 Craig S. Mullins
|
| Craig S. Mullins
|
 |
Craig
Mullins
Published Articles Index by Year: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 and older Index by Topic: DB2 | SQL Server | Oracle | DBA | News | Humor | Misc. | Mainframe My Columns: DBA Corner | The Database Report | z/Data Perspectives | The Buffer Pool My
Blog(s):
Perspectives on Database Management |
DB2 for z/OS and Mainframes |
Data
Management Today |
|
Data
Management DB2 for z/OS and Mainframes blog at DB2portal.com
Perspectives on
Access "DB2 Developer's Guide" online at Safari
Log Buffer #119, David Edwards NEON Enterprise Software to Host Webinar about Preventing Data Breaches with Guardium for Mainframe, NESI Press Release NEON Enterprise Software News, July 2008 NESI Newsletter Web Hosting Provider The Planet Hosts Forum on IT Compliance and Risk Management, Web Hosting News Old, But Still Around, Systems Management News. NEON’s Craig Mullins Named Co-Chair of 100 Year Archive Committee, NESI Press Release Log Buffer #89, Shakir Sadikali Sarbanes-Oxley and the DBA, Certification Magazine Data Management Capability Maturity Model, Whitemarsh Log Buffer #69, David Edward IBM's On Demand Conversation Getting Stale, eWeek Magazine A Year in Blogs, Trevor Eddoll's Mainframe World Blog Log Buffer #63, Craig S. Mullins Log Buffer #62, David Edward Getting Your Priorities Right, SSWUG, Stephen Wynkoop Log Buffer #55, Jeremy Schneider Failover Database Reuse Not For All, Government Computer News Archive Strategies for OLTP Servers, Part 3, Xaprb Log Buffer #49, Coskan Gundogar Log Buffer #45, Doug Burns Log Buffer #42, David Edwards VSAM to DB2 Conversions: Expert Advice, Kathryn Marquis Log Buffer #41, David Edwards Log Buffer #40, David Edwards Log Buffer #39, die Seilerwerks Arcati Yearbook 2007, Trevor Eddoll's Mainframe World Blog Log Buffer #31, David Edwards Log Buffer #30, David Edwards Log Buffer #27, Planet PostgreSQL Another opinion about when to do a DB2 bind, Willie Favero's Getting the Most Out of DB2 for z/OS Blog Log Buffer #22, Brian Kelley's Blog Log Buffer #21, Adam Machanic's SQL Server Blog Spot Log Buffer #20, Lisa Dobson's Oracle Newbies Blog Log Buffer #19, Jay Pipes' MySQL Camp Blog Log Buffer #17, The Pythian Group The Non-Technical Art of Being a Successful DBA - Excelling at Verbal and Written Communications, Chris Foot's Oracle Blog Log Buffer #16, Guy Bowerman's Informix Blog Log Buffer #14, The Pythian Group Log Buffer #13, Technical Notes and Articles of Interest Log Buffer #12, The Data Charmer Log Buffer #5, The Pythian Group Craig Mullins Joins NEON Enterprise Software, Inc., DBTA 5 Minute Briefing NEON Enterprise Software, Inc. Hires Database Management and Administration Expert Craig S. Mullins, TMCnet.com NEON Enterprise Software, Inc. Hires Database Management and Administration Expert Craig S. Mullins, NESI Press Release The Database of Databases, Drew Robb, Government Computer News The Importance of Soft Skills, Chris Foot, dbazine.com
Career
Spotlight: Database Administrator, Allan Hoffman Highly Respected Authority in Database Community Craig Mullins Tapped to Spearhead Embarcadero Technologies Product Strategy Initiatives, BNET Research Center Highly Respected Authority in Database Community Craig Mullins Tapped to Spearhead Embarcadero Technologies Product Strategy Initiatives, Embarcadero Press Release On Cloud Nine With Fives Nines, Elizabeth Millard, The Processor Craig Mullins Gives Two Thumbs Up to EMPRESS Embedded Database, Empress Press Release
Another Use for Views, Advice for Potential DBAs, Don Burleson
Backward Looking
Forward, DB2 With Craig Mullins, Expert Answer Center
Buttering Up the End User, View from the Top - Part 3, dbazine.com View from the Top - Part 2, dbazine.com View from the Top - Part 1, dbazine.com Web Services, BI Fuel DBA Job Market, searchdatabase.com Report from DAMA + Meta-data Conference, DSS News Date Defends Relational Model, searchdatabase.com DBAs, Developers Keep Alibis Handy, searchdatabase.com Remote DBAs: Not the Next Big Thing, searchdatabase.com
Automation
Alley DB2
Questions from the Experts - Part 3 DB2
Questions from the Experts - Part 2 DB2
Questions from the Experts - Part 1 Where
do you Want to Go Next? Who's
#1? BMC Software Appoints Craig S. Mullins as Director of DB2 Technology Planning, Reinforcing its Commitment to OS/390 Solutions, BMC Press Release
Trends & Insights: Is There Life Beyond Wizards?
