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2011
The Tao of the Database Administrator.
SWUG, December 2011
Learn how to apply the philosophy of Tao to the job of database administration. (registration required)
Compliance and Data Access Tracking.
Database Trends and Applications, December 2011.
In a world full of regulations, today's businesses must go beyond just securing their data...companies have to perpetually monitor their systems in order to know who did exactly what, when and how -
Optimistic Locking in DB2 for z/OS.
SSWUG, December 2011
This article discusses optimistic locking techniques as of DB2 Version 9. (registration required)
The Guide to Being a Successful DBA.
Database Trends and Applications, November 2011.
These ten guidelines, when properly followed, can help you to succeed in your career as a database administrator (DBA).
The Impact of Mergers on Data Management.
SSWUG, November 2011
This article examines some of the data management challenges that need to be tackled when managing through an acquisition. (registration required)
Data Quality Starts with Proper Data Types.
SSWUG, October 2011
Data type and length are the most fundamental integrity constraints applied to data in a database. This two-
DB2 Security -
IDUG Tech Library Blog, October 2011
(Co-
The Return of the DBA Proverbs.
zJournal, October / November 2011.
The latest in a series of columns relating popular sayings and proverbs to the management discipline of database administration (DBA).
Building Your SQL Library.
Database Trends and Applications, October 2011.
Every database programmer and DBA should have a library of books on SQL. There are many titles to choose from, and a lot of them are very good. This month’s DBA Corner column outlines four SQL books that should be on every database professional’s bookshelf.
The Database Report: 3Q2011.
The Data Administration Newsletter, October 2011.
The third quarter 2011 installment of "The Database Report" column, with coverage of the DBMS marketplace including acquisitions, lawsuits, technology, financials, and more.
Ten Breakthroughs That Changed DB2 Forever.
SSWUG, October 2011
Today, DB2 is a high-
Collecting Histogram Statistics With RUNSTATS.
SSWUG, September 2011
Histogram statistics, added to DB2 for z/OS in Version 9, can be a useful new way to gather additional stats for improving the performance of range predicates. (registration required)
Cost Containment Thru Capping.
Database Trends and Applications, September 2011.
Reigning in costs is a constant goal for IT departments these days. This month's DBA Corner column offers guidance on using a capacity planning technique called soft capping to reduce monthly software bills.
The State of Database Administration 2011: Types, Trends, & Technologies.
SSWUG, August/September 2011
This three-
On The Need for Temporal Data.
zJournal, August/September 2011.
Version 10 of DB2 for z/OS supports temporal data structures. This edition of the zData Perspectives column offers an introduction to the differing types of temporal data support and their benefits.
Through The Looking Glass.
Database Trends and Applications, August 2011.
In this month’s DBA Corner column we look for IT guidance in strange places... but the advice is not bad!
The Database Report: 2Q2011.
The Data Administration Newsletter, July 2011.
The second quarter 2011 installment of "The Database Report" column, with coverage of the DBMS marketplace including acquisitions, lawsuits, strong financials, and more.
Blinking Your Databases to Health.
Database Trends and Applications, July 2011.
Simplification is important in today’s era of increasing complexity because many problems arise simply due to lack of managing the things most of us already know. This month's DBA Corner column examines some of the primary issues and concepts that need to be addressed in order to keep database applications humming along.
The Procedural DBA.
SSWUG, July 2011
This five-
Partitioning Pros and Cons.
zJournal, June/July 2011.
Before deciding whether or not to use a DB2 partitioned table space, it is wise to first weigh the pros and cons. This month's column outlines the basic pros and cons of partitioning.
A Basic Introduction to Coding DB2 SQL for Performance.
SSWUG, June 2011
This five-
DBA as a Management Discipline.
Database Trends and Applications, June 2011.
Database administration is rarely approached as a management discipline. The term discipline implies a plan, and implementation according to that plan. When database administration is treated as a management discipline, the treatment of data within your organization will improve. It is the difference between being reactive and proactive.
Database Archiving and Auditing Can Minimize the Potential of a Data Breach.
