Highlights: Informix 11.5 xC7 developer edition and oat 2.28 available in the IIUG member area Welcome to the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) Insider! Designed for IIUG members and Informix user group leaders, this publication contains timely and relevant information for the IBM Informix community. Contents:
At The last IIUG conference in Kansas a new plan for Informix Revitalization was presented by IBM management. It was based on the following four imperatives: Delight the install base: Enhance the Informix client relationship and improve client loyalty. Build Strategic Differentiation: Fix the messaging and enhance the overall Informix value proposition to the market. Create Proactive Sales Culture: Develop a proactive, high-touch culture, with expansion into growth areas (embedded, etc). Build New, Profitable Revenue Streams: Build new revenue streams that capitalize on the strong and growing footprint of Informix. The 100 day grace period has passed nearly a month ago and it is about time to check what has been accomplished. I decided to ask my old friend and colleague, Gibi. Gibi has always been an optimist and a fanatic Informix fan. He always encouraged me when I had doubts or bad feelings about Informix. This time when we talked he had a very long face. "What are your feelings about IBM's plan to revitalize Informix?" I asked. "Let's look at those imperatives one by one" answered Gibi. "The Install base is anything but delighted. In the Informix Zone Survey (http://www.iiug.org/url/informix_zone_survey.html) our membership gives a clear answer. On the question: What is your opinion about IBM's renewed strategy around Informix?
Why are we feeling that way? The answer is very clear. IBM is ignoring its loyal install base. You are the Insider editor, how does it look from your point of view?" As the Insider editor it is crystal clear. There is no communication with IBM Informix Marketing - not even to promote the IOD conference. "You see!" cried Gibi, "And it is not just the Insider. Informix in the news does not exist. DB2 is all over the place with benchmarks, press releases, articles in Data Management magazine. DB2 is positioned as the alternative to Oracle. Looking at technical reviews comparing the two products: 'IBM DB2 Universal DataBase (DB2 UDB) provides rudimentary functionality for both high availability and data protection, and is multiple releases behind Oracle in terms of the breadth and depth of HA functionality.' It is easy to understand why Larry Ellison is not worried. The differentiation between DB2 and Informix is the difference between everything and zero. Let's move to the third imperative. The IBM sales force knows and sells DB2. The internal sales trainings are focused on DB2. Informix is hardly mentioned." "I don't know that," I told Gibi, "I do not attend internal sales training." "Well maybe you should." said Gibi, "In any case this is not a secret. The forth imperative relies on the first three so it has no chance either." Gibi gave a deep sigh. "What do you think?" he asked. I did not know what to say. Do you? If so please respond to this editorial. Gary Ben-Israel
Informix 11.5 xC7 developer edition and oat 2.28 available in the IIUG member area Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) V11.50 xC7 Developer Edition Just released July 2010 This version is exclusive to IIUG members for Development purposes only. It may not be sold or used in production systems. IBM Open Admin Tool for IDS V2.28 Just released July 2010 OpenAdmin Tool for IDS is the new GUI administration tool for IDS 11 and IDS 11.5. A PHP-based Web browser administration tool, the OpenAdmin Tool for IDS provides the ability to administer multiple database server instances from a single location. OpenAdmin Tool makes IDS administration easy by allowing you to drill down on resource usage and events, view query performance statistics, and much more. And since the tool is written in PHP and available as open source, you can customize it with your own business logic and installation requirements. Visit the Member Area at "http://www.iiug.org.
Advanced DataTools Informix Remote DBA/Support Offering Remote Technical and DBA support from Advanced DataTools helps small, medium and enterprise installations maximize their IBM Informix database performance and uptime while minimizing costs and overhead. We can help resolve and/or prevent the worst technical problems you could imagine! Advanced DataTools' staff of highly experienced, certified IBM Informix consultants are well trained in all levels of database performance and optimization. This allows us to offer our customers IBM maintenance and support contracts on most versions of Informix Dynamic Server, on any platform/operating system. Top experts in the field, Art Kagel and Lester Knutsen, manage and support our team of certified IBM Informix consultants. Art and Lester each have over 28 years of Informix DBA experience and both have received the IIUG Directors Award, and the Inaugural Data Champion award by IBM. Our Team can help save you time and money by assisting with:
Support is provided for every feature of IDS including:
What is available with a standard or extended Informix support agreement?
