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IBM DB2 is a full relational and XML data server. planetDB2 is an aggregator of blogs about DB2. We combine and republish posts by bloggers around the world. Email us to have your blog included. |
July 02, 2009
Data Studio Team |
A no-charge, stand-alone offering for DBAs? Yes, it’s here now with the release of Data Studio v2.2! Hello, long time reader, first time blogger here. I work as a tech lead managing the advancement of heterogeneous database support for Optim Development Studio and Optim Database Administrator product offerings. Pleasantries out the way, I am here to tell you about the new ways of packaging our no-charge capabilities that we hope you’ll like. We’re calling this is no-charge capability Data Studio and are using the Optim name for the is value-added capability. The goal is that this naming convention should be less confusing and simpler. You can get your basic admin and development tooling with Data Studio, and then add additional functionality if needed by acquiring other Optim products (or Rational or InfoSphere etc...). You can try some of these additional capabilities by downloading and using the trials. Data Studio comes in two flavors:
The stand-alone package is only 196 MB (network download size) and available on 32/64 bit platforms for Windows XP/Vista and Linux RedHat/SUSE which you can download here. The installation process itself is trivial. It’s a self-extracting binary that lays out the files in appropriate directories. You will notice that the installer creates a default workspace for you in $HOME/IBM/Data Studio 2.2 stand-alone directory. You can change that at a later time. Since the stand-alone version is completely self-contained, a JRE v1.6 (Java runtime) is also bundled and installed with the product. The built-in help and welcome experience provide appropriate context-sensitive help and tutorials. As depicted in the table below, the stand-alone version is rich with features that enable DBAs perform their day-day tasks effectively. The main difference between the two packages is that the IDE package also has support for Java stored procedures, Web Services, SQLJ development and XML because it targets developers as well. ![]() Default perspectives are also different. For the stand-alone, you will be presented with Database Administration; for the IDE, the default is the Data Perspective. Both packages support Data Development Project creation, with the IDE flavor able to create/debug Java stored procedures (in addition to SQL stored procedures, supported by both.) A key highlight of both no-charge offerings is to let you know when another offering can help you perform a task. The IDE version is installed via IBM Installation Manager (IM) and by definition can shell share with other Eclipse-based products such as Optim, Rational and InfoSphere.With the stand-alone package, if you want to shell-share with another product, you will need to switch to the Data Studio IDE package. Not to worry though if you started with the stand-alone package but then want to shell share with other products. Any/all work done with the stand-alone can be reused after moving to the IDE package. Please remember to read the system requirements before you download. It references important information like Java Runtime versions, Linux download tips, etc. Also, you can check out the discussion forum if you have questions. It is our sincere hope that you give this a spin and drop us a line (or add a comment below) about what you think about Data Studio. -- Srini Bhagavan |
Terry Frangos |
Solving problems faster with Knowledge Collections
In my last post I wrote about Must Gather Documents for DB2 and how they could help you solve problems faster.
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developerWorks |
De-identify flat files using Optim Data Privacy Solution and InfoSphere Federation ServerWith the current environment of data sensitivity, there is a need to mask data not only in the traditional relational databases, but also in flat files that could be part of a testing scenario. Customers continue to need to send files to vendors, off-shore testers, and even internal testers, and the data in those files could be subject to regulations. In this article, learn how to de-identify private data in flat files by using IBM InfoSphere Federation Server to create a relational table (nickname) for data in flat files and then applying data privacy algorithms using IBM Optim Data Privacy Solution. |
developerWorks |
Using IBM Database Encryption Expert to protect your sensitive dataIBM Database Encryption Expert provides features to encrypt and control access to data written to file systems and database backup images. Beginning with Version 1.1 Fix Pack 3, the product supports both DB2 and Informix Dynamic Server (IDS). This article describes some of the key features and mechanisms of Encryption Expert and shows you how to use them. |
developerWorks |
Extend IBM InfoSphere Data Architect to meet your specific data modeling and integration requirements, Part 2: Build customized reports and validation rules with IDAIBM(R) InfoSphere(R) Data Architect (IDA) (formerly Rational(R) Data Architect) is gaining momentum as a comprehensive tool that helps organizations promote a thorough understanding of their enterprise information architecture. As more people use IDA, there’s an increasing need for some customers to extend IDA to meet their unique data modeling and integration requirements. This two-part series shows you how to extend IDA’s models, properties view, model reports and validation rules. In Part 1, you learned how to programmatically traverse and modify IDA models and how to add and display custom properties. In Part 2, learn how to generate customized reports and how to add your own validation rules for IDA models. [2009 Jul 02: This article was updated to reflect that the GUI for BIRT report customization has been changed for performance improvement. This is shown in the section that describes how to generate customized model reports using BIRT.--Ed.] |
