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All three offers on our IBM Information Management Books web page are expiring soon. Here are the details:

Buy IBM DB2 9 New Features & get 50% off select DB2 9 Certification!

This book has just been released and was written by key members of the IBM database product teams. It offers a concise roadmap to the new features of IBM DB2 Version 9 - the first major release of the database in five years. From now until May 15, 2007, when you visit your favorite US bookstore and purchase the IBM DB2 9 New Features Book (ISBN: 0072264594), you can receive a discount certification voucher good for 50% off one of the two new DB2 9 Certification Exams, 730 and 731. For more information, click here.

Pre-order and Save 35% Off The DB2 9 Fundamentals Certification Study Guide!

The long awaited new certification study guide by Roger Sanders is now available for pre-order from MC Press, with a discount of 35% until May 1, 2007! In DB2 9 Fundamentals Certification Study Guide, Roger Sanders one of the world’s leading DB2 authors and an active participant in the development of IBM’s DB2 certification exams covers everything a reader needs to know to pass the DB2 9 Fundamentals certification exam (Exam 730). The book includes sample questions in each chapter plus a complete practice test of 150 questions that closely models the actual exam. No other source gives you this much help in preparing for this exam.

Save 35% off the list price of Understanding DB2 9 Security

Until May 1, 2007, you can get one of the hottest new Information Management Books at 35% off cover price and even get free Fed Ex ground shipping in the US when you order from the IBM Press Bookstore. This new book is available in both a hard copy and an on-line version.

Understanding DB2 9 Security is the only comprehensive guide to securing DB2 and leveraging the powerful new security features of DB2 9. Direct from a DB2 Security deployment expert and the IBM® DB2 development team, this book gives DBAs and their managers a wealth of security information that is available nowhere else. It presents real-world implementation scenarios, step-by-step examples, and expert guidance on both the technical and human sides of DB2 security.

One of the authors of the book, Rebecca Bond has just held a Q & A session on the book. Check out the dialog and even download a sample chapter of the book before you order!

In order to receive this valuable discount, you must use promotion code BOND5709 during the check out process. To receive complimentary shipping in the USA, please be sure to select the ground option during checkout.

Don't wait till a conference to buy these books... you'll receive a much better deal with these offers than can be offered at conferences.

Susan[Read More]

If you are one of the many people who has earned an IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 UDB V8.1 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Certification... you'll be happy to know that the upgrade exam is now available for you to take. You'll only need to answer 38 questions and the price is only $75... half the price of Exam 731.

As with Version 8, there are two different exams that you can take to upgrade to the V9 DBA Certification:

1) Exam 736 - IBM Certified Database Administrator for DB2 9 for Linux, Unix and Windows, Upgrade Exam2) Exam 731 - IBM Certified Database Administrator for DB2 9 for Linux, Unix and Windows, Full Exam

The Upgrade Exam 736 is only an option for candidates who are already certified as an IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 UDB V8.1 for Linux, UNIX and Windows, but if you pass, will earn you the same certificate that you'd earn from passing Exam 731.

Exam Objectives

You must score 55% or greater to pass this exam.

Section 1 - Server Management (29%)

Understand the functionality of AUTOCONFIGUREAbility to manually configure communications (protocol image(IPV6))Ability to enable automatic maintenanceAbility to enable Self Tuning memory ManagerAbility to enable Utility Throttling

Section 2 - Data Placement (21%)

Ability to CREATE DATABASE (new default behavior)Ability to create and manage Automatic Storage tablespacesKnowledge of Table PartitioningKnowledge of Data Row Compression

Section 3 - XML Concepts (13%)

Ability to use XML Data typesAbility to create and manage XML indexesAbility to use basic XML functions (XMLPARSE, XMLSERIALIZE, XMLVALIDATE, XMLQUERY)Understanding XQuery fundamentalsUsing DB2 Utilities with XML data

Section 4 - Analyzing DB2 Activity (16%)

Ability to use DB2 Utilities (db2bfd, db2mtrk, db2pd)Ability to monitor deadlocksAbility to use Adminstrative routines and SNAPSHOT functions

Section 5 - High Availability (10.5%)

Ability to use RECOVER DATABASE commandKnowledge of High Availablity Disaster Recovery (HADR)

Section 6 - Security (10.5%)

Understanding of Label Based Access Control (LBAC)Knowledge of new authentication types

Assessment ExamsThere isn't an Assessment Exam for Exam 736, but it is suggested that you take the Assessment Exam for Exam 731 to gauge your readiness. There is a $10.00 fee per assessment test.

