All,

Here's my installment of DB2 Updates over the last quarter or so.  I've taken on new responsibilities at IBM, so my updates will likely come a bit less regularly.

Regards,

Jay Allen

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Flash - DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Versions 8 and 9.1 Security Vulnerabilities and HIPER APARs
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21294760)

Some DB2 for Linux®, UNIX®, and Windows® Version 8 and Version 9.1 products contain serious security vulnerabilities.

The DB2 Technical Support organization is releasing a set of new fix packs for the affected DB2 products that close the vulnerabilities.

The following fix packs are being made available on the DB2 Service and Support web site (http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2/support/db2_9/):
- FixPak 16 for DB2 UDB Version 8.1 (also known as FixPak 8 for DB2 UDB Version 8.2)
- Fix Pak 4 for DB2 Version 9.1

IBM® recommends that you review the vulnerability descriptions and deploy one of the above fix packs to remove the vulnerabilities on your affected DB2 installations.

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Announcement - Efficient data warehouse growth and archival access with IBM InfoSphere Warehouse with Optim Data Retention V9.5 software
(http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=897&letternum=ENUS208-054)

IBM InfoSphere Warehouse with Optim Data Retention V9.5 software enables businesses to better manage the growth of information by integrating data warehousing and archiving capabilities. IBM delivers a single solution of policy-based data lifecycle management — reducing storage and data retrieval costs and improving performance. With InfoSphere Warehouse Optim Data Retention, you:

* Improve business insights by maintaining, for online query access only, the information relevant to your daily business and archiving the rest with easy access and restore capabilities.
* Effectively manage the size and performance of your data warehouse by archiving information with the confidence that it can be returned to the warehouse if needed.
* Ensure accurate, timely response to audit and e-discovery requests, thereby lowering the cost of compliance.

InfoSphere Warehouse with Optim Data Retention is the first Warehouse offering in the new InfoSphere product family. IBM InfoSphere software is information middleware — providing the integration, warehousing, and management tools necessary to turn information into a strategic asset.

InfoSphere Warehouse with Optim Data Retention is composed of two existing IBM products:

* IBM DB2® Warehouse Enterprise Edition V9.5
* IBM Optim Data Growth Solution V6.5

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Announcement - IBM DB2 tools expanded and enhanced to help better manage DB2 database environments
(http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=897&letternum=ENUS208-044)

Two new product releases offer enhancements to help manage DB2® database environments:

* DB2 Optimization Expert for z/OS®, V1.2 (5655-S19) supports monitoring and tuning of SQL statements that run as part of a workload on your DB2 for z/OS subsystem.
* DB2 Query Monitor for z/OS, V2.3 (5697-I03) gives you the ability to efficiently customize and tune your structured query language (SQL) workload and DB2 objects.

All DB2 for z/OS tools are now referenced-based to both the previously announced versions of DB2 for z/OS and DB2 for z/OS Value Unit Edition. Refer to 208-041 , dated February 26, 2008, for more information about the DB2 for z/OS Value Unit Edition product or talk to your IBM representative.

To view a complete list of the DB2 tools, visit http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2imstools

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Announcement - IBM DB2, IMS, and information integration tools expanded and enhanced to help better manage database environments
(http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=897&letternum=ENUS207-319)

A new product, new versions and releases, and a PTF offer enhancements to help manage DB2®, IMS™, and information integration environments:

New product:
* IMS Recovery Expert for z/OS®, V1.1 (5655-R26) supports recovery across multiple IMS systems.

New versions:

* DB2 Audit Management Expert for z/OS, V2.1 (5655-T57) provides the ability to selectively audit inserts, updates, deletes, and reads in DB2 systems.
* DB2 Log Analysis Tool for z/OS, V3.1 (5655-T56) delivers a powerful tool to ensure high availability and complete control over data integrity.

New releases:

* DB2 Accessories Suite for z/OS, V1.2 (5655-R14) has two features that deliver text search and database application development enhancements.
* DB2 SQL Performance Analyzer for z/OS, V3.2 (5697-I04) offers functional, usability, and reporting enhancements to help you better analyze and tune your SQL queries.
* IMS Buffer Pool Analyzer for z/OS, V1.2 (5697-H77) helps you determine the impact of buffer pool changes before they are made to take the guesswork out of changes to the process.
* IMS High Performance Fast Path Utilities for z/OS, V3.2 (5655-R05) contains all the right components to analyze, maintain, tune, and migrate IMS Fast Path Data Entry Databases (DEDBs).

