DB2 Magazine E-Newsletter

February 19, 2004

DB2 Magazine Email Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 2
www.db2mag.com

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This message has been sent to you as a valued subscriber of DB2 Magazine by the editors. List removal and subscription information appears at the bottom of this message.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Now Online: DB2 for z/OS v.8 Revealed!
2. Face Time with DB2 Experts
* Submit a question for consultant Martin Hubel
* Readers interview IBM's Paul Zikopoulos
3. DB2 Magazine Trivia Contest
* Enter to Win $100
4. Skills and Certification News
* New courses, certification discounts, DB2 Tech Conference registration and more
5. Successful Integration: Electronic Playbook
6. At the Bookstore: Autonomic Computing
7. Now Playing at the DB2 Developer Domain

****SPONSOR: QUEST SOFTWARE
Ensure Maximum DB2 Performance with Optimally Tuned Buffer Pools

Tuning DB2 buffer pools is frequently a dynamic, ongoing task. The solution can transform over time as the application workload changes. Understanding how buffer pools work and the methods employed to monitor their performance is critical to proper setup and tuning. Learn how to evaluate buffer pool performance using the formulas and techniques described in Quest Software's new white paper, "Understanding Buffer Pool Performance and Tuning in DB2 UDB v8.1 Multi-platform Environments."
Download the white paper at:
http://www.quest.com/requests/?RequestDefID=1962&landing=db2mag_021804
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1. NOW ONLINE: DB2 FOR Z/OS V.8 REVEALED
DB2's Extreme Makeover
After three years under construction - and a year of pre-ship buzz - DB2 UDB for z/OS v.8 is ready for the big "reveal." As IBM prepares to ship the product into customers' hands, DB2 Magazine goes behind the scenes for a look at what to expect from the biggest release in DB2 history:
-- In "Architects of Change," an interview with lead DB2 for z/OS architect Curt Cotner, find out about the radical changes to tried-and-true mainframe DB2.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17602330
-- "Over the Top Performance," by Martin Hubel, explains how DB2 UDB v.8's latest adaptations boost the performance of even the most modern applications.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17602323
-- Architecture consultant Sasirekha Cota exposes DB2 for z/OS's new multilevel security feature in "For Certain Eyes Only."
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17602318
-- In "Independence Day," available only online, BMC Software's Andrew Ward explains how the partitioning changes in DB2 for z/OS v.8 provide all the benefits of true physical partition independence.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17701065
-- Browse all the content of the Quarter 1, 2004 issue of DB2 Magazine, which includes articles about business intelligence, content management, application development, DB2 on distributed and mainframe platforms, integration, and more.
http://www.db2mag.com/

Online Only: What's Your Problem?
IBM's Robert Welgan shows how you can analyze it automatically with the db2support tool for Linux, Unix, and Windows platforms.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17700355

****SPONSOR: SD WEST 2004
ADVANCE YOURSELF AT SD WEST 2004

SD West 2004, March 15-19, Santa Clara, offers over 175 classes & tutorials in 11 technology tracks including .NET, C++, Java, XML, Web Services, Mobile, Security and more. Plus new special events, visionary keynotes, networking events and an exciting expo. Register today with the priority code 4WSPON71 to get your free expo pass or to sign up for the conference. Details available at:
http://www.sdexpo.com
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2. FACE TIME WITH DB2 EXPERTS
Interview DB2 Consultant Martin Hubel
Each month, DB2mag.com visitors are invited to submit questions to a DB2 expert. This month's target is consultant Martin Hubel, who wrote "Over the Top Performance" in the current issue of DB2 Magazine. Martin welcomes questions about DB2 performance, design, and recovery issues on both mainframe and distributed platforms.

Submit a question to Martin Hubel.
http://www.db2mag.com/interview/

Readers Interview IBM's Paul Zikopoulos
IBM Canada's Paul C. Zikopoulos answers reader questions about disaster recovery plans, the new DRDA-based client/server communications mechanism in DB2 UDB v.8.1, identity columns in a partitioned database, certification, and more.

