Blogs

By Mark Gillis

In the first part of this blog I outlined an issue I’d come across with the conferring of Role-based permissions to Groups for certain objects. Here’s one way around it and some further observations on the underlying issue.

Possible workaround

I did say I didn’t entirely like this option but it’s all I have been able to come up with so far.

If you want to enforce the structure of Users being allocated to Groups by your Windows or Unix Admins / Customers, you might have to keep the CREATE option up at the Database Administrator level. Once a View, Proc or whatever is in existence, the subsequent dynamic operations will be validated against the Group credentials and that can be operated by the Users who are members of appropriate Groups. This lets your User population stay fluid, whilst the Groups and Roles can stay relatively, if not entirely, static.

Read the blog in full.

By Damir Wilder

Damir recently found himself in a situation where he needed to expand (quickly and without downtime) the Db2 Transaction Log space in a customer’s live production database, which had been steadily filling up (for several hours) by a very long and intensive transaction. Also contributing to the log space usage were numerous other (smaller) transactions that were executing during the same time and biting off their chunks of the log space.

In his latest blog, Damir shares his solution for transaction log space usage with Db2 v11.5. Read the blog in full. 

By Iqbal Goralwalla

Earlier this year Db2 pureScale deployments were made available as a bring-your-own-license (BYOL) option through the AWS Marketplace with a pre-packaged template and point/click interface. This significantly simplifies the deployment process. It facilitates setting up a pureScale cluster from what used to be weeks or months to less than an hour.

In his new blog, Iqbal Goralwalla shares the deployment improvements made to Db2 pureScale over the last 10 years. Start the journey.

Using take action to invoke predefined command to cancel a thread is available from OMPE’s Tivoli Enterprise Portal (TEP) interface. This requires granting Db2 authority to the user ID of the OMPE started task which for some customers is not desired and considered a security concern.

With OMPE V540 APAR PH47423/UI82806 and fixpack 5.4.0-TIV-KD5-FP0025, two new prefixes “DP:” and “D5:” are introduced to pair with the existing cancel thread command. With prefixed command, the cancel thread request issues the command using the Db2 authority of the TEP logon ID. Prefixed cancel thread commands can also be used in a situation take action to automate cancelling threads violating certain Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

The prefixed take action commands are also available with OMPE V550 APAR PH48556/UI90100 and fixpack 5.5.0-TIV-KD5-FP0005.

The newly added take actions are "Cancel Thread with Db2 Authority" and "Cancel DSG Thread with Db2 Authority".

New “Cancel Thread with Db2 Authority” Take Action

This Take Action is defined with the “DP:” prefix, and it can be used with “Thread Activity” or “Detailed Thread Exception” workspace from any TEP single Db2 node.

New “Cancel DSG Thread with Db2 Authority” Take Action

This Take Action is defined with “D5:” prefix, and it can be used with “Data Sharing Thread Activity” workspace from any TEP DSGROUP node.

Response from the Prefixed Cancel Thread Take Actions

If the TEP logon user ID has the Db2 authority to cancel a thread, the following message will be displayed after the prefixed cancel thread take action is executed:

If the logon user ID does not have the Db2 authority to cancel a thread, the following message will be displayed after the prefixed cancel thread take action is executed:

The similar responses are also displayed from D5 agent log:

Prefixed Take Action in Situation

The prefixed cancel thread command can also be used in a situation action where the Db2 thread will be cancelled after situation is triggered.

Conclusion

The newly introduced prefixed cancel thread command greatly simplifies the configuration task for DBAs to manage the security aspects regarding Db2 thread cancelling. With the prefixed cancel thread take action, the Db2 authority of the user controls whether particular Db2 thread can be cancelled or not. It is no longer needed to grant Db2 authority to the user ID of the OMPE started task.

By Gareth Copplestone-Jones

If you attended Gareth Copplestone-Jones' presentation at IDUG EMEA and want to learn more about Db2 Locking, here’s where to start. 

This Db2 for z/OS Locking blog series is mostly targeted at Db2 for z/OS application developers, but is also appropriate for application designers, database administrators, Db2 systems programmers and other Db2 professionals who are concerned with data integrity and application performance.

