DB2 Viper really will have Venom!

There will be new data-compression technology, named VENOM, available in DB2 Viper that IBM believes could cut disk space requirements by over 50%.
It will work in a similar way to most compression software, by applying algorithms that will index repetitive duplicate data entries in new "dictionaries"

Clearly some DB2 tables will benefit substantially more than others, and the Venom compression Software will be available to be applied at table level.

IBM has tried DB2 compression before but the rumblings are that they have cracked it this time - so maybe we can look forward to some freed up IT budgets !!

More at:
http://www.managinginformation.com/news/content_show_full.php?id=4840

Early DB2 Viper community

More on DB2 Viper XML and XQUERY

IBM's next DB2 release (some time later this year) is code-named DB2 Viper and there are a number of significant advances. But here I am going to concentrate on the one I think is the most revolutionary – the support for XML data. This is something worth getting your teeth into, so read on and then browse through the extensive link list at the end of this article to get fully up to speed – included is the link straight through toIBM's Viper Test Drive page. XML data is the lifeblood of Service Orientated Architectures (SOA). It facilitates accesses to varied data formats across multiple platforms – and that is why IBM is pushing in this direction, SOA is their number one strategic direction and they know that enhanced XML support could (and probably will !) steal them a significant lead. ORACLE's response will be interesting. Current estimates suggest that only 20% of Enterprise data is stored in relational databases while 35-40% and rising is held in unstructured XML...

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WH
http://www.mainframe-upgrade.com/

IBM Mainframe On/Off Capacity on Demand

Temporary scheduled or unplanned increases in capacity are a headache IT managers and planners have long struggled to deal with. The need to avoid expensive mainframe upgrades for what may be a passing peak conflicts with the urgent business need to keep up and running, meeting the demands that will fuel profit and growth. Failure to cope with these peaks can be costly, both in terms of current business but also in terms of potential future business.

Don't rely on the Paracetomol or Ibubofren to see you through - especially if you have resorted to Jim Beam chasers !
Instead - read about IBMs Mainframe On/Off Capacity on Demand offering

WH
http://www.mainframe-upgrade.com/

More on .NET and the mainframe

Further to my .NET on the mainframe post on 5th April - those of you interested more in using .NET as a development enviroment to create Mainframe based web services (SOA) , rather than actually run .NET on the mainframe, should have a quick read of Bernie Domanski's zJournal article from June 2005 which explores this in some detail. He looks at .NET and other vendors offerings - including of course IBM Websphere.

Bernie is a man who talks sense! here is the article's conclusion -

"The mainframe remains vibrant. What’s changing are the development environments and the variety of robust integration strategies. Today, these are centralizing around Web Services technologies. Gradually, developers and vendors alike will be forced to adopt a more fluid SOA approach. What won’t change is the pivotal role of the mainframe. " Bernie Domanski - zJournal June 2005

Common sense in spades!

Learn more at Mainframe-Upgrade.com

Also - Read my full article on SOA and the Mainframe

William Hoffman
http://www.mainframe-upgrade.com/

DB2 Viper is imminent, so have a look at XQUERY !

DB2 Viper is round the corner and you now can even test drive it - see information at the IBM site http://www-306.ibm.com/db2/viper/ . So now may be the time to teach some old dogs some new tricks - because DB2 Viper will manage XML as well as conventional relational data - and you will be able to query the XML with XQUERY or SQL.

For a good introduction to XQUERY go to http://www.w3schools.com/xquery/default.asp for an informative tutorial. And IBM has written and SQL/XML article on how to query XML Data with SQL at http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/techarticle/dm-0603saracco2/

The native XML support in DB2 Viper looks good for the SOA and Business Integration bandwagon and things will start to pick up pace once its out of beta. I for one feel this is a major development and will reposition IBM favourably against its major rivals - particularly ORACLE. Watch this space.

Bill H 2006
http://www.mainframe-upgrade.com/

.NET on the Mainframe

Here we go – we are now entering the era of .NET on the mainframe thanks to the Mono Project and zLinux (and Unix Specialist Services on z/OS – USS). If you have Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) and are itching to break new ground then .NET on the mainframe could be just the ticket.
Some people may be asking why on earth you would want .NET on the mainframe, especially given Microsoft's poor record on portability, but the migration of existing applications and the leverage of available .NET skills may make it both compelling and profitable for some.

For a closer look at the Mono projects - and more on the arguments for .NET on the mainframe

Read More >>

WH 2006
http://www.mainframe-upgrade.com/