A PTF makes important new functions available for the following information integration products:

* WebSphere® Replication Server for z/OS, V9.1 (5655-R55) provides an enhanced level of the SQL-based data replication and queue-based data replication (Q replication).
* WebSphere Data Event Publisher for z/OS, V9.1 (5655-R56) makes it easy for data events to initiate business processes. It provides efficient changed-data publishing environments for application-to-application integration, business process initiation, critical data event monitoring, and data population.

To view a complete list of the DB2, IMS, and information integration tools, visit http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2imstools

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Announcement - IBM Information Server Change Data Capture for System z V5.4 delivers log-based change data capture for real-time data integration
(http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=897&letternum=ENUS208-066)

IBM Information Server Change Data Capture for System z™ V5.4 provides real-time data integration across diverse data stores and platforms. It uses change data capture technology to:

* Integrate high volumes of data with minimal impact to the production system.
* Support continuous extract, transform, and load functionality across systems. Changes are captured as they happen, allowing up-to-the-minute data to flow between systems to support real-time reporting, business intelligence, and synchronization of applications.

Information Server Change Data Capture for System z enables deployment using a graphical user interface.

Features

* High performance: Information Server Change Data Capture for System z allows for scaling to high-volume replication environments. Using native log-based change data capture, it can handle increasing volumes of data to provide data integration at the pace of business.

* Log-based change data capture: Whether data is integrated periodically or in real time, only changed data is captured and transferred from publisher to subscriber systems. Instead of performing queries directly against the database, Information Server Change Data Capture for System z captures changed data directly from the database logs.  Change data capture can help improve operational efficiency and can help save time and resources by eliminating redundant data transfer and saving network bandwidth. By accessing data from the logs, Information Server Change Data Capture for System z ensures that there is no performance impact on mission-critical applications.

* Data integrity: Guaranteed delivery of data is ensured by synchronizing positional information between the source and target. Transactional integrity is achieved by applying transactions in the same order on the target as on the source.

* Ease of use: An intuitive user interface that consolidates configuration and monitoring of the replication environment helps lower total cost of ownership.

* Multiplatform support: Out-of-the-box, programming-free data integration among DB2® UDB, Microsoft® SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Teradata, and across UNIX®, Linux™, HP-UX Itanium, HP-UX PA-RISC, Microsoft Windows NT™, Windows® 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, IBM System i™, and IBM System z. Flat file integration is also supported.  With zero programming required, you can invest your effort in higher value IT projects. Your company can leverage its legacy systems and integrate data across all supported platforms without making changes to the existing environment. Future changes in the computing environment can also be easily accommodated to protect your company's investment.

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Announcement - IBM Master Data Management Server V8.0 delivers multiform functionality across multiple data domains
(http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=897&letternum=ENUS208-033)

Master data management (MDM) is a top priority for many organizations as they try to gain control over their data, their most valued and often overlooked asset. While master data (the high-value information such as customer, supplier, partner, product, materials, and employee) is critical for running a business, it is typically scattered within heterogeneous application silos across the enterprise.

IBM Master Data Management Server helps companies get control over business information by enabling them to manage and maintain a complete and accurate view of their master data. IBM Master Data Management Server helps companies extract maximum value from master data by centralizing multiple data domains and providing a comprehensive set of prebuilt business services that support a full range of MDM functionality.

IBM Master Data Management Server capability for managing master data includes collaborative, operational, and analytical MDM:

* Collaborative MDM enables parties to create, define, verify, and augment master data to establish a single version of the truth that can be synchronized with operational systems. Its prebuilt functionality to support common collaborative processes and its configurable platform and integration with other facets of IBM's multiform MDM allows companies to manage the entire lifecycle of their data.

* Operational MDM maintains master data for multiple domains (customer, account, product, and so on) and integrates via business services to all applications and business processes that consume master data. Operational MDM allows the organization to have the most current, complete, and accurate understanding of master data across the enterprise.

* Analytical MDM provides persistent intelligence and real-time insight services for existing operational systems, thus extending the value of your investments. Analytical MDM governs master data analysis through event-based initiation of analytics and provision of master data to analytic applications, and services-oriented architecture (SOA) access to insight on master data domains. Analytical MDM can help improve and enhance direct marketing efforts, customer call center interactions, revenue and sales, as well as compliance for regulations across industries.