SSWUG,May 2011
This three-
The Importance of Database Design Reviews.
Database Trends and Applications, May 2011.
Design reviews are an important facet of the system development lifecycle for database applications. This month's DBA Corner column highlights the various reviews that are needed and explains why.
Best Practices in DB2 Storage Management.
zJournal, Apr/May 2011.
Managing the storage for DB2 databases can be a troubling task because it requires spanning two disciplines: database administration and storage management. This article discusses the importance of storage for DB2 administration.
Not Your Standard Sorting Requirement. (PDF)
Quest ToadWorld Pipelines, April 2011.
Sometimes the requirements of a particular application dictate that data needs to be sorted using some irregular collating sequence. This article discusses one such instance and offers up a unique SQL solution to the problem.
Mitigating Data Risk During an Acquisition.
Database Trends and Applications, April 2011.
What will you do when you find out you're about to acquire or consolidate with another firm or division? This edition of the DBA Corner offers up 10 "data health" checks you can conduct before an M&A or consolidation.
The Database Report: 1Q2011.
The Data Administration Newsletter, April 2011.
The first quarter 2011 installment of "The Database Report" column, with coverage of the DBMS marketplace spanning hirings and firings, acquisitions, and a computer playing on a game show... and winning!
Database Administration and the Goal of Diminishing Downtime.
Database Trends and Applications, March 2011.
One of the on-
Dynamic SQL Versus Static SQL.
zJournal, Feb/March 2011.
Many DB2 professionals are not comfortable determining when to choose dynamic SQL instead of static. This issue’s column examines criteria that can be used to help make that decision.
Consider Capping to Control Costs.
The Data Administration Newsletter, February 2011.
Cost containment is important for most organizations in this day and age of financial austerity. But an often overlooked opportunity for controlling cost comes from capacity planning and management. This article discusses how to intelligently automate mainframe soft capping to reign in costs.
Taking A Systematic Approach to View Creation.
Database Trends and Applications, February 2011.
The manner in which views can be utilized to provide the greatest benefit can be an area of disagreement between database professionals. Some analysts promote the liberal creation and usage of views, whereas others preach a more conservative approach. This article examines the issues and gives guidance on proper view usage.
The Database Report: 4Q2010.
The Data Administration Newsletter, January 2011.
The fourth quarter installment of "The Database Report" column, this month with highlights including the courtroom drama of the Oracle/SAP lawsuit, several interesting acquisitions, quarterly earnings announcements, and our regular industry coverage.
A Data-
Database Trends and Applications, January 2011.
In this month's edition of DBA Corner I take a look back at the year that was in terms of the data and database management market this past year.
2010
Rebinding for Optimal DB2 Access Paths.
zJournal, December 2010 / January 2011.
One of the most important contributors to the on-
To Rebind or Not to Rebind: Why Is That Even a Question?
IDUG Solutions Journal, Winter 2010.
One of the most important contributors to the on-
SQL Performance Basics.
Database Trends and Applications, December 2010.
Assuring optimal performance of database applications starts with coding properly formulated SQL. As much as 75% of poor relational performance is caused by "bad" SQL and application code. But writing efficient SQL statements can be tricky. This is especially so for programmers new to a relational database environment or those who have never been trained to properly write SQL.
Useful SQL Techniques.
Database Trends and Applications, November 2010.
This month's DBA Corner column addresses a couple of useful SQL techniques for manipulating data using functions.
Consider Capping to Control Costs.
zJournal, October / November 2010.
Cost containment is an important criterion for IT departments in this day and age of financial austerity. But an often overlooked opportunity for controlling cost comes from capacity planning and management. This column describes intelligently automating soft capping your mainframe environment to reign in costs.
Defining Database Performance.
Database Trends and Applications, October 2010.
DBAs are accustomed to dealing with database performance problems. But before you can implement a truly successful database performance management plan, you need to define what is meant by "database performance." And that is the topic of this month's DBA Corner column.
The Database Report: 3Q2010.
The Data Administration Newsletter, October 2010.
The third quarter installment of "The Database Report" column with news of acquisitions, lawsuits, new product announcements, and quarterly earnings.