Read the interview with Paul Zikopoulos.
http://www.db2mag.com/facetime/

3. DB2 MAGAZINE TRIVIA CONTEST
Do you know how many customers participated in the recent beta program for DB2 UDB for z/OS v.8? Finding out is as easy as reading the current issue of DB2 Magazine and earns you a chance to win a $100 American Express Gift Cheque in a random drawing. (Congratulations to C. Babburi of Bloomington, Ill., winner of last month's contest.)
Play the Trivia Contest.
http://www.db2magazine.com/
Find the correct answer.
http://www.db2mag.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=17602330
This month's DB2 Trivia Contest is sponsored by Quest Software.
http://www.quest.com/

4. SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION NEWS
IBM developed this new five-day course, which combines the most popular z/OS tools classes into one. The course concentrates on the IBM DB2 Administration Tool, DB2 SQL Performance Analyzer, DB2 Performance Monitor, and DB2 Object Compare Tool. Students will learn how to configure each tool and how to navigate through the Interactive System Productivity Facility (ISPF) interfaces for each tool.
Enroll in the class or find out more.
http://www.db2mag.com/redirect/IBMDB2PerfAdmin.jhtml

DB2 Professional Certification Exams February Discount
IBM is offering a 10 percent discount on select DB2 certification exams (700, 701, 703, 704, 705, and 706) for anyone who schedules and takes one of the eligible exams by February 29, 2004. This offer is valid for candidates in the USA, Canada, and EMEA.
Get details of the offer.
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/cert/specials.html

2004 DB2 Information Management Technical Conference Discount
Registration for the 2004 DB2 Technical Conference, Sept. 20-24 in Las Vegas, is now open, and IBM is offering a $150 discount for a limited time. The conference offers sessions from industry experts and many opportunities to take free certification exams.
Find out more or register.
http://www-306.ibm.com/services/learning/ites.wss/us/en?pageType=page&contentID=a0000713

5. SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
News, trends, and mergers from 2003 show that "putting things together" is on the top of many minds heading into 2004. No matter what it's called it, "integration" is now a central, strategic, and unavoidable IT issue. This electronic Playbook, brought to you by Intelligent Enteprise and SoftwareDevelopment magazines, presents a compilation of articles discussing successful integration through Web Services architecture, business processes, case studies, portal best practices, and integration management through all levels of the enterprise.
http://news.db2mag.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/efOE0FKfDh0FLd0CI5p0Al

6. AT THE BOOKSTORE
Autonomic Computing
by Richard Murch
An antidote to ever-increasing IT complexity and cost, autonomic systems are self-configuring, self-healing, self-optimizing, and self-protecting. They act on your policies and service requirements intelligently and dynamically. Murch, a former Andersen consultant and an expert on intelligent software, explains what IT leaders and managers need to know to prepare for (and to begin leveraging the benefits of) autonomic computing. The book covers the key elements and attributes of autonomic computing systems; current technologies from IBM and other suppliers; and autonomic computing architectures, open standards, development tools, and enablers.
Read more about Autonomic Computing
http://www.db2mag.com/bookstore/

7. NOW PLAYING AT THE DB2 DEVELOPER DOMAIN
Java Application Deployment Considerations (for DB2 UDB Servers)
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0402kitchlu/index.html

Understanding IBM DB2 Records Manager 3.1 Architecture
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/ library/techarticle/dm-0402ayachitula/index.html

DB2 ASP.NET Input Validation with Delphi for .Net and C#Builder
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/ library/techarticle/dm-0402swart/index.html

Using DB2 UDB OLAP Functions
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/ library/techarticle/dm-0401kuznetsov/index.html

DB2 UDB Connectivity Cheat Sheets: Part 4
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/ library/techarticle/dm-0401chong/index.html

Using Delphi for .Net With DB2 Database Tables in ASP.Net Web Pages
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/ library/techarticle/dm-0401swart/index.html

Upgrading to IDS 9.40FC1: A Successful Experience
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0402fan/index.html

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