IBM Master Data Management Server introduces enhanced capabilities to maintain and manage multiple data domains, including party, account, and product, with operational services for each, as well as certain collaborative and analytical functionality. IBM Master Data Management Server increases its operational functionality by delivering more than 700 business services for MDM, as well as improved collaborative function (with enhanced data stewardship capabilities), and analytical function with event detection and processing and the ability to operationalize insight from existing analytic tools.

IBM Master Data Management Server provides more significant functionality than ever before to help organizations achieve accurate and complete master data throughout the organization. IBM is a market leader in delivering functionality for multiple domains and integration capabilities that manage client risk and cost, thereby enabling enterprises to increase their revenue and better meet compliance requirements.

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Flash - DB2 migration portal
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21200005)

Upgrading DB2® database products to a new release might require migrating your DB2 environment components such as DB2 servers, clients, and database applications.

This migration portal contains a list of all the available migration roadmaps, migration guides, and information and resources related to migration to a new release of DB2 products and migration of software that uses DB2 database products such as DB2 Data Warehouse, DB2 Content Manager, and SAP systems.

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Flash - DB2 Version 9 migration roadmap
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21227461)

Upgrading to DB2® Version 9 might require migration of your environment components. These components are DB2 servers, DB2 clients, database applications, and routines. Migrating these components requires an understanding of the DB2 database product migration concepts and the DB2 database products.

This migration roadmap will help you navigate through the available information and resources related to migration from DB2 UDB Version 8 to DB2 Version 9 .

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Flash - DB2 Version 9.5 migration roadmap
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21254493)

Upgrading to DB2® Version 9.5 might require migration of your environment components. These components are DB2 servers, DB2 clients, database applications, and routines. Migrating these components requires an understanding of the DB2 database product migration concepts and the DB2 database products.

This migration roadmap will help you navigate through the available information and resources related to migrating from DB2 Universal Database (DB2 UDB®) Version 8 or DB2 LUW Version 9.1 to DB2 Version 9.5

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Flash - Estimating database migration time and disk space requirements
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21255249)

Determining the length of time required to migrate your database to DB2® Version 9 and determining disk space requirements are essential in developing a migration plan and performing a successful migration.

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Flash - DB2 UDB Version 8.1 FixPak 16 (also known as Version 8.2 FixPak 9)
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24018266)

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Flash - DB2 Version 9.1 Fix Pack 4 for Linux, UNIX and Windows
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24017514)

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Flash - Announcing the release of ISA version 4.0.
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21298986)

 The IBM Support Assistant version 4.0. is now available. ISA is our one-stop-shop solution to research, analyze and resolve software issues and is now better than ever before. You can download it at no charge!

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Flash - Changes to daylight savings time (DST) in the U.S. and Canada affect IBM DB2 products
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21248542)

In March 2007, the effective dates of Daylight Savings Time (DST) in the U.S. and Canada will change. You must take action to address this issue if you are using DB2® for Linux®, UNIX®, and Windows®, DB2 Universal Database™ (DB2 UDB), DB2 Connect™, DB2 Query Patroller, DB2 Control Center, and user-created Java™ applications.

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Flash - Fix pack dependencies between DB2 Universal Database and DB2 Net Search Extender
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21222986)

DB2® Net Search Extender and DB2 Universal Database™ fix packs are dependent on one another. If dependencies are not accounted for, DB2 Net Search Extender will not function properly.

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Flash - HIGH2KEY and LOW2KEY statistics are not collected for some DB2 nickname columns
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21289277)

When collecting the HIGH2KEY and LOW2KEY statistics for a DB2 nickname, the information for some columns is not collected.

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Flash - Inserting a null value in a foreign key column in a child table
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21259233)

When a parent table is created with NOT NULL constraints, a null value can nonetheless be inserted in a child table if the child table is created without NOT NULL constraints.

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Flash - Known issues for DB2 on AIX 4.3.3, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21165448)

This document lists APARs and issues for which the problem relates to DB2 Universal Database™ (DB2 UDB), DB2 Version 9 and AIX interaction . There may be additional AIX APARs that are unrelated to DB2 activity but can still impact DB2 (for example, AIX administration activity which can lead to corrupted filesystems containing DB2 data). It is recommended that you consult the AIX fix distribution site at the following location to review other AIX APARs which may impact your system:  http://www.ibm.com/eserver/support/fixes/fixcentral/main/pseries/aix

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Flash - Starting V9.1 Configuration Assistant from shortcut returns "Entry Point Not Found..."
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21253027)

This document provides troubleshooting methods when you encounter the message "Entry Point Not Found : The procedure entry point g_sqlzUseLatchTracking could not be located in the dynamic link library DB2WINT.dll" when starting the DB2® Universal Database™ (DB2 UDB) Configuration Assistant from the Windows™ shortcut. This message appears when DB2 v8.x and v9.1 are installed on the same system.