You might ask, what’s that got to do with locking? It’s all too easy to assume that locking just happens and that you don’t need to worry about it. Nothing could be farther from the truth: if you don’t understand the Db2 locking mechanism and the way it is affected by BIND options, then it is very easy for your application to compromise data integrity, or to deliver poor performance – or both. This series of articles is intended as a practical guide to how and why Db2 locks data that will help you avoid the programming pitfalls that can compromise the holy grail of data integrity. If you’re already a seasoned professional, then I encourage to read on as there might be some useful pieces of information for you.

The objective of this series is to help you understand:

Why locking is important.
The concepts of Db2 for z/OS locking.
How Db2 locking behaviour is affected by BIND/REBIND options.
How to code update applications to avoid data anomalies and guarantee data integrity.
How you can improve performance by taking as few locks as possible.

Continue reading Part 1 of 10 on Db2 for z/OS Locking by Gareth Copplestone-Jones. 

It is well known that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has progressed, moving past the era of experimentation. Today, AI presents an enormous opportunity to turn data into insights and actions, to amplify human capabilities, decrease risk and increase ROI by achieving break through innovations.

While the promise of AI isn’t guaranteed and doesn’t always come easy, adoption is no longer a choice. It is an imperative.

Those businesses that decide to adopt AI technology will have an immense advantage, according to 72% of decision-makers. Furthermore, 59% of executives claim AI can improve the use of big data in their organizations, facts about artificial intelligence show. (IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2022.)

What is stopping AI adoption today? Read More.

Register for the Launch Webcast

By Mark Gillis 

Mark Gillis has been doing some migration work; porting a Db2 database to a PostgreSQL one. You could say that is going from an Enterprise strength solution to a simpler, but less expensive option, but it’s not a choice Mark is in a position to ignore.

Customers are being presented with a wealth of database options as they migrate to the Cloud, and many of them are embracing the options of simpler and less licence hungry products.

There are many positives to PostgreSQL but there are some pitfalls in attempting such a migration.

Find out more from Mark in Db2 v PostgreSQL

By Mark Gillis

In his new blog, Mark Gillis explores how to modify queries on the fly using Jupyter Notebook, widgets and interactive SQL.  

OK, fair enough, that does sound a bit specialised and will maybe put some people off. Nothing like a good blast of technobabble to send us scurrying to the coffee machine.

What this is getting at is the ability to modify queries on the fly. It’s one of the reasons I’m quite taken with Jupyter Notebooks; the ability to provide some SQL and to run it, take a look at the result set and then tweak the original SQL and re-run it until you get the output you want.

Read the blog, Jupyter Notebooks, Widgets and Interactive SQL in full. 

Announcing hands-on tutorials for the IBM data fabric use cases

Do you wonder how you can reap the benefits of the IBM data fabric? Are you curious about how a data fabric approach resolves typical data analysis challenges? We’ve got you covered! You can get hands-on experience with the IBM data fabric by completing a series of tutorials. These new tutorials provide step-by-step instructions, helpful videos, and sample projects and assets for key data fabric use cases.

The data fabric tutorials guide you through a scenario for a fictitious mortgage lender named Golden Bank. Golden Bank implements a data fabric to produce the best results from their data. The integrated data assets and services in the tutorials provide the following benefits:

• Fair treatment of applicants through AI models  - MLOps and trustworthy AI use case
• Data integration from disparate databases – Multicloud Data integration use case
• Targeted sales campaigns using AI - Customer 360 use case
• Data protection and access - Data governance and policy use case

The data fabric tutorials are beginner level with no-code or low-code requirements. They can be completed in any order. You can complete all of them or just those that interest you. Set aside a few hours to gain hands-on experience with the powerful IBM data fabric tools!

Choose Learn by example on the Cloud Pak for Data as a Service home page to select a data fabric tutorial.

You can sign up for a data fabric trial to work with the use cases for free on Cloud Pak for Data as a Service. For instructions on how to sign up for the data fabric trials and auto-provision the required services, see Signing up for the data fabric trials. New users need to create an IBM Cloud account. Existing IBM Cloud account holders can log in with their IBMid.

For more information about the IBM data fabric approach, see https://www.ibm.com/analytics/data-fabric. 

