Kim and I conducted a webinar on Thursday, October 3, 2013 that focused on IBM Data Interoperability software products and their specific strengths, weaknesses, and use cases.  We highlighted the application of the InfoSphere family of products to other-vendor databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, and Teradata.  Kudos to Kim for putting together a presentation of disparate, but complementary technologies.

The recording of the webinar can be found here.  The presentation materials can be downloaded: Data Interoperability Presentation – FINAL 10.3.13

Data interoperability is the function of moving data where you need it, when you need it. It is the process of copying data, also called replication, or combining data from two unique databases, also called federation.

Over the past ten years IBM has been developing technologies and acquiring companies whose tools support fast, reliable replication and federation.  DB2 Gold Consultant and Champion Frank Fillmore and I will deliver a presentation on IBM’s data interoperability solutions targeted to an audience of current Oracle customers – but open to anyone – this Thursday at 11am EDT.

Frank has worked with customers of all sizes to implement IBM replication and federation solutions.  We will combine his real world experience with the latest product information shared by our colleagues Dylan Murphy and Steve Tessler from IBM.

These tools, IBM’s replication solutions Q Replication and InfoSphere Change Data Capture, and federation solutions Data Explorer and InfoSphere Federation Server, work with Oracle, as well as most vendor databases (so yes, DB2 fans are welcome to join us!)

Register:  HERE

Date: Thursday, October 3, 2013

Time: 11am – noon EDT

We live in a TLA (Three Letter Acronym) happy world, and there’s one very special TLA that very few IBM customers – and even IBM’ers – are aware of – VAP.  We have a VAP that we are very proud of and today received notification from IBM that it was recently revalidated.  I thought I should write about it, because VAP really is the best way for customers to buy IBM solutions.  Even if the VAP you need isn’t one we offer, ask your IBM team or Business Partner if they offer a VAP for the solution you are considering.

VAP stands for Value Advantage Plus.  Not exactly clear, huh?  Well, basically what a VAP does is offers IBM Business Partners a discount on IBM software solutions when they bundle services and training.   This does two things:  1) it offers an incentive to Business Partners to include services and training in a solution proposal, and 2) it reduces the cost of software to the partner.

Most technical solutions require technical assistance to implement; anyone who has been given a redbook and told to figure it out knows how difficult a do-it-yourself implementation is, and we have all unfortunately become accustomed to the software license cost being the only cost discussed when purchasing IBM software.  The second benefit, reduced cost to the Business Partner should, if you are working with an honest and ethical partner (think The Fillmore Group!) result in a lower price for you, the customer.

The Fillmore Group’s VAP is for IBM replication solutions, including Q Replication and ICDC.  We are currently working on both Q Replication and ICDC implementation projects and have historically been the exclusive provider of public IBM education for these products.

If you are considering a replication solution purchase and implementation please let us know – we would be happy to help you take advantage of this little known (terrific!) way to make sure your solution project is a success.

For those of you attending (or that attended) Frank’s webinar on the new replication part number and consolidation, the presentation file and the questionnaire referenced in the presentation are attached.  I hope you find these valuable.  Please feel free to contact me (kim.may@thefillmoregroup.com) or Frank (frank.fillmore@thefillmoregroup.com) with questions.

Webcast recording

Changes and Choices Replication Presentation – Final

Replication Customer Questionnaire – Revised 2012-02-22

Instructor-led classroom training is the most effective and reliable way to develop new data management skills.  The Fillmore Group delivers a select group of public IBM authorized training courses in our state of the art classroom in Towson, Maryland.  Invest in yourself and join us for a class in 2012. 

A list of classes scheduled for the first half of 2012 is attached.  Please feel free to contact me with questions on our training offerings.  In addition to these classes TFG delivers private onsite classes, classes via distance learning, and custom training to meet specific needs.

First Half 2012 IBM Information Management Training Word

Get the back-to-school spirit and register for a fall class at The Fillmore Group.  The classes below are scheduled to run in our Towson, Maryland classroom, just north of Baltimore.  I can’t promise crunching leaves underfoot but I can assure you will enjoy state-of-the art classroom equipment and award winning instructors.  Click on the course code for details and registration on the IBM site.

Don’t see the course you are looking for?  The Fillmore Group also delivers private classes on a variety of Information Management topics. 

Read More…

The Fillmore Group’s Frank Fillmore has been delivering training classes on IBM’s behalf for so many years that the team here at TFG has the drill down cold:  get the IBM enrollment reports once or twice a week and figure out which classes are likely to run, advertise the ones that look promising, then cross our fingers and hope the enrollment is sufficient to be able to notify the students that class is ON!!

From there it is off to the store to stock up on sodas and treats for Donna and planning on a weekend in the classroom to do the lab set-up for Frank (sorry, Frank!)  When everything is set and the students arrive, Frank goes into delivery mode and somehow stays focused in spite of lab malfunctions, power outages and jetlagged students.   

Over the past two years we’ve seen class enrollment going up, just a bit.  I hope that as you read this you will give some thought to the benefits of IBM Information Management training.  We work really hard to deliver a great experience to everyone who comes to Towson for a class.  We have Information Server (DX447), DataStage (DX444) and DB2 Connect (CF602) classes coming up.

For those planning to attend the IBM Information On Demand Conference in Las Vegas beginning October 24 my colleague, Kim May, will be presenting a survey of IBM replication technologies.  Session TOD-2708 will be delivered on Wednesday, October 27 at 3:15 p.m. (local time) in the Breakers L room.  Check the conference schedule to confirm.

“IBM has three distinct replication technologies: SQL Replication, InfoSphere Replication Server (Q Replication) and InfoSphere Change Data Capture (ICDC) What are the strengths and weaknesses of each tool? What data sources and targets are supported by each product? Learn about customer use cases for each technology, from data warehousing to eCommerce to high-availability. Understand how to choose the right tool for your business.”

As much as I dislike the relentless repetition that’s part of the nature of the world of blogs and twitter and listserves and email blasts, here I go with a shameless pitch for a TFG special services offering I emailed to several DB2 users earlier today.  I am doing this because, at the end of the day, the rate disparity in today’s DB2 services market baffles me.  Are the ridiculously high rates being charged eroding product adoption?  I am afraid so, which is why we are offering a summer services special. 

Read More…

While there are many indications the “Great Recession” is over, the budget lag and fear of one last dip seems to be constraining IT project funding – EXCEPT – of all places, training.  While this seems perfectly logical (when there are fewer hands to do the work, making sure those hands are skilled is critical), historically, training budgets are the first to be cut when there’s a downturn.  Maybe organizations are wising up this time around…here at The Fillmore Group we are receiving more training requests than anytime in the past five years.  Read More…