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Flash - WebSphere Portal SystemOut.log J2CA0056I com.ibm.websphere.ce.cm.StaleConnectionException
SQL30081N TCP/IP SOCKETS Protocol specific error code(s): "*", "*", "0".  SQLSTATE=08001
(http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21265646)

This technote describes a solution when WebSphere Portal SystemOut.log shows J2CA0056I com.ibm.websphere.ce.cm.StaleConnectionException SQL30081N TCP/IP SOCKETS Protocol specific error code(s): "*", "*", "0". SQLSTATE=08001.

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alphaWorks - IBM XQuery Whiteboard for DB2
(http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/xqexplorer/?open&ca=dna-flht-03132008&S_TACT=106AH62W&S_CMP=NEWS)

A graphical tool that extends the XQuery capabilities in IBM DB2 Version 9.1 for Linux®, UNIX®, and Windows®. IBM DB2 Version 9.5 for Linux®, UNIX®, and Windows® supports the transform expression that is defined in XQuery Update Facility 1.0. XQuery Whiteboard 1.1 supports this new feature. XQuery Whiteboard 1.1 allows a user to indent an XML result and it allows a user to save a query result to a file.

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alphaWorks - Text Analysis Perspective for DB2 Warehouse
(http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/tap/?open&ca=dna-flht-01172008&S_TACT=106AH62W&S_CMP=NEWS)

A set of Eclipse plug-ins that allows you to configure and test text analysis engines and use them in warehouse and mining flows created by DB2 Warehouse Edition 9.5.

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Redbook - Best Practices for SAP BI using DB2 9 for z/OS
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg246489.html?Open)

Clients want to know how to exploit the new features of both DB2 V9 and SAP in their SAP BI environments. This IBM Redbooks publication describes the benefits of DB2 V9 for SAP Business Information Warehouse. It covers best practices and provides performance and tuning recommendations.

SAP Business Information Warehouse is the central reporting tool for almost all SAP business solutions. It is based on building blocks called InfoObjects that contain data about customers, sales, and business information. InfoObjects include InfoSources, DataSore objects, and InfoCubes. The business intelligence solution from IBM and SAP can help you aggregate and leverage this information, giving you a system-wide view of your business data and delivering it across your enterprise to support sound business decisions.

This book describes best practices for this product on a zSeries platform, and provides performance and tuning recommendations for loading and querying data. It also addresses general system administration and troubleshooting.

The audience for this book includes SAP and DB2 administrators. Knowledge of these products and of the z/OS environment is assumed.

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Redbook - DB2 9 for z/OS Stored Procedures: Through the CALL and Beyond
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247604.html?Open)

This IBM® Redbooks® publication helps you design, install, manage, and tune stored procedures with DB2® 9 for z/OS® . Stored procedures can provide major benefits in the areas of application performance, code re-use, security, and integrity. DB2 has offered ever-improving support for developing and operating stored procedures.

In these days, three years is a generation in the software business; if you have DB2 9 for z/OS, this book replaces the previous DB2 for z/OS Stored Procedures: Through the CALL and Beyond, SG24-7083; it reflects the changes that have been made to DB2 stored procedures and related tools from V8 to V9.

We show how to develop stored procedures in several languages, including Java™ ; we explore the functions available for the z/OS platform deployment; and provide recommendations on setting up and tuning the appropriate stored procedure environment.

We talk about the external and native SQL procedures, the debugging options, the special registers, the deployment, and diagnostics.

A chapter is devoted to the increasing number of DB2-supplied stored procedures. They can be used for almost all of a DBA’s tasks.

We also devote a part to tools that can be used for accelerating the development process and go into some detail about the stored procedure support provided by the latest IBM product: Data Studio.

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Redbook - DB2 9 for z/OS Performance Topics
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247473.html?Open)

DB2 9 for z/OS is an exciting new version, with many improvements in performance and little regression. DB2 V9 improves availability and security, as well as adds greatly to SQL and XML functions. Optimization improvements include more SQL functions to optimize, improved statistics for the optimizer, better optimization techniques, and a new approach to providing information for tuning. V8 SQL procedures were not eligible to run on the IBM System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP), but changing to use the native SQL procedures on DB2 V9 makes the work eligible for zIIP processing. The performance of varying length data can improve substantially if there are large numbers of varying length columns. Several improvements in disk access can reduce the time for sequential disk access and improve data rates.