SQL Server Magazine A DB2 is a DB2 is a DB2, Software Magazine
|
Craig Mullins: Articles Published in 2008
Reoptimizing
SQL. This month in z/Data Perspectives we examine ways to re-optimize dynamic and static SQL, as well as the potential benefits of doing so.
Safeguarding Financial Data
from the Foxes in the Henhouse. Auditing who did what to which data when... and how... is a crucial requirement for financial data, especially given the increasing role of regulatory compliance on financial institutions and the data they manage.
Change
Control for DB2 Access Paths. This article discusses best practices methodologies for assuring optimal performance by rigorously controlling changes to your DB2 plans and packages.
What Every Good CIO Needs to Know About Mainframe Database Auditing. Regulatory compliance has become a critical aspect of the IT landscape, and is a big component of every CIO’s job... and nowhere is compliance more crucial than in mainframe database management. A growing number of regulations dictate increased efforts be made to better secure and protect the accuracy and privacy of enterprise data. Since the most valuable enterprise data frequently is stored in a mainframe database, organizations must implement more robust auditing capabilities into their DB2 and IMS environments.
On Becoming a DBA. This month's DBA Corner column tackles one of the most common questions I am asked: "How can I become a DBA?"
DB2 9 Data
Format "Stuff". This month in z/Data Perspectives we take a look at all of the new features and functionality that impact the format of DB2 databases and structures.
Database Auditing
Capabilities for Compliance and Security. As the list of government regulations that organizations must understand and comply with grows, the compliance pressure intensifies on the data stored in corporate databases. Data professionals need to be more vigilant in the techniques used to protect their company’s data, as well as to monitor and ensure that sufficient protection is in place. Such requirements are driving new and improved software methods and techniques. One of these techniques is database auditing.
The 17
Skills Required of a DBA. Implementing database administration appropriately and effectively in your organization requires careful thought and planning. At a primary level, though, you need to be able to describe what a DBA must be able to do. This article condenses the basic requirements into 17 basic skills that make a successful DBA.
The Database
Report: 2Q2008. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the second quarter of 2008, spanning April thru June.
Consider Data Access Auditing to Classify Database Data. A detailed classification of which data is being used, how it is being used, and when it is being used is required to align data with appropriate regulations and storage types. This article suggests one method for creating such a classification scheme.
The Rise of
Dynamic SQL. This month in z/Data Perspectives we examine the factors contributing to the increasing popularity of dynamic SQL in DB2 applications and systems.
The Growing
Importance of Metadata. Without metadata data cannot be turned into information. But aside from this fact, governmental regulations require the classification of data, which is also impossible without metadata. On Recovery
Service Levels. Well-planned recovery procedures should be able to assure a complete recovery of enterprise-critical data within a pre-defined time window that provides for minimum disruption of the business. However, within complex environments, it is nearly impossible to perform recovery tests without disrupting the production system. With these issues in mind, this article examines the risk management of business availability, especially focusing on database health.
The Cost of
a Data Breach. If you read the It press these days you know that data breaches are quite pervasive. We keep hearing about data being lost, stolen, and nefariously accessed. It is all enough to give a data professional a throbbing headache. But what is the actual cost of these data breaches?
Use
Real Time Statistics to Automate Your Database Maintenance. This month in z/Data Perspectives we examine the Real Time Statistics (RTS) and the benefits that can be accrued by using RTS.
The Database
Report: 1Q2008. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the first quarter of 2008, spanning January thru March. Database Data Needs Long-Term
(100 Year) Archiving Solution. Long-term data retention is a reality. And in this edition of the DBA Corner column I review a recent survey on archiving and relate the findings to the retention and preservation of database for long durations. Collecting
Histogram Statistics With RUNSTATS. This article discusses one of the many new enhancements that have found their way into DB2 9 for z/OS -- the ability to gather histogram statistics with the IBM RUNSTATS utility.
An Update on Data Professional's Salaries. In this edition of the DBA Corner, I review the recent salary surveys with a particular emphasis on the pay for data-related jobs.