Informix Training - Online, Onsite or in Our Classroom Advanced Informix Performance Tuning Course by Lester Knutsen and Art Kagel Do you want to learn how to be the FASTEST Informix DBA? This is the course our Fastest Informix DBA contest was developed from and will increase your database performance tuning skills. This four day course focuses on techniques for optimizing an Informix Database. Labs will demonstrate more than 100% performance improvement. Each student will have a 4-core Linux server with IDS 11 and a large dataset for benchmark exercises and labs. Attend the class in person or online via our Web Training Center. Both Art Kagel and Lester Knutsen will be teaching the Advanced Classes together. This course is for database administrators and application developers who will be responsible for managing, optimizing, and tuning an IDS database server. The focus is on skills, procedures, and scripts to improve the performance of your database server. The course will provide a toolkit of scripts and utilities to start monitoring and optimizing your IDS database server. (Cost $2,000 USD) Course Schedule:
Class times are 9am to 5pm. Dress is casual. See http://www.advancedatatools.com/OurCompany/DirectionsMapsHotels.pdf for directions and hotels near Advanced DataTools. For more information or to register, visit http://www.advancedatatools.com/Training/InformixTraining.html or call 703-256-0267 x101. IBMSupport Take advantage of key benefits - ensure you renew your S&S When you renew your Software Subscription and Support you not only compliment but protect your software investments. To help you stay ahead and innovative, renewing your S&S will ensure that you continue to benefit from:
Learn more and remember to renew today! http://www.ibm.com/software/data/support/subscriptionandsupport?ca=augss Congratulations to the Support experts featured in our Support Profiles program! We are happy to announce the launch of our 2010 Support Profiles program. Please take the time to read their stories and discover the value that our Support experts have to offer. With this program, we can share in the confidence that you have in our products when you engage our WW Support organization. By leveraging our expert skills and knowledge you can gain a deeper understanding of IBM Software, better manage your products, and quickly resolve your critical issues. Read our profiles at http://www.ibm.com/software/data/support/profiles.html?ca=imsupport Events Immerse, engage and collaborate with IBM innovators Filled with deep technical content surrounding the IBM family of products and related industry trends, the IBM Software Technical Conference 2010 is designed to deliver in depth knowledge and insight to help you succeed. From traditional lectures to hands-on lab sessions, attendees will learn about real world scenarios, case studies, implementation details and best practices from recognized leaders in the field. We've also included lectures from key IBM architects on the future direction of the IBM Software Group product portfolio. There are many opportunities to network with other like-minded technical experts at the Conference. Visit the conference website to learn more: http://www.ibm.com/software/my/stc/ Books Start your summer reading now! Save 40% off IBM Press books IBM Press is the official publisher of IBM books for professionals and academia. Now you can save 40% off all IBM Press books and get FREE ground shipping in the US! Select from critical topics facing today's business and technology students and professionals. IBM Press books are an informative resource for knowledge that's critical for today's IT professional and throughout their careers. During checkout simply enter coupon code IBMTRAINING to apply the discount to your order. Learn more: http://www.ibm.com/services/learning/ites.wss/us/en?pageType=page&c=U418757K42919N63 Save 20% off on Books at the Information On Demand Conference 2010 The Bookstore will be open throughout the event, October 24-28, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Bayside Foyer, Level 1. The bookstore will stock over 200 titles including topics such as Business Intelligence, Database Management, Database Design, Analytics, Data Mining, XML, Modelling, SOA and more! All titles will be 20% off cover price. Learn more: http://www.ibm.com/software/data/2010-conference/bookstore.html Complimentary Certification Testing at the Information On Demand Global Conference Information Management Professional Certification exams will be available to registered attendees throughout Information On Demand 2010. Attendees may take up to three IM (including SPSS, Cognos and ECM) exams at no charge; a discounted fee of $100 USD for subsequent exams will apply. Learn more: http://www.ibm.com/software/data/2010-conference/certification-testing.html?ca=augnl Education US ONLY Learn how you can obtain a complimentary netbook just by taking an eligible IBM Training Class! Now you can receive a complimentary Lenovo S10-3 netbook after completing an eligible Information Management class. Simply enrol between now and October 29, 2010 and complete the class by December 17, 2010. Note this is a U.S. only promotion cannot be combined with other IBM discounts. Learn more: http://www.ibm.com/training/us/swgnetbook5 Registration is now open for Pre-Conference Education at the Information On Demand Global Conference Get an early start to building your skills at the Information On Demand Global Conference by attending one of our full day education classes. These classes will be offered on Sunday only, October 24th, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Take advantage of special pricing of US $499.00 and get a full day of education, delivered by professional IBM instructors at a discounted rate. Learn more: http://www.ibm.com/software/data/2010-conference/pre-classes.html?ca=augnlext Subscribe to Information Management Training RSS feeds for the latest on our new and updated courses Now you can have all the training information you need at your fingertips with IBM syndicated feeds. Simply browse the feeds by category, and select those that are of interest to you! Learn more: http://www.ibm.com/services/learning/ites.wss/us/en?pageType=page&c=a0015787 New Program: Profiling Young Professionals We have just launched a new program that profiles young professionals from around the world who have made a difference in their companies using IBM Information Management products. We are pleased to introduce you to the first in the series of Young Professional interviews entitled "Nick Geib- Enhancing the Informix database to meet the changing needs of businesses today". Read more: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/IM_Academic_Faculty/?lang=en
New in DeveloperWorks Generating XML from the Informix server
Accelerate Hibernate and iBATIS applications using pureQuery, Part 1: Using the IBM Integration Module for Hibernate and pureQuery
Embedded Informix: Think Inside the Box
IIUG User View: Big News for Informix
Informix DBA: Building Fast Data Warehouse Schemas: Part 2
News Bytes: IBM Data Management magazine, Issue 3 2010
For more information go to DeveloperWorks - Informix: http://www.iiug.org/url/devworks.html
Who loves Informix? You do? Tell IBM about it! If you are interested in sharing how Informix improves your business, IBM wants to hear from you. "Success story" information can be used in a number of ways. One option is to produce a case study that gets posted to ibm.com. See examples here: http://www.iiug.org/url/examples.html Additionally, it's valuable to capture a specific quote articulating the business value of Informix. This might come from a case study, or from someone who did not have time to do a case study but wanted to share some Informix impact. A quote can be used in Powerpoint presentations or appear on ibm.com such as here: http://www.ibm.com/software/data/informix/warehouse/ The goal of case studies and quotes is to articulate tangible Informix proof points. For example: "The xxxx capability of Informix allowed us to (save yy dollars, increase performance zz%, etc.) because (we reallocated nn DBAs to new applications, we required nn% less hardware, we avoided nn hours of planned outages with rolling upgrades)", and so on. IBM's client reference team will take the lead on developing the story, in full collaboration with you. Your final review and signature will be required before IBM uses any of the information you share. If you're ready to get started, please send an email to: IFMXwins@us.ibm.com
Discover the new face of Informix The next "Discover Informix Event" will be held on Thursday, September 16 at the Tech Museum in San Jose. Don't miss this unique opportunity to invite your clients to this exciting event. The session is followed by a complimentary lunch and tour.
Register today: http://www.iiug.org/url/tech_museum.html
Informix Blogs and things
http://www.iiug.org/quicklinks.html
The International Informix Users Group (IIUG) is an organization designed to enhance communications between its worldwide user community and IBM. The IIUG's membership database now exceeds 25,000 entries and enjoys the support and commitment of IBM's Data Management division. Key programs include local user groups and special interest groups, which we promote and assist from launch through growth.
For comments, please send an email to gary@iiug.org. |