Willie Favero |
More DB2 9 for z/OS product publications update in June 2009Willie's "Getting the Most out of DB2 for z/OS and System z"
Six (6) of the DB2 9 for z/OS product publication have been updated in June 2009; "Administration Guide", "Application Programming & SQL Guide", "Application Programming Guide and Reference for Java", "Codes", "Internationalization Guide", and "Messages". In addition,
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Omer Brandis |
an accident waiting to happenI don’t know about you, I can almost feel two shocked programmers, sitting in front of one screen three years from now, trying to figure out how tb1 got deleted by mistake.... |
Willie Favero |
DB2 9 random index sounds very... ???????Way back on April 10, 2007 (yes, that's more than two (2) years ago) I published a blog entry about the RANDOM keyword on the CREATE/ALTER INDEX statements that was introduced in DB2 9 for z/OS. That entry was titled "DB2 may help fix contention from index hot spots". There wasn't much said in that blog post back then so today I thought I would add a few more words about creating random indexes and talk a bit about the "may help fix" part of the title of that blog entry. |
July 01, 2009
Robert Catterall |
Outer Join: Get the Predicates RightA few days ago, I was working with a team of people from a large company, trying to improve the performance of some queries executing in a DB2 for z/OS-based data warehouse environment. One query in particular was running much longer than desired, and consuming a lot of CPU time, to boot. One of the team members noticed that the problem query, which involved several table-join operations, had a rather odd characteristic: no WHERE-clause predicates. All the predi… |
Willie Favero |
Free book, Free databaseI know that I have few occasion to post anything about DB2 LUW, it's just not where I spend a lot of my time. However, this is such a deal, I can't pass by the opportunity to tell you about it. What could be better than a free database and a free book to tell you about the database. You can't get pricing much better than FREE. |
Henrik Loeser |
Two essential links: IBM Data Studio and a free bookWith a new version like DB2 9.7 there are other things you need or want, too. It's like with a house. You first remodel or upgrade something, then you need matching colors and hence buy new curtains, replace the carpet, try to get rid of some relatives (just kidding). Anyway, the point is that there are usually some added, often hidden costs or other issues.The good news is that it is different |
June 30, 2009
Data Management Today |
zPrime to Revolutionize Mainframe AffordabilityOn June 30, 2009, NEON Enterprise Software announced the availability of NEON zPrime, a software solution that dramatically reduces the cost of mainframe computing. NEON zPrime can save mainframe users millions of dollars in IT costs by taking full advantage of <… |
DB2utor |
IBM Data Server Driver Package a New Direction in ConnectivityEven after more than 20 years of working with DB2 for z/OS, I still wonder which IBM product I need to connect an application running... |
June 29, 2009
Antonio Cangiano |
Reasons to switch to DB2 9.7IBM recently put out a video with a few quotes from customers who’ve had a chance to try DB2 9.7 in production. At times the editing is a bit cheesy, but what our customers are saying is factual. DB2 9.7 is quite a breakthrough and it can save millions of dollars for large companies. If [...] |
Dave Beulke |
Many Reasons to Go to the New DB2 9.7Going through the DB2 9.7 Cobra beta was very educational for learning about the new features and functions. In the video below I and several of the other beta customers talk about their companies’ experiences with DB2 Version 9.7 and what features they liked best about the new DB2 release. There are many reasons to switch [...] |
Henrik Loeser |
The DB2 Process Model - Some LinksStarting with version 9.5, DB2 switched from a process-oriented architecture to a multi-threaded system architecture. One of the reasons was to better exploit the current and upcoming HW architectures.Now that customers are migrating to DB2 9.5 and DB2 9.7, some of them coming from systems with unstable future or high maintenance costs, questions often heard are about things like "db2sysc" or " |
DB2usa |
Articles from IBM Techdocs LibraryHi DB2 user,Here are several articles from IBM Techdocs Library, available on IBM Techdocs Website: - Identifying the dynamic SQL statement which is causing a lock escalation by Richard Corrihons - <a href="http://www-03.ibm.com/support/techdocs/atsmastr.nsf/… |
June 27, 2009
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Oswaldo F. Domejean |
dbtipsWhat is the average of this set of values? 4, 8, 6 The average is 6, the operation is (4+8+6) / 3. If we use the SQL operator AVG() with that set of values the result is the same six, unless at least one more value appears in the set, I mean the “value” null, then the [...]