Much Ado About DB2 Locking. This month in z/Data Perspectives we examine the new locking-related features of DB2 for z/OS.
Keeping Up With The DBMS. One of the more troubling aspects of the DBA job these dayss is keeping up with the latest version of the DBMS. A typical release cycle for DBMS software is 18 to 24 months for major releases with constant bug fixes and maintenance delivered in between major releases. Indeed, keeping DBMS software up-to-date can become a full-time job. Compliance Needs Drive Data Access Auditing
Requirements. An increasing number of regulations are being passed that require effort to be exerted to better secure and protect the accuracy and privacy of enterprise data. This expanding need for data auditability is the focus of this issue's column. Data Management Made News in 2007. In this month's edition of DBA Corner I take a look back at the machinations within the database market over the past year.
The Database
Report: 4Q2007. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the Fourth quarter of 2007, spanning October thru December.
The Evolution of Database Security. This month in z/Data Perspectives we examine the many improvements in the security features and functionality available in today's database management systems.
Index: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 and older
Craig Mullins: Articles Published in 2007
Utility TEMPLATE Switching in DB2 9 for z/OS. This article discusses a helpful new DB2 Version 9 feature that can be used with multiple utilities: TEMPLATE switching. The Most Important
Thing is Recoverability. If you can't recover your databases after a problem then it doesn’t matter how fast you can access them. So how can anyone deny that recoverability is more important than performance?
Data Quality Starts With Proper Data Type. Choosing the proper data type and length for each column in each table is the first step to improving data quality. This article outlines the impact of proper data types on database integrity. Data Access Auditing: A
Compliance Requirement. One of the more useful techniques to protect your company’s database data is via data access auditing, which is a facility for tracking the use of, and modifications made to, database resources and authority. New Data Types in DB2 9 for
z/OS. DB2 9 for z/OS offers five new data types for us to make use of and this articles examines each of them in a little detail.
DB2 Encryption Support Keeps
Improving. This month in z/Data Perspectives we examine DB2's encryption capabilities on z/OS and the improvements made to encryption in Version 9. Tracking Data Access for Compliance. Increased regulations demand the implementation of policies and procedures to protect sensitive healthcare data. Medical professionals must be ever vigilant in the techniques used to manage and protect the data under their care. And that means companies have to perpetually monitor their systems in order to know who did exactly what, when and how - to their data. The Impact of Data Volume on
Operational Databases. This month in the DBA Corner we explore the negative impact that ballooning data volumes have on operational database performance and maintenance... and we show how database archiving can be a solution to the problems created with large databases.
The Database
Report: 3Q2007. Another edition of my quarterly column titled "The Database Report." This installment covers news in the DBMS community for the Third quarter of 2007, spanning July thru September 2007.
Electronic
Discovery: It's Not Just About e-Mail. Most organizations have policies that focus on e-mail retention because of the highly publicized e-discovery cases that relied on information discovered in e-mail communications. But it is critical that retention policies not stop there. The transactional data stored in database systems also must be readily accessible in the event of an e-discovery request.
Simplified Database Search. This month in the DBA Corner we ruminate on methods of enabling an easier-to-use search capability for production databases much like the ubiquitous search capability available on the web.
The
Buffer Pool:
Regulatory Compliance and
Database
Archiving. In this issue's column we address the archiving of data from operational databases to support long-term data retention regulations.
DB2 9 for z/OS Improves LOB Support. In this month's edition of the z/Data Perspectives we look at the many improvements IBM has made to DB2's support for Large OBjects in Version 9.
Database Access Auditing:
Who Did What to Which Data When? Tracking who does what to which specific piece of data is important because there are many threats to the security of your data. This article outlines the issues and proposes some guidelines for a database auditing solution.
Financial Institutions' Sensitive Data Requires Careful Archiving. Many regulations impact the need to retain data for long durations, and this is especially so for data under the care of financial institutions. This article provides guidance on techniques for archiving data to assure regulatory compliance for sensitive financial information.
Data Quality Starts With Proper Data Types. This month's DBA Corner column pontificates on the importance of choosing the proper data type and length for each column in each table and how this simple task is the most fundamental integrity aspect of database design for integrity.
Database Access Auditing:
Who Did What to Which Data When? Tracking who does what to which specific piece of data is important because there are many threats to the security of your data. This article outlines the issues and proposes some guidelines for a database auditing solution.
