed choice.

About Frank:

Frank Fillmore is the Founder and President of The Fillmore Group, Inc. (TFG), a Premier IBM Business Partner specializing in Information Management.

Since 1987, The Fillmore Group has delivered technical services to clients worldwide including: Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Institutes of Health, The World Bank, U.S. Golf Association, Bank of America, MasterCard, Constant Contact, Iron Mountain, Mattel, 3M, Northrup Grumman, and the Ministries of the Interior for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar (UAE).

A knowledgeable and engaging speaker, Frank has presented at many regional and national events.  In 1998 he became a DB2 Gold Consultant, and in 2009 was named an inaugural InfoSphere Information Champion.

Frank’s core areas of competency include replication, federation, and data interoperability, InfoSphere, and technical Project Management.  Frank oversees a staff of DB2 and Informix consultants and contributes his technical expertise to The Fillmore Group’s growing software sales business.

From my colleague, Jim Herrmann:

The Central Ohio DB2 Users Group (CODUG) no longer exists, but we are taking action to bring it back as a tremendous resource for the community and an amazing opportunity for leadership. CODUG is going to be a great DB2 regional users group because the members of the central Ohio DB2 community are going to make it so.

We are going to start out with all of you being a valuable contribution to your community by completing the RSVP for the June 25th, where you will have the ability to choose the presentations that you want to see from our amazing speakers. Use the URL below:

http://goo.gl/mpWT0

The short URL above links to a Google Docs form, which some company firewalls block, in which case you will need to make the extra effort of forwarding and filling out the form from home. Your input is essential to the success of the group. Whether you are planning to come on 6/25 or not, please fill out the form with your information and your vote. It’s free and it puts you in direct communication with the new CODUG!

You would be a further contribution to your friends and coworkers who have built their careers around DB2, on any platform, if you forward this message to them to make certain that they know about this amazing kickoff meeting. Don’t worry about them getting multiple copies, worry about them getting none. Forward this message now, while you’re thinking about it. If you wait, you will forget to do it later, and you will have missed the chance to connect someone to their community.

The meeting will be formatted with a single track in the morning and two tracks in the afternoon, one for DB2 z/OS and one for DB2 LUW. We will actually physically split the room at the lunch break. We have three well known names in the world of DB2 who will be presenting at the meeting. The bios of these three awesome individuals you can find after the attached agenda.

We are building towards an amazing day. Fill out the form, share it, and we will be one step closer to creating something powerful in our lives.

Thank you for your time and your commitment to DB2,
Please don’t forget to join us at Facebook and Linkedin to get to know about future activities at CODUG.
Linkedin group:  http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CODUG-Central-Ohio-DB2-Users-5014603/about
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CODUG
Agenda

09:00 – 09:30    CODUG Possibility (Jim Herrmann)
09:30 – 10:00    IBM Announcements (Monte Bauman)
10:00 – 10:15    Break
10:15 – 11:30    “DB2 101” or “I didn’t know IBM Information Management could do that!” (Frank Fillmore)
11:30 – 12:45    Lunch
12:45 – 14:15    First afternoon presentation block (Scott Hayes and Robert Catterall)
14:15 – 14:30    Break
14:30 – 16:00    Second afternoon presentation block (Scott Hayes and Robert Catterall)

Frank C. Fillmore, Jr., DB2 Gold Consultant and IBM Champion, is the Founder and President of The Fillmore Group, Inc., a Premier IBM Business Partner that specializes in Information Management (IM) software sales, consulting, and training.  Frank has appeared on the IDUG Experts Panel and frequently presents to customers and local DB2 users groups.  Franks 25 years of field experience spans IBMs Information Integration, Data Governance, Data Warehousing, and Big Data portfolios. Read More…

IBM Champion Kim May of The Fillmore Group and Warren Heising of IBM deliver the details on “IBM Big Data Announcements – What You Should Know”.  A replay of the May 9th, 2013 webinar can be found here.  The presentation materials can be accessed MA VUG Warren Heising Big Data Announcements 5 9 13

I had the opportunity to chat with Jeff Kelly, Big Data Analyst, at Wikibon.  You can about our discussion on the Silicon Angle blog or view the interview here.

On April 30th IBM announced several significant solution enhancements related to data management and big data.  These announcements reflect IBM’s commitment to leading the next generation of data solutions through improved functionality in their core database and data warehouse solutions, as well as expanding the capabilities of their solutions built to exploit big data, BigInsights and InfoSphere Streams.  For DB2 database customers IBM announced BLU Acceleration, delivering 8 to 25 times faster reporting and analytics on DB2, along with significant compression and space savings.  For customers considering IBM’s Big Data solutions, IBM announced BigSQL, its ANSI SQL interface that makes BigInsights analysis accessible to business users, not just data scientists.    And for organizations looking to simplify administration, a new appliance, the IBM PureData System for Hadoop was announced.

Join us Thursday, May 9th from 11am-12pm Eastern for an overview of the announcement and learn how your organization can benefit from IBM’s continued investment in data management.  Register here.

Presenter:
Warren Heising, Certified Consulting IT Specialist IBM
Warren is a Certified Consulting IT Specialist for IBM working in the Mid-Atlantic region.  He has over 25 years experience in the database field including 9 years at Informix prior to the IBM acquisition. He has a strong background in both OLTP and DSS Informix products and has worked with numerous clients in both Commercial and Federal accounts. Currently, he supports the full family of IBM Informix products along with DB2 and big data products for the Mid-Atlantic region and is actively involved in Proof of Technology and Proof of Concept scheduling and delivery.

Here’s the “teaser” for IBM’s Big Data Announcement, “Big Data at the Speed of Business” scheduled for 11am today.  Watch the teaser and don’t miss the webcast!