k Current Abstracts for User Group Presentations
Current Abstracts for User Group Presentations

This is a list of suggested topics given at DB2 events over the last two years. If you are looking for a specific presentation that is not on this list, please let me know. I am always looking for new ideas to present to local DB2 User Groups and it does not take very long to write one of these things. You can contact me directly at Willie_Favero@BMC.com.

SQL for the 21st Century
Remember Outer Join, Table Check Constraints, and Nested Table Expressions? That's nothing compared to what you are going to see. Interested in SQL3 and how DB2 is handling it? This presentation covers all the latest advances in SQL for the DB2 family. It discusses the history of standards, from the first SQL through SQL-92, SQL3, and beyond, what affect standards have had on past version of DB2, and some just plain interesting things that have happened to SQL Over the years.
A First Look at DB2 UDB for OS/390 Version 6
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!"* With IBM's DB2, quite a bit. DB2 for OS/390 has changed names once again. It is now DB2 Universal Database Server for OS/390 Version 6. In addition, just as DB2 UDB Version 5 combined objects with relational for NT and Unix, DB2 UDB for OS/390 will do the same for the mainframe. Along with the power of objects comes a wealth of other new functions. Combined with the improvements to some of the features we have been using for year's makes this another exciting release. This TeleSeminar is intended to give you a first look at some of the more exciting enhancements in DB2 UDB Version 6. However, remember this new version of DB2 will not be available until sometime next year. Things may still change and probably will. This is just a high level overview of what IBM is currently planning to deliver in DB2 UDB Version 6. * -William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)
DB2 Stored Procedures - The Whole Picture
DB2 Version 4 became generally available in November 1995. Of the many exciting features being delivered in DB2 Version 4, one of the most anticipated was Stored Procedures. However, Version 4 did not satisfy all of the stored procedure requirements. It took DB2 Version 5 to do that. Now, with DB2's application of Stored Procedures, workstation and host based programs to take advantage of common code, utilize better security features, and better control enforcement of business rules. Still, the most significant feature of Stored Procedures is the reduction of network traffic and thus improving application performance. This presentation will take a detailed look at how Stored Procedures are implemented in DB2 Version 4 and how they have been enhanced in Version 5 and Version 6. It addresses what is needed in preparation for their implementation; coding and language considerations, how DB2 and the DB2 professional can manage them, and the new SQL introduced in DB2 Version 5 to support stored procedures. The primary focus of this presentation is DB2 Version 4 for MVS/ESA and DB2 for OS/390 Version 5. However, the changes made to stored procedures by DB2 Version 6 will be discussed This presentation is for the System Administrator, DBA, and Application Programmers. There is a little something here for everyone.
The Future of Database - Object-Relational
This presentation looks at the future of relation database by discussing how object are used, object terminology, and the relationship (or lack of in some cases) between objects and relational.
UDFs, UDTs, Triggers and Other Fun Things
Have you heard about object and relational technologies meeting somewhere around DB2? Do terms like strong typing, UDTs, UDFs, and triggers suddenly have a strange fascination to you? Do you have a sudden urge for more information about why these "things" are important in DB2 C/S, DB2 UDB, and the upcoming release of DB2 for OS/390? Then do not miss this presentation. This presentation gives a quick overview of what objects are, why DB2 needs them, and an introductory description of strong typing, UDT's, UDF's, Triggers, and Large Objects (LOB's). This presentation is based on DB2 for OS/390 and is appropriate for all audiences. Note: This presentation includes most of "The Future of Database" presentation.
Why Ask Why? Just EXPLAIN!
EXPLAIN is still one of the best ways to determine the potential performance of an SQL statement. However, over that the last few Versions of DB2 a number of enhancements have been added to the EXPLAIN process. In addition, DB2's optimizer is also experiencing many improvements. This presentation will look at EXPLAIN as it has matured through DB2 UDB for OS/390 Version 6. It will cover the Explain Tables, Explain Columns, access paths, influencing Explain, optimization of SQL and explaining EXPLAIN's Output.