The Database
Report: 2Q2007. Another edition of my quarterly column titled "The Database Report." This installment covers news in the DBMS community for the Second quarter of 2007, spanning April thru June 2007.
A Good Book on Physical Database Design. This month's DBA Corner column offers up a review of an intriguing new book on physical database design called, appropriately enough, Physical Database Design by Sam Lightstone, Toby Teorey, and Tom Nadeau. The Next Tipping Point: Regulatory
Compliance and Data Management. In this month's edition of the zData Perspectives column I attempt to predict the nature of the next tipping point in the world of IT. What is a tipping point and why should you care? You'll have to click on the link above and read the article.
A Forced Tour of Duty. This month's DBA Corner column offers a modest proposal for new IT professionals. Managing DB2 Access
Paths. This article discusses the importance of adopting a liberal approach to rebinding DB2 application programs in order to benefit from up-to-date statistics and optimization techniques.
The Impact of e-Discovery on Data Management. The laws and practices that govern the production of evidence in courts of law are changing, and it will have a significant impact on data management. This month's DBA Corner column discusses why this is so. If You Ain't 8 You're Late. The purpose of my column in this issue of zJournal is to look at the status of the DB2 for z/OS community and to convince you to migrate to V8 if you have not done so already.
The
Buffer Pool:
DB2 Database Performance Fundamentals. This article offers an introduction to the basic premises and notions behind performance management of relational databases in general, and DB2 in particular.
Database Archiving for
Long-Term Data Retention. Governmental regulations are increasing in number and frequently dictate the amount of time organization must retain different categories of data. To be in compliance with the rules organization will need to focus on regularly archiving their database data in an accessible format. This article discusses the high-level requirements for database archiving. The Return of the Repository? As regulatory compliance increases and data governance gains prominence will the Repository encounter a resurgence in popularity?
The Database
Report: 1Q2007. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the First quarter of 2007, spanning January thru mid-March. Data Governance is More Than
Regulatory Compliance. Data governance has become a code word for preparing your databases for regulatory compliance. But instituting a comprehensive data governance practice involves much more than just compliance. DB2 9 for z/OS: No V for z. The beta program for the next version of DB2 for z/OS began back in June of 2006. So it is high time we took a glimpse at what this latest and greatest version of DB2 has to offer. Two Good New Year's Resolutions
for a DBA. If you're a DBA who just can't seem to come up with a good New Year's resolution or two, let me suggest a couple for you... Efficient SQL Coding Basics. Poorly coded SQL and application code can cause performance problems. This article offers guidance on the basics of good SQL programming for DB2 application developers.
DB2
z/OS Index Creation Guidelines. A list of recommendations to follow when deciding how to index your mainframe DB2 tables. Types of DBAs. There is not just one simple job "out there" with the title database administrator (or DBA). There are actually many jobs that fall under the larger discipline of database administration and this article documents the most popular DBA roles.
Change
Control for DB2 Access Paths. This article discusses three SQL tips for DB2 that can be used in certain situations to streamline your code. One tip deals with dates, another with removing extra spaces, and a third with aggregating aggregates.
The Database
Report: 4Q2006. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the Fourth quarter of 2006, spanning October thru December. Database
Archiving for Long-Term Data Retention. Governmental regulations are increasing in number and frequently dictate the amount of time organization must retain different categories of data. To be in compliance with the rules organization will need to focus on regularly archiving their database data in an accessible format. This article discusses the high-level requirements for database archiving. Index: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 and older
Craig Mullins: Articles Published in 2006 The Two Biggest Database
Performance "Things". Although the performance of database systems and applications can be impacted by numerous factors, paying close attention to two "things" can minimize database performance problems.
The
Buffer Pool:
Why Haven’t
You Started Using Real Time Statistics? Maintaining efficient DB2-based systems requires analyzing your database objects. But how can you ensure that you are getting up-to-date statistics on your objects? Well, one way is to use Real-Time Stats (RTS). In this edition of The Buffer Pool we will examine RTS and how they can help optimize your DB2 administration tasks. The Lifecycle of Data. Data proceeds through a predictable lifecycle as it advances through applications and business processes. Understanding this lifecycle can help to better prepare organizations for dealing with data governance and regulatory compliance issues as they impact your corporate data.
