DB2 Magazine E-Newsletter

July 23, 2003

DB2 Magazine Email Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 8
www.db2mag.com

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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. DB2 Magazine Quarter 3, 2003: Providing information on demand
2. IBM News: DB2's 100GB TPC-H benchmark results
3. DB2 Magazine Trivia Contest: Play for a chance to win $100
4. Asked and Answered: Generating random numbers in DB2
5. Skills and Certification News
6. At the Bookstore: DB2 UDB v8 Handbook for Windows, Unix, and Linux
7. IntelligentBPM Conference: Early Registration Discount
8. Now Playing at the DB2 Developer Domain

1. DB2 MAGAZINE QUARTER 3, 2003: PROVIDING INFORMATION ON DEMAND
Having the right information at the right people's fingertips at the right time is vital for any business that wants to react "on demand." But integrating the data to make that happen has been easier said than done. New technology from IBM is about to challenge conventional ideas about data integration. You can read about the technologies behind information on demand in these feature articles now online at DB2Mag.com:

Nelson Mattos, IBM Distinguished Engineer and director of information integration, and Holly Hayes, program director for DB2 Information Integrator, explain how DB2 Information Integrator can make information on demand possible without breaking the bank -- or your developers' backs.
http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q3/hayes.shtml

IBM Research's Laura Haas provides a look at how the technology that's applied to incredibly complex integration challenges in the life sciences industry may also work for you.
http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q3/haas.shtml

Ken North explains the importance of XQuery, a new query language for XML that can help when SQL isn't enough.
http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q3/north.shtml

Also in the Quarter 3 issue: Don't miss DB2 Magazine's two newest columns -- Distributed DBA, which covers database administration and tuning for the Linux, Unix, and Windows platforms, and Information Integration.

Distributed DBA
http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q3/distribdba.shtml
Information Integration
http://www.db2mag.com/db_area/archives/2003/q3/infointeg.shtml

2. IBM NEWS
DB2 UDB Dominates 100GB TPC-H
IBM published two new DB2 UDB benchmark results for handling complex query workloads. The benchmarks demonstrate performance using the Transaction Processing Performance Council's TPC-H benchmark, which is designed to simulate an ad hoc query environment with concurrent data modifications. On June 30, DB2 UDB regained overall leadership for the 100GB scale factor with a single system result that outperformed all results, including those from clusters with twice as many processors. DB2 UDB achieved a composite query-per-hour metric of 5602.6 QphH@100GB and price/performance of $73/QphH@100GB by running DB2 UDB v.8.1 Enterprise Server Edition (ESE) on the IBM eServer xSeries 445 and Windows Server 2003. DB2 UDB outperformed SQL Server 2000 by 67 percent. Both databases ran on eight-way Intel Xeon processors with the same amount of memory and similar disk configurations. On July 3, 2003, IBM published the first TPC-H result at 100GB using 64-bit Intel Itanium 2 processors. DB2 UDB achieved a composite query-per-hour metric of 4307.5 QphH@100GB and price/performance of $70/QphH@100GB by running DB2 UDB v.8.1 ESE on the MAXDATA Platinum 9000-4R and Windows Server 2003.

The data in this item is current as of July 3, 2003. For TPC-related information, go to
http://www.tpc.org/

For more information about DB2 benchmarks, go to
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/benchmarks/

3. DB2 MAGAZINE TRIVIA CONTEST
Do you remember when IBM first shipped DB2 UDB for Windows, Unix, and OS/2? Your recollection could win you a $100 gift check if you enter the drawing at

Trivia contest:
http://www.db2magazine.com/
Hint: Check the DB2 20th Anniversary poster at DB2mag.com to find out for sure.
http://www.db2magazine.com/db_area/archives/2003/q1/AnvPostrTimelineSide.pdf

4. ASKED AND ANSWERED
How do you generate random numbers in DB2?
http://www.db2mag.com/qanda/030722a.shtml

5. SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION NEWS
Webcast: Don Chamberlin on XQuery
Find out what you should know about XQuery straight from the source: Don Chamberlin, IBM's representative to the W3C XML Query Working Group and editor of several working drafts of the XQuery language, shares his knowledge in an IBM Insight Exchange Webcast on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 11 A.M. ET.
http://webevents.broadcast.com/ibm/insightexchange/technology.asp

IBM Data Management and IMS Technical Conference Session Abstracts
Abstracts of the sessions offered at the upcoming IBM Data Management Technical Conference (October 27 - 31 in Las Vegas) and the IMS Technical Conference (September 15 - 18, also in Las Vegas) are now available online. The IBM Data Management Technical Conference offers more than 350 elective sessions on the DB2 UDB, business intelligence, IBM Informix, IBM U2, data warehousing, and DB2 information integration products. If you register by September 8, you'll save $150 on the conference fee.
http://www-3.ibm.com/services/learning/conf/us/dm/?ca=various&me=W&met=inli&re=IBM_enewsletters