Back to Basics: DB2 Recovery
Today, your data is your business. Too frequently though, backup and recovery tend to be an area that is overlooked, not emphasized enough, or simply just misunderstood. Very often, recoveries just are not performed enough to maintain the skill needed to run them properly. In fact, the continued change and maturing of DB2 can make it difficult to keep up with the latest and greatest features of copy and recover. What you sometimes need to do is just stop, step back for a minute, and get back to the basics. Questions I still here and some of the topics I will focus on are: Why do I make copies? Should I use full or incremental copies? SHRLEVEL Change or Reference? How frequently should I run my copies? How big should my active logs be? What is in SYSCOPY and SYSLGRNG and why should I care? What about merge copies and modifies, are they important and can they help me? Can I improve the performance of the recovery process? Is there anything new? This presentation answers these questions and more. It will benefit both the novice as well as the experienced DBA.
DB2 Recovery from Z to A
Today, your data is your business. Too frequently though, backup and recovery tend to be an area that is overlooked, not emphasized enough, or simply just misunderstood. Very often, recoveries just are not performed enough to maintain the skill needed to run them properly. In fact, the continued change and maturing of DB2 can make it difficult to keep up with the latest and greatest features of copy and recover. What you sometimes need to do is just stop, step back for a minute, and get back to the basics. Questions I still hear, and some of the topics I will focus on are: Why do I make copies? Should I use full or incremental copies? SHRLEVEL Change or Reference? How frequently should I run my copies? How big should my active logs be? What is in SYSCOPY and SYSLGRNG and why should I care? What about merge copy and modify, are they important and can they help me? Can I improve the performance of the recovery process? Is there anything new? This presentation answers these questions and more. It will benefit both the novice as well as the experienced DBA.
Version 5 Online REORG - All the Details
Continuos availability has always been an issue for IT. If your data is being continually updated, when do you get time to run your DB2 utilities? IBM has come up with a solution for one utility, REORG. DB2 for OS/390 Version 5 now allows you to run your REORGs concurrently with your update tasks. By specifying the new SHRLEVEL(CHANGE) option, a reorganization of your data can be performed with practically no disruption to any DB2 data change activity. This presentation has all of the details behind IBM's On-line REORG you should know before you start to use it. This presentation is appropriate form Application Programmers with a strong DB2 background, DBA's and System Administrators.
Behind the Scenes of DB2 Version 5 Utilities and Other Performance Hints
Well, we are finally understanding the significance of DB2 Version 4.1 and its effect on our shops. In fact, migrations to V4.1 are completing, or at least planning is underway. So, is it time to sit back and catch our breath? I think not. IBM has a new release of DB2 available: DB2 for OS/390 Version 5.1. This presentation will give you a look at how to take advantage of the utility improvements in Version 5 and how some of those improvements may give you some performance improvements. Included is also a discussion on the terabyte table space. In addition, performance improvements in other areas of DB2 Version 5 will also be discussed.
Unlocking the page in DB2: The Sequel
DB2 Version 6 has been announced and will be Generally Available (GA) sometime in 2000. In all of the discussions about new versions, Type 2 Indexes, Data Sharing and isolation levels, one term keeps popping up: Lock Avoidance. This technique, introduced way back in DB2 Version 3, allows DB2 to use latches rather than locks. There has been a limited amount of information describing lock avoidance available in the DB2 publications. This presentation attempts to fill that void. An update to the top 10 IDUG '95 presentation "Unlocking the Page in DB2," new information from the most current releases of DB2 has been added to help explain lock avoidance. Included are the details behind lock avoidance, a discussion of what a DBA or Application Programmer needs to be aware of when taking advantage of Lock Avoidance, an explanation of CURRENTDATA, and some of the pitfalls that might be encountered when implementing this new technique. The Isolation levels, Read Stability (RS) and Uncommitted Read (UR) are also briefly discussed.