The North America Db2 for z/OS Master Class is fast approaching and is scheduled for Monday, September 19, 2022, to Friday September 23, 2022, at the IBM Db2 Silicon Valley Lab. Don’t miss out on the opportunity for a week-long in-person interactive technical learning experienced conducted by the IBM Db2 for z/OS SWAT Team. The course will focus on exploiting the full power of Db2 for z/OS and IBM mainframes, proven best practices, and will share worldwide real customer experiences including the best ways in conquering prevalent challenges. The Db2 SWAT Team will discuss the most common issues related to continuous availability, speed of recovery in Db2 for z/OS environments and provide a deep dive on how to monitor and tune Db2 for z/OS system and transactions for efficient performance. The technical information that will be shared in the course will provide valuable best practices that attendees can implement at their site to help provide the most optimal Db2 experience.

The small class size intimate environment and learning experience will allow attendees to have full access and personal mentoring from the Db2 for z/OS development SWAT Team. In addition, various Db2 developers and management will participate and interact during the week-long course. Attendees will be able to network and develop relationships with other Db2 Master Class participants.

Customer Quote             

“I have been a Db2 DBA for about 20 years, some of the information was absolutely amazing and an absolute eye opener. It was a wonderful experience (although intense :)) and I have learned so much from the massive list of ideas. Having access and interacting with Db2 for z/OS development and management as well as networking with other customers was such a wonderful positive experience.”  

John Campbell Quote 

“I have always wanted to have the Db2 Master Class to be the best Db2 class a customer can attend. Take advantage of this deep learning experience to help run your Db2 installation more efficiently and to achieve higher level of availability.”

For additional information and registration details please see the following blog:

https://community.ibm.com/community/user/hybriddatamanagement/blogs/paul-mcwilliams1/2022/02/03/master-class-2022

Sincerely,

Anthony Ciabattoni, IBM Db2 for z/OS Development SWAT Team

Hello again to our IDUG members all over the world! Were you with us for the 2022 IDUG North America Db2 Tech Conference last month? If so, thank you so much! Our first-ever hybrid event was a great success. We beat our target for on-site participants. We beat our target for online participants. Thank you so much to the North America Conference Planning Committee for an amazing week!

We have received great feedback regarding the NA22 grid that featured 100+ breakout technical sessions and 11 Vendor-Sponsored Presentations. When you also provide keynote addresses by IBM, Broadcom and IDUG’s Women In Technology and two z/OS and LUW Spotlight Sessions, it was an action-packed and engaging week of valuable content. Thank you to all IDUG speakers! For a review of all the professional development offerings in Boston, click here and look under the All Sessions tab. 

This conference would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our sponsors and exhibitors. What a wonderful thing it was for us to be able to visit with all of our partners in an actual Expo Hall for the first time since 2019! 

As will be the case in Edinburgh this fall, about 1/3 of the educational sessions were available for our virtual attendees. Participants in Boston also had opportunities all week that included Hands-On Labs, Workshops, z/OS Certification and LUW Badging.         

Our attendees in Boston also included first-ever participants at the week-long Db2 Fundamentals Tracks (for z/OS and LUW) and the one-day IBM Developer Day. We thank you for being with us again! Our North America host city Boston did not disappoint—we know our EMEA location in beautiful Edinburgh will also provide incredible experiences and memories!

So, I have just one quick item for you to consider to bolster your career development and to enhance your effective utilization of Db2 in 2022 and beyond:   

Register NOW for the 2022 IDUG EMEA Db2 Tech Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 22-26! In North America, we had IDUG members from 39 states and provinces and from 27 countries. EMEA22 is a hybrid event, so we look forward for another great global audience.  

IDUG is honored to strengthen everyone in this community by providing the highest quality education and services for Db2. We appreciate your support! Until next time—wherever you may be reading this—stay healthy and stay safe.

-Iqbal

Hey John,

I consider myself lucky for the time spent together. It all started when we first met in SVL (STL in those days). You were on an assignment in Performance if I remember correctly, I was 'the customer in B350 :-)'.

After that came the occassion where we worked together on Db2 healthchecks, etc. Was is Sweden or Denmark where we had to settle for a dinner at McDonalds because all else was closed. In the same region, the acronym SBS got a whole new meaning for me. If you don't remember, ping me.

The most valuable lesson I learned from you was while working together on a real life PIT recovery of a whole Db2 production environment. Will never forget it. 

And finally the great discussions we had during the many zBLC face-to-face meetings.

