Welcome to all things DB2 for z/OS. This is your one stop, your only stop, and your final stop to find out all you'll ever want to know about DB2 for z/OS. We'll be discussing how to upgrade to the latest DB2 version, have detailed "how it works" discussions, some performance tips, maintenance alerts, baby updates, with a few guest posts thrown in occasionally. In addition, you'll find all of the latest DB2 news and gossip, arrival notifications of the latest articles, books, seminars, and teleconferences, along with details on all of the major conferences. I'll occasionally be throwing in a post covering our z/OS operating system and our System z hardware. Plus, there will always be something entertaining posted every once in a while. This is the place you'll find just about anything you need to know to stay current with DB2 for z/OS, z/OS, or System z. This is also the place to get that little bit of lite reading each morning to start your day off on the right foot.
Updated: 8 hours 57 min ago
How's your Batch workload doing?
Yup, batch. The stuff that has been around on the mainframe a lot longer than I have. It's the process many of us love to hate and it seems to fit the old adage "can't live with it, can't live without it". So, here's my question.
What's new this week from Optim 03/05/2010 (a guest blog post)
Well, it's Friday and continuing on with my latest tradition, it's once again time to publish Kathy's guest blog post covering the latest and greatest Optim news... Enjoy!!!!
How to get ready for DB2 10 for z/OS
Yup, you read that correctly. It's never to early to start planning for your upgrade to the bigger and better DB2 for z/OS. There is another new release of DB2 on the horizon, DB2 10 for z/OS. With every new DB2 comes you migration/fallback PTFs; that stuff you apply to your existing system so everyone plays well together.
What's new this week from Optim 02/26/2010 (a guest blog post)
Well, it's Friday and continuing on with my latest tradition, it's once again time to publish Kathy's guest blog post covering the latest and greatest Optim news... please enjoy!!!!
IBM wants your feedback on....
Here's a chance for you to voice your opinions about a few of the DB2 for z/OS product publications. Take a few minutes to answer less than a dozen question using a web questionnaire about three of the DB2 publications.
DB2's Virtual Index Support
Wouldn't it be nice if you could just prototype an index and not have to go through the overhead of creating a new index, all just to find out if the optimizer might decide to use it? Guess what? You can. As of DB2 9 for z/OS (and back fitted into DB2 Version 8 via APAR PK46687), virtual indexes are now available for your use.
Explaining the history of EXPLAIN tables
Over the last six months I have been getting questions about the "other" EXPLAIN tables. The questions have ranged from "How do I create them" to "Where did they come from". We sometimes make assumptions that everyone has access to everything so they must know how everything works. Guess what? That's not always true. There are a lot of programmers and DBAs working heads down that don't have time to keep track of every change DB2 makes or every time someone creates a table for them with their authid.
What does a customer have to say about migrating to DB2 9 for z/OS?
We (IBM) are great at presenting the value of DB2. We know DB2 pretty well, and tend to do a fairly good job of explaining the feature/functions of a new release, how to migrate to that new release, how to tune it, etc... you know, all of that good stuff. However, no matter how good we are, it's always great to hear what a customer has to say, what their real life experience has been. That is what this webcast is all about; hearing form a customer. Now, how cool is that?
What's new this week from Optim 02/12/2010 (a guest blog post)
Well, it's Friday and continuing on with my latest tradition, it's once again time to publish Kathy's guest blog post covering the latest and greatest Optim news... please enjoy!!!!
RSU1001 service package now available
Testing for RSU1001 is now complete. It contains PE resolutions or HIPER/Security/Integrity/Pervasive PTFs and their associated requisites and supersedes through December 2009.
DB2 10 for z/OS beta announced today
Today IBM announces a closed beta for DB2 10 for z/OS (5605-DB2). Yup, DB2 10 is on its way. We now know it will be called DB2 10 (no big surprise there, right), we have an idea what will be delivered (read about the features below), and we know that the closed beta program will start on March 12, 2010. We do NOT know when DB2 10 will go generally available (GA), what itÂ’s going to cost, or when DB2 for z/OS Version 8 will go out of service. WeÂ’ll just have to wait for those announcements.
What's new this week (Optim) 02/05/2010 (a guest blog post)
Well, it's Friday and continuing on with my latest tradition, it's once again time to publish Kathy's guest blog post covering the latest and greatest Optim news... please enjoy!!!!
eReaders; my personal perspecitve - Part 1
Let me start out by saying I'm a bit out of my element here. Although I'm a big time gadget man, I am by no means an expert on eReaders. What I thought I would do today is tell my personal experience with an eReader. What prompted this? I mentioned I was interested in purchasing one and have been getting questions ever since. Now I realize I have gotten into trouble in the past by voicing my opinion here. However, as many of you know, I'm a slow learner... (smile)...
What's new this week (Optim) 1/29/2010 (a guest blog post)
Well, it's Friday so it must be time to publish Kathy's guest blog post covering the latest and greatest Optim news. Oh wait, it's actually Wednesday,isn't it? I slept a lot later than I thought... Well, anyway, this is still Katy's guest Optim blog post... please enjoy!!!!
Larry, I must not have heard you correctly
I've been around Larry Ellison for what seems like forever. In fact, I would almost risk saying I "know him" (had coffee with him and 9 others once) except he wouldn't have the slightest clue who I was... And in all the years I have followed Mr Ellison and his exploits (relating to both database and non IT adventures), he has always fascinated me and surprised me. Someone should pen a book of "Larry Quotes".
Yes, you can learn about the Mainframe
Over years I have received numerous request for information about learning the mainframe. Sometimes it comes from someone fresh out of university, occasionally it's a question who has been working IT for a few years and is thinking of a possible career on the System z (the official name for the mainframe), and still others, seasoned veterans, that would just like to learn more about the platform they have grown up on (this final group is where I'm at; I'm always trying to learn more about the z/OS side to help bolster my DB2 skills). Today's post is to remind you all that there is a way.
What's new this week from IBM Optim Solutions for Integrated Data Management (Jan 22, 2010)
Every Friday I receive a very nice (and very handy) newsletter from Kathy Zeidenstein, IBM Optim Solutions for Integrated Data Management, that describe all the new technical enable stuff that became available during the week. I find it handy because it saves me the trouble of looking for the latest article on pureQuery or what Optim product teleconference or webinar that might be coming up. It's all right there in my mailbox ready for me to read when I'm ready to get a skills update.
Red Alert from IBM: Potential DB2 Data Inconsistencies Following a CF Failure
Willie's "Getting the Most out of DB2 for z/OS and System z" 
blog.
This Red Alert has 6 different sections, all the same problem, each just for a different mainframe component.
Rather than trying to invent text, I'm just reproducing the Red Alert as they were distributed.
1. All products: Red Alerts
- TITLE:
blog.
This Red Alert has 6 different sections, all the same problem, each just for a different mainframe component.
Rather than trying to invent text, I'm just reproducing the Red Alert as they were distributed.
1. All products: Red Alerts
- TITLE: A very nicely done pureQuery video
This is a very nicely done video that explains why you should be interested in pureQuery along with a demo of the process involved to get there.
RSU0912 service package now available
Testing for RSU0912 is now complete. It contains all service through the end of September 2009 not already marked RSU along with PE resolution or HIPER/Security/Integrity/Pervasive PTFs and their associated requisites and supersedes through November 2009.