The key DB2 9 for z/OS performance improvements include reduced CPU time in many utilities, deep synergy with IBM System z hardware and z/OS software, improved performance and scalability for inserts and LOBs, improved SQL optimization, zIIP processing for remote native SQL procedures, index compression, reduced CPU time for data with varying lengths, and better sequential access. Virtual storage use below the 2 GB bar is also improved.

This IBM Redbooks publication provides an overview of the performance impact of DB2 9 for z/OS, especially performance scalability for transactions, CPU, and elapsed time for queries and utilities. We discuss the overall performance and possible impacts when moving from version to version. We include performance measurements that were made in the laboratory and provide some estimates.

Keep in mind that your results are likely to vary, as the conditions and work will differ. In this book, we assume that you are familiar with DB2 V9. See DB2 9 for z/OS Technical Overview, SG24-7330, for an introduction to the new functions.

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Redbook - DB2 Security and Compliance Solutions for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247555.html?Open)

In this IBM Redbooks publication we discuss the existing and new DB2 security features introduced in DB2 9.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows. These enriched DB2 security features provide you with the capability to protect your data and comply with regulatory requirements.

We describe how you can control data access through DB2 authentication and authorization functions. The role feature provides new options for tighter security, more granularity, and flexibility in administrating data access. Data encryption offers the capability to protect sensitive data in the database, critical database files, and data transferred over the network.

Trusted contexts and trusted connections allow you to have more control over when a data access privilege becomes available to a user. Using label-based access control (LBAC), you can control read and write access of users to individual rows and columns at the table level. The enhanced audit facility generates, and allows you to maintain, an audit trail for a series of predefined database events for analysis and identifying system misuse.

At the end, we introduce other DB2 data security solutions including IBM Database Encryption Expert, DB2 Audit Management Expert, and IBM Optim Enterprise Data Management.

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Redbook - IBM DB2 9 for z/OS: New Tools for Query Optimization
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247421.html?Open)

The cost-based optimizer of IBM DB2 for z/OS has continually evolved since its initial inception. Support has included new optimization algorithms, join methods, complex relational data structures, such as star schemas. DB2 for z/OS V8 has provided access path visualization and a Statistics Advisor function through a new Visual Explain.

DB2 9 for z/OS starts addressing the challenge of reducing cost of ownership by extending query optimization through expert-based query and workload analysis, server enhancements, and an Index Advisory function. These functions are delivered with two tools: DB2 Optimization Service Center and DB2 Optimization Expert.

This book helps you understand the installation, customization, and usage aspects of the tools. You are guided through scenarios of gradually increasing complexity where the functions of the tools are exploited for query optimization.

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Redbook Draft - DB2 Workload Manager for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/abstracts/sg247524.html?Open)

DB2 Workload Manager (WLM) introduces a significant evolution in the capabilities available to database administrators for controlling and monitoring executing work within DB2. This new WLM technology is directly incorporated into the DB2 engine infrastructure to allow handling the higher volumes with minimal overhead. It is also enabled for tighter integration with external workload management products such as provided by AIX WLM.

This book describes DB2 WLM architecture, components, and the WLM specific SQL statements. We discuss installation, WLM methodology for customizing the DB2 WLM environment, new workload monitoring table functions, event monitors, and stored procedures. We provide examples and scenarios of using DB2 WLM to manage database activities in an OLTP and DSS mixed database systems. Through the use of examples, you will learn about these advanced workload management capabilities and see how they can be used to explicitly allocate CPU priority, detect and prevent “run away” queries, and to closely monitor database activity in a number of different ways.

We also discuss using Data Warehouse Edition Design Studio and DB2 Performance Expert with DB2 WLM. Finally, we give the primary differences between Workload Manager and Query Patroller as well as how they interact in DB2 9.5.

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Redpaper - Index Compression with DB2 9 for z/OS
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpapers/abstracts/redp4345.html?Open)

In data warehouse applications, it is common to have many very large indexes defined on large tables. It is also possible that the index spaces exceed the size of the tables upon which the indexes are based. As one way of helping you to manage the cost of ownership, in
DB2 9 for z/OS (New Function Mode) you can choose to compress your indexes and you can define indexes with a page size larger than
4 KB. All references to the DB2 product refer specifically to DB2 9, except where the release level is explicitly mentioned.