John, I owe you a lot.... Thanks for everything 

Toine

Hi John,

It has been a great pleasure to work with you as a customer, within IBM and at conferences over the years. I'm sure you’ll feel excited for the new opportunities and challenges that await you in your retirement, but at the same time, it can be hard to say goodbye to a life’s worth of memories and relationships.

Congratulations to John Campbell, Db2 for z/OS DE, on his Retirement! Living Db2 Legend!

John Campbell IBM DE for Db2 for z/OS will be retiring from IBM on the 5th of August 2022 after four decades working on IBM Db2 for z/OS. He has been the face of “World of Db2” for decades and I know he will be greatly missed by all of us. 

John started working on Db2 for z/OS Version 1 in the 80's, here is a brief summary of John's career with Db2 for z/OS.  John has worked with many, many Db2 customers, business partners and IBMers over the decades, this is an opportunity for everyone to say goodbye to John before he leaves IBM.

John is a living legend of the Db2 community, especially a familiar face at conferences, World of Db2, IBM and IDUG Events, supported Db2 for z/OS books, Redbooks, whitepapers etc. He will greatly be missed at events, conferences, panels etc 

John has attended and presented at nearly 60 IDUG conferences in North America, EMEA, Australia, South America and India.  He has been voted regularly as the “Top 10 Speaker" on majority of these conferences and been voted “Best "Presenter” at least 3 times and entered the IDUG Speaker Hall of Fame. He has presented many, many Db2 for z/OS webcasts over his career, I have personally worked with John for the past ten years and his webcasts have always achieved up to 1000+ registrations and which is a record for webcasts. 

He has also supported many, many Db2 regional User Groups all over the world.

I know John really wanted an opportunity to meet many of his customers, partners and Db2 family before his retirement and say "goodbye". However, with "Covid Pandemic” it does not look like it is possible, so we have arranged a virtual party.

Check out some of the highlights and memories of the last four decades Click Here

If you have any photos that you would like please upload to this community. Please send your wishes and memories, I will try and print and share in his retirement card. 

John started working on Db2 in the 80's as started his career as IBM Systems Engineer. - here is a brief backgrpound of JC's career. JC's words 

• Technical branch system engineer helping the early customers migrate and exploit Db2 V1R1 thru Db2 V2R3. Helped design and implement major operational and decision support systems.
• Top system engineer in his IBM System Engineering School.
• Lead subject matter expert for Db2 in IBM UK Country Technical Support. Major contributor to IBM Redbook projects, and UK and Intentional Conference.
• Assignment to Db2 Lab in San Jose working as a performance analyst for Db2 V3 and V4. Technical leader in Performance Team for the design and development of Data Sharing and Type 2 Index Manager.
• Appointed IBM Distinguished Engineer and entry to the IBM Academy of Technology in 2003.
• Several major IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Awards including for data sharing.
• Technical leader of the Db2 Worldwide SWAT Team since 1999.
• Voted best speaker at multiple major IDUG Conferences around the world, and member of the IDUG Speaker Hall of fame.
• I hope I will be remembered for my deep technical knowledge, my enthusiasm, customer handling skills, inspiring others, and being generous with my knowledge and time in helping colleagues and customers. Most importantly as the voice of the customer and the voice of reason within Db2 Development.

Join the IBM team at the IDUG North America 2022 Db2 Tech Conference in Boston on Monday July 11th for a complimentary, action-packed day created by developers, for developers. You'll have the opportunity to learn about Db2's app development and experience hands-on Db2. 

REGISTER FOR DEVELOPER DAY HERE

Date: Monday, July 11th 

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EST

Where: In person only, Sheraton Boston 39 Dalton Street, The Fens - 5th Floor
Boston Massachusetts

During this time, you'll learn:

• Training on Db2 platform
• How to build and deploy a music recognition iOS app with Db2 Warehouse
• How to build a movie recommendation engine with Db2 ML
• And much more!

Agenda: 

10:00am: Why Db2
10:15am: How to download, set up, and install Db2
10:45am: Db2 Architecture Overview
11:15am: Building and deploying a music recognition iOS app with Db2 Warehouse
1:00pm: Building a move recommendation engine with Db2 ML

We are looking forward to a wicked awesome time at the IDUG NA22 in Boston, so sign up today to join us!
If you have any questions regarding this course, please email Donna Milano.