Schedule Your ExamIBM exams are offered worldwide at Prometric and VUE Testing Centers.

Explore Study ResourcesYou can choose from the number of recommended books, self-study tutorials and classroom courses that are available to assist you with your certification preparation.

Retail Books

IBM DB2 9 New Features by Paul Zikopoulos, George Baklarz, Leon Katsnelson, and Chris Eaton

Expert Preparation for IBM Exam 730: DB2 9 Fundamentals Certification Study Guide by Roger E. Sanders

Tutorials

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 1: Server management Learn skills that help you to properly manage your DB2 database servers. This tutorial provides information about data consistency, transactions and how they are initiated and terminated, and the use of locks.

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 2: Data placement Learn how to create DB2 databases, and about the mechanisms available for storing your tables, indexes, and data within the database. This tutorial focuses on partitioning, compression, and XML, which are all important performance and application development concepts that you need to know to store and access data quickly and efficiently.

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 3: Database access Take the various steps required to manage some of the objects within DB2. This tutorial includes overview information for topics such as indexes, constraints, referential integrity, and views.

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 4: Monitoring DB2 activity Become familiar with the different options a DBA has for tuning and configuring their DB2 environments. This tutorial shows you how to use the tools, functions, and applications available in DB2 9 that make this task much simpler.

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 5: DB2 utilities Find out what utilities are provided with DB2 servers for data movement and maintenance. This tutorial shows you how to extract data, populate tables, use the db2move, db2look and other commands, use the DB2 Control Center and much more.

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 6: High availability: Backup and recovery Learn how to protect your data using database backup and recovery. This tutorial explains the different methods of database recovery and logging, and how to use the backup, restore, and rollforward commands.

DB2 9 DBA exam 731 prep, Part 7: High availability: Split mirroring and HADR Learn how to use a split mirror to provide high availability and how to setup a high availability disaster recovery (HADR) system.

Classroom Courses

Title: DB2 Universal Database Administration WorkshopNumber: CF20 (Linux), CF21 (UNIX), CF23 (Windows)Length: 4 Days

Title: DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows TransitionNumber: CG09Length: 3 Days

Title: Query XML Data with DB2 9Number: CG10Length: 2 Days

Title: Query and Manage XML data with DB2 9Number: CG13Length: 4 Days

Title: Fast Path to DB2 9 for Experienced Relational DBAsNumber: CF28Length: 3 Days

Susan[Read More]

See the latest DB2 Magazine edition for an excellent article by Roger Sanders:

Could Label-Based Access Control be the Magic Bullet that Tames the Privacy Beast?

After reading the Distributed DBA column on database cloning for Linux, Unix, and Windows in DB2 Magazine, a reader who works in the heavily regulated banking industry cried out for help. How, he wondered, could he keep sensitive information away from developers' eyes without having to obfuscate multiple tables? "I think I'm searching for a magic bullet that doesn't exist." But does it exist? Columnist Roger Sanders thinks DB2 9 might offer a solution in the form of label-based access control. Find the answer, and lots of other useful information, in the DB2 Magazine Email Newsletter Volume 8, Issue 4.

Also on LBAC, see Rebecca Bond and her team's book Understanding DB2 9 Security

and

Web Chat: DB2 9: Securing your data with Label-Based Access Control

Replay of this Chat held on October 12, 2006 is now available.

Securing information assets and restricting data access to only those with the need to know is becoming a significant challenge for many organizations, especially in highly classified environments such as government agencies, armed forces, healthcare institutions, etc. Label-Based Access Control (LBAC) is a new security capability in DB2 9 that allows you to control access to your data at a very granular level. With LBAC you can limit data access at the row and/or column level based on security labels. Unlike traditional implementations of mandatory access control (e.g., Multilevel Security), the DB2 LBAC capability allows you to tailor the security label definition to best suit your application specific needs. DB2 LBAC integrates well with other DB2 capabilities (like data partitioning) and can be combined with such capabilities to offer an even stronger security.

Join Sal Vella, VP of DB2 Development, and Walid Rjaibi, Senior DB2 Software Engineer - Security and Privacy, for a deep dive into the LBAC capability in DB2 9 on Linux, UNIX, and Windows.

and

Article:DB2 Label-Based Access Control, a practical guide, Part 1: Understand the basics of LBAC in DB2 by Carmen Wong and Stan Musker.