DB2 and Storage Management.
IDUG Solutions Journal, Summer 2010 (September).
As a DB2 IT professional, you know that your databases rely on some form persistent storage to maintain data. But perhaps you are not familiar with many of the details. This article discusses the importance of storage for DB2 administration. (PDF)
Managing Database Storage.
Database Trends and Applications, September 2010.
Managing storage often can be an afterthought for DBAs, but it is a vital component for assuring database availability and performance.
More DBA Proverbs.
zJournal, August / September 2010.
My 2009 z/Data Perspectives column introducing some DBA proverbs proved to be one of my more popular zJournal columns... so here are some additional wisdom that can be applied toward becoming a better DBA.
The High Cost of Enterprise Software.
Database Trends and Applications, August 2010.
This month's DBA Corner column tackles an issue that most DBAs have dealt with at one time or another... the difficulty of procuring needed enterprise software due to its high cost of acquisition.
Database Fundamentals.
Database Trends and Applications, July 2010.
A back to basics review of the fundamentals of data, databases, and database management concepts, issues, and terminology.
The Database Report: 2Q2010.
The Data Administration Newsletter, July 2010.
The second quarter installment of "The Database Report" column highlighted by SAP's proposed acquisition of Sybase, quarterly earnings announcements, acquisitions during the Q2, and more.
The 10 Database Commandments.
zJournal, June / July 2010.
People are drawn to lists to help them in just about every aspect of their lives. One of the more famous lists is the ten commandments (in the bible). Here is a less biblical, but perhaps more applicable list of rules for you -
Are DBAs Obsolete?
Database Trends and Applications, June 2010.
Every so often, some industry pundit gets his opinions published by declaring that "Database administrators are obsolete" or that "we no longer need DBAs." But is there any truth to that assertion? We examine this question in this month’s edition of the DBA Corner.
Analyzing Any Data, Anywhere, All the Time.
Database Trends and Applications, May 2010.
Stream computing, which involves the ingestion of data (structured or unstructured) from arbitrary sources and processing it, opens up a new world for information processing.
Performance Data -
IDUG Solutions Journal, Spring 2010 (May).
Although a DB2 performance monitor is probably the best method of gathering information about your DB2 for z/OS subsystems and databases, you can gain significant insight into your DB2 environment using the simple DISPLAY command.
What's All zTwittering About?
zJournal, April / May 2010.
Although the mainframe database landscape has been quite stable for the past two to three decades the advents of Linux for System z may be shaking things up a bit.
Data Security Is Not Just a Technology Problem.
Database Trends and Applications, April 2010.
Technology is a crucial component of protecting your valuable business data. But it is not the only thing. This month's column looks at non-
Assuring Data Integrity in DB2.
Quest ToadWorld Pipelines, April 2010.
DB2 provides many techniques to automatically enforce and maintain data integrity within your tables. This article describes these techniques and discusses their benefits.
The Database Report: 1Q2010.
The Data Administration Newsletter, April 2010.
The first quarter installment of "The Database Report" column covering the on-
A Quick Look at the Open Source DBMS Market.
Database Trends and Applications, March 2010.
This month's column offers up a review of the open source landscape for database management systems... which has become more interesting as Oracle continues its acquisitive ways.
Database Adventures in Linux for System z Land.
zJournal, February / March 2010.
Although the mainframe database landscape has been quite stable for the past two to three decades the advents of Linux for System z may be shaking things up a bit.
The Evaporation of Privacy.
Database Trends and Applications, February 2010.
An examination of our diminishing expectations of privacy by reviewing little pieces of paper that fall out of our monthly bills and account statements.
You Can't Force Data Quality.
The Data Quality Advisor, January 2010.
In the never-
Information Overload? No Such Thing!
Database Trends and Applications, January 2010.
This month I tackle the misguided notion of "information overload." you see, I'm of the opinion that you can never have enough information – at least regarding those things you care about.
The Database Report: 4Q2009.
The Data Administration Newsletter, January 2010.
The fourth quarter installment of "The Database Report" column covering the on-
