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!

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.

A couple months ago I was the lucky winner of an IBM contest for Information Management Business Partners.  The prize was space in the IBM Data Management magazine (now online at www.ibmdatamag.com) and assistance writing an article on a topic of interest.  The article is being published today and can be viewed here.

As The Fillmore Group was recently asked to begin delivering IBM Authorized Education on IBM’s big data solutions, BigInsights and InfoSphere Streams, we decided to leverage the article to promote our upcoming classes.

There is always terrific content in the magazine.  I hope you enjoy the article and consider taking a formal class to learn more about IBM’s big data solutions.

Frank is putting the final touches on his DB2 101 presentation for Thursday, incorporating last week’s Big Data announcements from IBM (great stuff; visit the IBM Big Data Hub to learn more) along with his fast-paced presentation on the solutions in the IBM Information Management portfolio.  We are expecting a great turnout but as always, we are happy to make room for more.  If you are in the Baltimore area and interested in joining us, please read my post on the event here, register here and join us.

I had the pleasure of attending and participating as a Business Partner in the IBM Big Data and Governance Forum road show event in Reston, Virginia, last week.  Many of the attendees were from Federal government agencies – no surprise – and most of the attendees, at least in my opinion, seemed to be trying to satisfy their curiosity about  Big Data. 

The first session presenter was Tracey Mustacchio, the Director of Marketing for Big Data.  Tracey came to IBM from Vivisimo, one of the latest IBM Information Management acquisitions.  She started her session with a standard show of hands opening.  The amazing thing was, with about 100 people in the room, only THREE were actually using any Big Data solutions in their IT shops.  3%!!  That meant – with the simplistic way I do math –  the other 97% of the attendees were, like me, still trying to figure out how to apply this new technology.  And of course, overcome the skepticism that comes from hearing a solution referred to as a “game changer” a few too many times.

The information delivered was excellent, with the presenters using clear, understandable business use case examples to demonstrate the Big Data solutions at work.  I thought it was great. 

As a Business Partner The Fillmore Group raffled off the gorgeous, huge coffee table book, “The Human Side of Big Data”, by Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt.  After reading a glowing review I bought the book about a month ago for myself, and while I am bit overwhelmed by the book’s size (did I mention it’s huge?) which made it impossible to stuff in my laptop bag like my Kindle, it is simply beautiful and the perfect way to get excited about the potential of Big Data.  Each article is short – maximum length 2 pages – and tells about how Big Data has changed the way people are doing something.  And yes IBM fans, page 208 features Jeff Jonas.  Because what book about Big Data could leave out Jeff Jonas and his fascinating life and experience developing the IBM Entity Analytics solutions.

The forum delivered lots of great ideas and use cases.  It’s time to start moving beyond the ideas.  We all need to figure out how to apply this amazing technology and reap the benefits!  The next step, recommended by IBM’s Crysta Anderson, is to attend the IBM Big Data announcement on April 30th:   http://ibm.co/BigDataEvent to hear more about how you can move from theory to practice with Big Data.