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June 26, 2009
Fillmore Group |
Q-Replication Administration Console WebcastIn conjunction with the Data Studio team Frank Fillmore just tentatively set the date for a webcast to review the functionality of the *free* Data Studio Administration Console (DSAC) features to monitor and support Q-Replication, as well as to give a preview of the new features in the upcoming V9.7 release due out late this [...] |
Data Management Today |
Specialty Processors on the MainframeAnyone who uses an IBM z Series mainframe has probably heard about zIIPs and zAAPs and other specialty processors. But maybe you haven't yet done any real investigation into what they are, what they do, and why they exist. So, with that in mind, let's take a brief journey into the world of specialty processors in today's blog entry! Over the course of the past decade or so,IBM has introduced several different types of specialty processors. The basic idea of a specialty processor, is tha… |
DB2 on Campus |
DB2 on Campus Tour - PhillipinesAfter 5 university visits in Manila, and Cebu, the DB2 on Campus tour in the Phillipines ended today. We reached almost 800 students and teachers in 1 week with very good feedback. At UC (University of Cebu - Main campus) the attendance was close to 300 people (this is the second largest attendance in one single event I've ever had, the first one was in China with 330 people approx). According to Jun Contreras (IBM Phillipines), there would've been even more visits and attendance (maybe 2000 to … |
DB2 on Campus |
My predictionWhile celebrating the DB2 on Campus 3rd birthday, I remember predicting the future of MySQL in one of my presentations. It all happened during my first DB2 on Campus tour in Brazil; I recall being asked why students should choose DB2 Express-C instead of MySQL. At that time, I replied saying that DB2's performance, scalability and support for stored procedures made DB2 Express-C a superior product. I also mentioned that with DB2 Express-C your career would be 'safe' because IBM invests and will … |
DB2 on Campus |
DB2 on Campus Birthday: 3 years old!The DB2 on Campus program started 3 years ago in June/July of 2006. I don't recall the exact date, but since today is a Friday I decided to pick this day to celebrate!Thanks to the many volunteers and DB2 Student Ambassadors who have kept the program going!. So let's join the 28,000+ students and teachers who have attended the DB2 on Campus presentations in more than 250 universities around the world, and let's join the more than 45,000 people who have downloaded the <a href="http:/… |
Vincent McBurney |
Markman Hearings and how a Patent Infringement Snowball Becomes an AvalancheA look inside the Markman Hearing of JuxtaComm versus Ascential Et Al when a patent for data integration scripts grew to cover all data integration software. |
Henrik Loeser |
DB2 Information Center - RevisitedWhen a new version of DB2 comes out, it is always very interesting to visit the DB2 Information Center (see my old post here). One reason is to read the "What is new" documents. They give a good overview about all the changes, not just what has been in the marketing focus.To give an example: By clicking from the "What's New overview" to the "New features and functionality" to "Performance |
Data Studio Team |
What does Integrated Data Management really mean? I’m very excited about our recent announcements as they really feature our drive to deliver on the Integrated Data Management vision with key enhancements in heterogeneity support, cross-lifecycle integration, and automated delivery of best practices. But maybe you’re wondering about what we mean by Integrated Data Management. Organizations often have a myriad of tools from many vendors designed to increase productivity and effectiveness of the application development, data management, and administration staff. Most tools are built to purpose and put little emphasis on leveraging information gleaned from the others. We think that this lack of cohesion results in increased costs and increased risks. For example, how do you align an organization around compliance requirements? A security analyst needs to specify privacy requirements, a developer needs to analyze how they manipulate sensitive data in their application, a tester needs to fictionalize data for use outside production, a DBA needs to encrypt databases hosting sensitive data in production. Or in another example, how does the administration staff isolate problems across interacting components, associate problematic SQL with an issuing application, identify source application code or responsible developer? To a large extent Integrated Data Management is about delivering capability to enable alignment, productivity and performance. It is about enabling alignment across the data lifecycle based on policies defined up front that are shared and enabled with downstream tasks. It is about improving not only individual productivity, but