Susan[Read More]

John Chun from DB2 Support sent me this list of articles and redbooks that he recommends to customers who create applications that run against DB2 servers:

1. IBM Redbooks: DB2 Express-C: The Developer Handbook for XML, PHP, C/C++, Java, and .NET

2. IBM DeveloperWorks article: DB2 packages: Concepts, examples, and common problems

3. IBM DeveloperWorks article: Solve common problems with DB2 UDB Java stored procedures

4. DB2 Magazine article: What’s Hot for Java

5. IBM Redbooks:Powering SOA with IBM Data Servers

Portal: Technical resources for IBM Information Management software

Portal: DB2 Express-C

Free version of DB2: DB2 Express-C: Free to build, deploy, distribute ... No limits

Susan

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Ready to validate your skills and demonstrate your IBM DB2 9 proficiency with Information Management Professional Certification? The IBM DB2 9 Application Developer Exam (733) is now ready for you to take to prove to yourself and others that your skills are current. Here are some crucial details about the exam:

Length: 70 questionsPassing score: 55%Duration: 90 minutes

Job Role Description:An IBM Certified Application Developer is an intermediate or advanced level application developer specializing in creating applications that run on any of the DB2 platforms: Linux, UNIX (including AIX, HP-UX, and Sun Solaris), and Windows, z/OS, s/390, and iSeries. This individual has strong skills in all common programming tasks as well as strong skills in one or more of the specialty areas: embedded SQL programming, ODBC/CLI programming, .NET programming or Java programming.

Prerequisites:To attain the IBM Certified Application Developer – DB2 9 certification, candidates must pass two exams (730 and 733) or be certified as an IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 Universal Database V8.1 (exam 700) and pass exam 733.

Exam Objectives:

* section 1 Database objects and Programming Methods 16% * section 2 Data Manipulation 26% * section 3 XML Data Manipulation 10% * section 4 Embedded SQL Programming 4% * section 5 ODBC/CLI Programming 4% * section 6 .NET Programming 7% * section 7 Java Programming 7% * section 8 Advanced Programming 14% * section 9 User Defined Routines 12%

Study Materials:Self Study Preparation TutorialsOn-line Professional Certification Assessment ExamsTake an IBM Exam at Thompson PrometricTake an IBM Exam at Pearson VUE

Suggested Redbooks that can help prepare for specific areas of the exam:

* DB2 9 pureXML Guide

* DB2 Express-C: The Developer Handbook for XML, PHP, C/C++, Java, and .NET

* DB2 UDB for z/OS Version 8: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, ... and More

* DB2 for z/OS Stored Procedures: Through the CALL and Beyond

For additional information, see the Information Management Certification website.

Susan[Read More]

Join us for The IMS Integration Suite: What, when, where, why, who and how questions answered teleconfence, Tuesday, April 10, 2007

You’ve been counting on IMS for years for the power of its transaction processing. Now that SOA has arrived, there’s no reason to stop. It’s possible to access your IMS application programs as Web services with direct access to IMS databases from service-based applications. With the right tools and techniques, you can easily integrate your existing assets with an SOA programming model.

In this teleconference, we’ll discuss the role of IMS in SOA implementations, and how IMS customers can leverage existing IMS applications and data in an SOA solution. You’ll learn about the IBM development tools and the IMS integration technologies that can be used to access IMS application programs and databases, as well as details on IMS V10 support for access to Web services.

You’ll come away with a good understanding of how to:

* Rapidly deploy Web services * Use the IMS database for XML documents * Simplify and reduce time or costs for application development * Integrate with Web services and SOA architecture

Speaker: Kenny Blackman – IBM Advanced Technical Support Group, IMS connectivity

In order to accommodate multiple time zones, the teleconference is offered at two separate times. Each will include a live Q&A session.

First Call: 9:30 am ET, 2:30 pm BST, 3:30 pm CET Second Call: 9:30 am PT, 12:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm BST, 6:30 pm CET Susan[Read More]

I blogged about this new voucher promotion last week.... we now have a link to this promotion on the amazon page for the book: IBM DB2 9 New Features and we're getting amazing response. Make sure you don't miss out!

Here is my original post:

Buy a book... get 50% off a certification exam! We only have a limited number of vouchers, so we're expecting to run out quickly. Be one of the first to get a voucher by buying a copy of the IBM DB2 9 New Features by Paul Zikopoulos, George Baklarz, Leon Katsnelson, and Chris Eaton. You don't need to buy the book from amazon, but you do need to send us proof of purchase.