This presentation was Best Overall Presentation at the 1996 IDUG European Conference.

Download in PDF Format (196Kb)

Package Implementation: Revisited
You have seen the movie; you have read the book. Now see the presentation! This presentation reviews how packages really work and answers those questions you have always wondered about. Performance issues are addressed by focusing on how the internal package search works. In addition, security issues and package implementation suggestions are included.
Disaster Recovery Planning for DB2 - An Introduction
Hot sites, off site testing, off site data storage; Are these terms familiar to you? If they are, you have probably taken the first steps in establishing a disaster recovery plan. This presentation will discuss the critical issues of disaster recovery in today's world as defined for DB2 in the DB2 Administration Guide. This presentation is also designed to promote discussion among the attendees so they can share their own experiences Any database professional interested in disaster recovery. This includes DBAs, system administrators, database manager, and disaster recovery staff.
It Keeps Getting Faster and Faster and Faster and Faster.......
(A Performance Perspective on DB2* for OS/390 Version 5 Enterprise Data Server)
Well, we finally understand the significance of DB2 Version 4.1 and its effect on our shops. In fact, migrations to V4.1 are completing, or at least planning is underway. So, is it time to sit back and catch our breath? I think not. IBM has a new release of DB2, DB2 for OS/390 Version 5.1, just around the corner and this presentation is going to give you a perspective on the performance improvements being delivered in Version 5. Improvements in Client/Server, Data Warehousing, and Transaction and Query processing are all addressed. By attending this presentation, you will find out the details behind runtime performance evaluation, new ways of using dynamic SQL, and how to split a query not just across multiple processors, but across multiple DB2 members in a data sharing group. What about larger table spaces or more partitions? Version 5 will give you a terabyte of data in a single table space and up to 254 partitions. There is also a new locking strategy for partition table spaces to reduce the number of locks acquired and lock contention. It is all delivered in DB2 for OS/390 Version 5. This new release is bigger and better and full of more interesting things to make our lives better. There is even an Online REORG and a Visual EXPLAIN. There is a little something for everybody.
DB2 for OS/390 Version 5 - What You Need to Know
We finally understand the significance of DB2 Version 4.1 and its effect on our shops. Migrations to V4.1 are complete, or at least planned and underway. So, is it time to sit back and catch our breath? I think not. IBM has another new release of DB2, DB2 for OS/390 Version 5, and this presentation is going to tell you all about it. This new release is bigger and better and full of more interesting things to make our lives better. DRDA has been enhanced (again) positioning DB2 to be "The Data Server" in the industry with native TCP/IP, ASCII tables, CLI/ODBC support, and stored procedure improvements. There are major performance improvements like Sysplex Query Parallelism. Usability has been addressed with SQL enhancements, utility changes, Visual EXPLAIN, and large table spaces. And these are just a few of the enhancements. There is a little something for everybody in Version 5. Whether you are an application programmer, DBA, or systems programmer, this presentation has something for you.
An Introduction to DB2's Data Sharing
DB2 Version 4 makes true data sharing, for both reads and writes of DB2's data, available. This may be one of the most significant enhancements to DB2 since the product introduction. This presentation is intended as an overview of functions' data sharing delivers. There will be information for the individuals planning data sharing's implementation along with a brief look at the hardware that is necessary. An overview of installation considerations is also included. Most of the presentation, however, will focus on how data sharing will effect performance and data recovery. No matter what area of DB2 you deal with, you will find valuable information in this presentation. This presentation does include information on the data sharing enhancements introduced in DB2 Version 5 and Version 6.
DB2's Type 2 Index
DB2 Indexes have intrigued and puzzled people since the first release of DB2. Choosing the right number of subpages, long synonym chains, insert and delete performance, and index page splits are just a few of the things that have generated many presentations and late night discussions over years. Now, with the announcement of DB2 Version 4 and its NEW Type 2 Index Manager, many of these old debates are about to end and many new ones about to begin. Many of you have either read the marketing literature or sat through an overview of Version 4 learning just enough about the Index Manager to wet your appetite. Now is your opportunity to hear the real story. This presentation brings to the audience in-depth information about the new Type 2 Index Manager. This knowledge will be invaluable during the planning of your Version 4 migration. Whether you are an Application Programmer, Database Administrator, or System Administrator, you will leave with a better appreciation for DB2's Index improvements.
Applying DB2 Version 4 SQL Enhancements
If being able to perform an Outer Join sounds exciting, you've not seen anything yet. DB2 Version 4.1 has arrived. This latest release of DB2 is rich in SQL changes covering both usability and conformance with the SQL ANSI standard. In addition, enhancements have been made to many aspects of the application processes making the product easier to use. This presentation takes a detailed look at the SQL extensions and enhancements, BIND improvements, and EXPLAIN changes in Version 4. Partition Scan, Outer Join, Table Check Constraints, and Nested Table Expressions are just a few of the topics covered. Summary: Application Programmers and Database Administrators are affected by the enrichments to DB2 Version 4. This presentation will not only tell you what enhancements have been made to DB2's SQL, but how to take advantage of these enhancements. Multiple examples using the SQL enhancements and extension in Version 4 will be included. Also, when applicable, explain output will also be used to show the effects of different SQL coding techniques. Some trace data may be used to support any performance predictions or warnings in the presentation. This session is intended to improve the DB2 skills of the attendee. The presentation is appropriate for Application Programmers, Application Managers, Database Administrators, DB2 Performance Analyst, any person participating in planning the move to DB2 Version 4, or anyone who just wants to get a jump on what might affect a DB2's system or application performance.

Return to WillieFavero.com