also organizational productivity supporting tasks across heterogeneous environments, increasing automation, and facilitating collaboration. And it is about optimizing performance and resource utilization embedding best practices and industry or application expertise into solutions. These capabilities are key enablers for accelerating business growth, reducing infrastructure costs, and enabling data governance. I’ve elaborated on our vision in Integrated Data Management: Managing data across its lifecycle on its third revision on developerWorks. Our most recent announcement extends our support for Oracle environments. You can read about the new Optim Development Studio support for Oracle in Venkatesh’s blog entry. This complements the Oracle support already available for data design, test data management, and data archival capabilities. New portfolio integration points feature privacy management throughout the development cycle specifying privacy policies in InfoSphere Data Architect, visualizing sensitive data and actions against it in Optim Development Studio, generating test data definitions in either Data Architect or Development Studio for execution with Optim Test Data Management and Data Privacy solutions. I’m sure a blog entry is coming on this soon. And our new Optim Query Tuner takes best practices and delivers it as expert tuning advice to developers or DBAs for tuning queries. I’d be interested in knowing if this vision for Integrated Data Management resonates with you and your organization. As you think about how your various roles have to interact, what linkages could we enable that would provide the most value to your organization? Holly |
June 25, 2009
Data Studio Team |
Learn while you earn - Virtual tech briefings - first one is on June 30Hi, everyoneI wanted to tell you about something a little new we're trying this year.. we toyed around with what to call them - technical chats, lunch and learns, technical webinar - but since we ended up partnering with developerWorks to do these we are using the term they use for these interactive sessions - 'Virtual Technical Briefing'. The goal is provide you with access to some of our technical experts who will present and demo on various technical topics to do with integrated data management (of course involving our products). And we wanted to keep it short so you'd be motivated to squeeze it in during your lunch hour (if the time is right) or come do the replay when you can. These sessions are pretty cool - it's done all over VOIP and your network connection. You just need an email address to sign in and join us. (Join early or sign in a few days in advance to go through the system check). Our kickoff session is called Data Studio becomes Optim: What does it mean for you? The live event is Tuesday, June 30th at 10 AM Pacific, 1 PM Eastern. Holly Hayes and Kevin Foster will present. We have a tentative schedule and list of topics posted on developerWorks. But it's not too late to influence that. Let me know if there's something you are just dying to hear more about, and we'll see what we can do. You can add a comment here or send an email to dstudio@us.ibm.com... See you there! --Kathy Zeidenstein |
June 24, 2009
Robert Catterall |
DB2 9 Native SQL Procedures: One Address Space is OKI've been doing a lot of presenting lately on the topic of DB2 for z/OS stored procedures. In these presentations, I've emphasized the benefits of native SQL procedures, introduced for the mainframe platform via DB2 9 for z/OS (I blogged on the importance of this development in an entry I posted late last year). During two different sessions held recently in two dif… |
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Ready to Upgrade?DB2 9.7 is now available, and you should consider giving it a try. Why? 1) You can download DB2 Express-C for free to see how the latest features work. 2) I've had the pleasure of reviewing the latest edition of the " Getting Started with DB2... |
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Triton Consulting |
Cure your data headache!Don’t miss your chance to hear from the experts on how to cure your data growth issues and deliver significant and ongoing cost savings. Join IBM Data Champion Julian Stuhler and industry insider Andrew Crouch of AVIVA on our upcoming webinar to hear their tips on coping with the data explosion. To register for this free event [...] |
ChannelDB2 Videos |
Just A Ditty About XML![]() Just a little ditty rap about XML. |



Hello, long time reader, first time blogger here. I work as a tech lead managing the advancement of heterogeneous database support for Optim Development Studio and Optim Database Administrator product offerings. 
blog.
I’m very excited about our recent announcements as they really feature our drive to deliver on the Integrated Data Management vision with key enhancements in heterogeneity support, cross-lifecycle integration, and automated delivery of best practices. But maybe you’re wondering about what we mean by