Normally exams cost about $150 ... so this is a savings of $75. For full details, read: Voucher Promotion Details

Susan[Read More]

Join us for this webcast that will help you understand where DB2 is headed in the future...

IBM DB2 Chat with the Lab - Thursday, April 12th at 11 AM Eastern, 10 AM Central, 8 AM PacificBeyond DB2 Viper - Technology Trends and Directions

The next offering in IBM's Chat with the Lab series will feature Sal Vella, Vice President of DB2 Development for Linux, Unix and Windows and Les King, Program Director of the Data Services Portfolio, who will talk about the next release of DB2 on the distributed platform. A detailed look at key requirements that drive product plans in areas such as XML exploitation, manageability, scalability and performance, optimization and warehousing will be discussed.

Click here to register for the chat.

Susan[Read More]

A new membership tier for IDUG was supposed to launch on April 2, but I don't see it on their website yet... so I may be pre-announcing :) Anyone can continue to access the IUDG website as in the past, but if you become a Premier Member, you are eligible for additional benefits.

There are two ways to become an IDUG Premier Member:1)Your attendance at IDUG 2007 – North America includes an annual Premier Membership in IDUG (valid for one calendar from your date of activation), or2)For those who didn't attend an IDUG conference, an annual fee of $100 USD.

IDUG Premier Members receive:• IDUG Premier Member Card• IDUG Premier Lapel Pin

Benefits of being an IDUG Premier Member include:• Complimentary access to download-on-demand program content (streaming audio/video) delivered at IDUG conferences, beginning at IDUG 2007 – North America

* DB2 Developer Spotlight sessions * Keynote presentations * Panel discussions

• Discounted access to download-on-demand technical sessions (streaming audio/video) delivered at IDUG conferences, beginning at IDUG 2007 – North America

• Access to IDUG’s valuable podcast and Webcast series featuring interviews with and insights from leading developers and renowned industry experts

• Access to select members only areas of IDUG’s Web site, including the online Code Place, Technical Library, Discussion Forums and Solution Providers directory

• Significant discounts off the registration fee to any major IDUG event (North American conference, European conference, Australian Forum) applicable while your Premier Membership is active

• A 45% discount off technical book purchases from Prentice Hall (IBM Press)

• Automatic receipt of IDUG’s monthly e-Bulletin

• Plus more benefits which will be rolled out in the near future!

IDUG will email instructions and an application to everyone on their current distribution list. To learn more about IDUG Membership, visit the membership page on IDUG.org.

susan[Read More]

Now is the PERFECT time to validate your skills and demonstrate your IBM DB2 9 proficiency with Information Management Professional Certification. Ensure your success on exam day by taking advantage of our preparation resources.

IBM DB2 9 Database Administration for Z/OS Exam (732)

Length: 73 questionsPassing score: 57%Duration: 90 minutes

Job Role Description:The IBM Certified Database Administrator is the lead database administrator (DBA) for the DB2 9 product on the z/OS operating system. This individual has significant experience as a DBA and extensive knowledge of the DB2 9, specifically the new features and functionality related to Version 9. They are capable of performing the intermediate to advanced tasks related to database design and implementation, operation and recovery, security and auditing, performance, and installation and migration/upgrades specific to the z/OS operating system.

To attain the IBM Certified Database Administrator - DB2 9 for z/OS certification, candidates must pass two exams (730 and 732) or be certified as an IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 Universal Database V8.1 (exam 700) and pass exam 732.

Exam Objectives:

* section 1 Design and Implementation 26% * section 2 Operation and Recovery 29% * section 3 Security and Auditing 11% * section 4 Performance 29% * section 5 Installation and Migration/Upgrade 5%

Study Materials:Self Study Preparation TutorialsOn-line Professional Certification Assessment ExamsTake an IBM Exam at Thompson PrometricTake an IBM Exam at Pearson VUE

For additional information, see the Information Management Certification website.

Coming soon:1) New DB2 for z/OS Certification Study Guide by Susan Lawson and Daniel Luksetich.. to be published in June or July by MC Press. Pre-order information will be blogged about when the information is available.

2) IDUG pre-conference Crammer Course featuring Susan Lawson.

This is the month when many certification exams are launching. Stay tuned for more details!

Susan[Read More]