Compression has been available for table spaces on z/OS since DB2 Version 3. This IBM Redpaper explains some of the significant differences between data and indexes in the way that compression is managed, as well as a comparison of the performance characteristics.

A limited set of performance measurements obtained in a laboratory setting are described in this paper, but the main spirit of this paper is not about specific performance numbers. In other words, the paper describes how the implementation methodology affects the performance of both data and index compression, and the authors hope that the reader does not get too focused on the path lengths of the implementation or the performance of any specific hardware. User experiences will vary. It is difficult to predict the impact of index compression on performance, but in this paper we attempt to provide a methodology that will give some insight about how to predict the effect of index compression on the CPU utilization.

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Redpaper - Building a Standby DB2 Database using IBM System Storage N Series Technology
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/abstracts/redp4278.html?Open)

DB2 customers using IBM N Series storage systems at the back end must take advantage of advanced features of Data ONTAP® such as SnapMirror, FlexVol™, FlexClone, and RAID-DP™ to ensure data availability and reliability. These features combined with HADR deliver highest ROI. SnapMirror allows building a standby database in few quick and easy steps. Similarly, the FlexClone technology allows creating an exact copy of the standby database without consuming any additional space. The scope of this IBM Redpaper is limited to building a DB2 HADR environment and creating a read/write copy of the standby database. This IBM Redpaper demonstrates how to use SnapMirror to build the standby database for an HADR configuration and create a read/write copy of the standby using FlexClone technology.

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Redbook Technote - News on DB2 Optimization Expert for z/OS V1.2 and DB2 Optimization Service Center Version 1.1
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips0673.html?Open)

On March 4, IBM announced V1.2 of DB2 Optimization Expert for z/OS.

In this technote we summarize the main enhancements provided in this release. DB2 for z/OS Version 8 support is also included among these enhancements.
For complete details, see:

http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2imstools/db2tools/opti-expert-zos/

and

- IBM United States Software Announcement 208-044 March 4, 2008
- IBM DB2 Optimization Expert for z/OS Liicense Information, GC19-1131
- IBM DB2 Optimization Expert for z/OS Program Directory, GI10-8755
- IBM DB2 Optimization Expert for z/OS Getting Started, GC19-1144

We also mention the current maintenance level of DB2 Optimization Service Center Version 1.1.

For related information about this topic, refer to the following IBM Redbooks publication:
IBM DB2 9 for z/OS: New Tools for Query Optimization, SG24-7421-00

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Redbook Technote - DB2 9.5 Features for Oracle to DB2 Conversion
(http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips0674.html?Open)

DB2 9.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows provides new features that will make your database and application conversion from Oracle to DB2 even easier. The new features include the support of DECODE, OUTER JOIN, ROWNUM, as well as the new conversion algorithm for ARRAY, BULK COLLEC, and global variables. For the detailed explanation of these new features, refer to the developerWorks article:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0707rielau/

For related information about this topic, refer to the following IBM Redbooks publication:
Oracle to DB2 Conversion Guide for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, SG24-7048-01

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Chris Eaton's blog - An Expert's Guide to DB2 Technology - DB2 Recovery Basics - Part 1
(http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/database/technology/archives/db2-recovery-basics-part-1-22758)

Previously I posted about the basics of Backup in DB2 (part 1, part 2 and part 3). Now I’ll write about some recovery basics. I’m going to assume that you are using log archiving (otherwise you must be using offline backups and the simple restore command is all you get to get yourself back to the point in time that offline backup was taken). Assuming you are using log archiving then we have more options for recovery.

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Chris Eaton's blog - An Expert's Guide to DB2 Technology - DB2 Backup Basics - Part 2
(http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/database/technology/archives/db2-backup-basics-part-2-21940)

In my last posting I discussed some backup basics including the basic backup command, how to specify a target for the backup, tablespace level backups and how DB2 backups are integrated into TSM. In this posting I’ll cover a bit more about online backups and also talk about incremental backups.

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Chris Eaton's blog - An Expert's Guide to DB2 Technology - DB2 Monitoring Console - Open Source Project
(http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/database/technology/archives/db2-monitoring-console-open-source-project-21370)

Ever wanted to participate in an open source project but didn’t really know of one that was relevant to your area of expertise? Want to be a part of building a community based monitoring console for DB2? Now is your chance!

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Jay Allen (ja@...)
Consulting Software IT Specialist
IBM Data Management Solutions
(602) 217-2937 - Phone
(602) 217-2937 - Fax