This year's IMS conference focuses on IMS v.8, integrating IMS apps into e-business solutions, adding e-business on-demand capabilities, and IMS tools. Keynote and featured speakers include Bob Gilliam, IMS Product Director, and Dan Wardman, Director of Data Management Tools.
http://www-3.ibm.com/services/learning/conf/us/ims/?ca=various&me=W&met=inli&re=IBM_enewsletters

New Database Skills White Paper
DB2 Magazine Certification Strategies columnist Howard Fosdick wrote a new white paper for IBM that covers DB2 UDB skills for installation, use, management, and maintenance.
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/data/pubs/tech-consult/skillsavailability.pdf

Prove Your Mastery of Problem Determination
Think you're a pro at DB2 problem determination? Now you can prove you are: IBM introduced a new Problem Determination Mastery Exam for DB2 UDB that will show that you have the necessary skills to master the problem determination process for efficient problem resolution. Developers and DBAs who can pass this exam should be able to handle 75 percent of the common support issues that get reported to support centers, according to IBM. To prepare candidates, IBM offers free DB2 Problem Determination Tutorials, nine modules (available in HTML or PDF format) that take about 60 minutes each to complete.
http://www-3.ibm.com/cgi-bin/db2www/data/db2/udb/winos2unix/support/tutorial_main.d2w/toc

New Certification Guide and a New DB2 Book Site
IBM recently launched a Web site featuring DB2 Information Management books highlighting new releases, certification guides, and reference manuals. There you'll find titles such as the just-released DB2 UDB v.8.1 Application Development Certification Guide, by Steve Sanyal, David Martineau, Kevin Gashyna, and Mike Kyprianou, which covers skills and techniques for building enterprise, Web, and e-business applications with DB2 UDB v.8.
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/education/bookstore/certify.html

Data Management Workshops and Seminars for Partners
IBM Solution Partnership Centers are offering a series of free data management seminars in several locations around the country, including:

IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 UDB V8.1 Family Certification: A classroom lecture and hands-on opportunities on topics addressed by Test 700.
https://www.developer.ibm.com/spc/events/cda_db2.html?ca=dsp-3qdm1dbnm

Migrate Your Database Applications to DB2: This five-day workshop explains how to add DB2 support.
https://www.developer.ibm.com/spc/events/db2_apps.html?ca=dsp-3qdm2dbnm

DB2 and WebSphere Integration: A two-and-a-half day workshop on integration.
http://news.db2mag.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/eMvn0EV3Vo0CsY0B4eT0An

Extending Databases and Database Applications to Wireless Devices: A hands-on workshop on extending access to your database and database applications with wireless devices.
https://www.developer.ibm.com/spc/events/db_wireless.html?ca=dsp-3qpc1dbnm

Web Services: Learn how Web services add functionality to existing applications.
https://www.developer.ibm.com/spc/events/websvcs.html?ca=dsp-3qwsvc1dbnm

5. AT THE BOOKSTORE
DB2 UDB V.8 Handbook for Windows, Unix, and Linux
by Philip K. Gunning
This start-to-finish guide to DB2 UDB v.8 administration and development covers database design for optimal performance, availability, and recoverability; day-to-day administration and backup; comparing, selecting, and using appropriate DB2 programming techniques; deploying networked and Internet-centered database applications; migrating to DB2 UDB from other databases or earlier versions of DB2; and other aspects of deployment and management. Through real-world examples, Gunning presents tips and techniques for saving time and money in database design, development, deployment, and administration. DB2 UDB v.8's new wizards, advisors, and self-management features are covered in the book, along with the enhanced DB2 XML Extender, the new Development Center, multidimensional clustering, materialized query tables, Java threading, improved monitoring and logging facilities, and online table and index reorganization and dynamic configuration.

Find out more in the DB2 Magazine bookstore. http://www.db2mag.com/bookstore/

6. INTELLIGENTBPM CONFERENCE & EXPO
Presented by Intelligent Enterprise and Ventana Research, IntelligentBPM is the first independent conference dedicated to the technologies and practices that enable business performance management. Produced for senior business and IT leaders who seek in-depth education, IntelligentBPM, which takes place September 28-30 in San Francisco, will demonstrate how information and analytics can maximize the efficiency of organizational decision-making and action. Register by August 20 for the early-bird discount.
http://www.intelligentbpm.com/conference/

7. NOW PLAYING AT THE DB2 DEVELOPER DOMAIN
Database Interoperability, the Adventure Continues (Part 2)
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307lurie/0307lurie.html

An Introduction to DB2 UDB Express GUI tools (Part 1)
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307chong/0307chong.html

Developing a Visual Basic .Net Federated Application for Microsoft Access
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/tutorials/0307alazzawe/index.html

Installing DB2 Content Manager CommonStore for Exchange
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307kammerer/0307kammerer.html

Migrating Recursive SQL From Oracle to DB2 UDB
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307steinbach/0307steinbach.html

Pagination Using DB2 UDB and JSPs
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307balani/0307balani.html

Leverage Your Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Skills to Learn DB2 UDB Version 8
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307chong2/0307chong2.html

Porting to DB2 UDB Version 8.1 From Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/library/techarticle/0307rada/0307rada.html

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