DB2 9 for z/OS Roars to Life. A short introductory article covering the highlights of the next version of DB2 for z/OS, including coverage of XML, online schema evolution advances, new query capabilities, security and performance improvements, and features removed from DB2 9. To Rebind or Not to Rebind: Is
That a Question? One of the most important contributors to the on-going efficiency and health of your DB2 environment is proper management of DB2 access path changes. In this article we discuss how a thorough REBIND management process is a requirement for healthy DB2 applications. Database
Archiving for Long-Term Data Retention. The onslaught of governmental regulations is causing organizations to expand the amount of time they retain data. This requires that database data is archived regularly in an accessible format. Read this article to understand the requirements of database archiving.
The Database
Report: 3Q2006. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the third quarter of 2006, spanning July thru September.
The
Buffer Pool: Change Control for DB2 Access Paths. On-going analysis and management of DB2 access paths is important to ensure DB2 application performance. Yet many organizations fail to keep access paths up-to-date. In this edition of The Buffer Pool column we examine access path change management and look at some methods for introducing a better change control discipline for DB2 access paths. Databases Must be
Archived for Long-Term Data Retention. In this month's DBA Corner column we take a look at database archiving and the regulations that are driving its adoption in organizations. DBA Change Management. In this month's DBA Corner column we take a look at the various change management challenges faced by database administrators.
BAR your
Enterprise from Data Loss. An introduction to Teradata's new Backup Archive and Restore (BAR) solution outlining the various backup architectures and how to use BAR to improve Teradata backup and recovery operations. z/Data Perspectives: It's Time
for Real Time Stats. Although Real Time Statistics (RTS) have been available since just after V7, the feature is not widely implemented. This edition of the z/Data Perspective column discusses the benefits of RTS and urges DB2 shops to use RTS to maintain DB2 statistics “on the fly.” Planning for
Future Capacity. This month's edition of the DBA Corner column examines capacity planning issues from a database perspective. Data
Professional's Salaries. This month's edition of the DBA Corner column examines data professional's salaries as reported by various surveys and reports.
The Database
Report: 2Q2006. This installment of "The Database Report" covers DBMS industry new for the second quarter of 2006, spanning April thru June. z/Data Perspectives: The Basics
of DB2 Buffering. Memory usage is one of the most important areas for tuning DB2 subsystem performance. The better memory is allocated to buffers, the better DB2 will perform.
Gaining Knowledge
Through Process Mining. Process miningit is a growing discipline similar to data mining. Data mining is an analytical process using heuristics to explore large sets of data in search of consistent patterns and relationships. Process mining deploys similar tactics using event logs.
A Few SQL Tips
and Techniques. This article discusses three SQL tips for DB2 that can be used in certain situations to streamline your code. One tip deals with dates, another with removing extra spaces, and a third with aggregating aggregates. Do Data
Security Breaches Require a Data Professional's Oath? Data security should be an important aspect of the data professional's job duties. But with the increasing instances of data breaches it is reasonable to question just how important security is -- or isn't.
Supplying
Intelligence. An overview of Teradata's SeeChain supply chain management software that lets users take action to solve supply chain problems before they happen. Co-written with Rick Lower, solutions manager in Teradata’s demand and supply chain marketing department The Last Date of the Century. A short article detailing how to use SQL in DB2 to retrieve the last date of a given century. Database Standards and
Procedures. Even though it has been said that the best thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from, corporate standards and procedures for using database systems are important for ensuring smooth operational applications and systems.
The
Buffer Pool: A Few SQL Tips and Techniques. It is always a good idea to keep your bag of SQL tricks filled with techniques to help you deal with troubling application development problems. This article goes over a few tips that might just help your out of a difficult spot.
z/Data Perspectives: Regulatory
Compliance and Data Governance. In this z/Data Perspectives column we discuss the impact of governmental regulations (such as Sarbanes-Oxley) on data and database management policy.
Social Networks: A
Whole Different Reality Under the Radar. Does your company’s organizational chart accurately depict how things actually work in your company? Perhaps not. There is an underlying social infrastructure that exists in most organizations. It is informal, but functionally powerful. This article explores this phenomenon and the impact it can have on your business. Data Security
and Privacy: Concerns of the DBA? One of the biggest growing concerns for data professionals is the treatment of data in terms of security, personal privacy, and the potential for abuse. This installment of the DBA Corner takes a look at these concerns.
A Guide to DB2
Locking – Part
3. In this third and final installment of a three-part series (adapted from my book, DB2 Developer’s Guide) on locking in DB2 for z/OS, we expand to cover locking in a Data Sharing context, and then offer some basic guidelines for implementing efficient locking in your DB2 systems.
The Database
Report: 1Q2006. This first installment of 2006 of "The Database Report" covers the latest breaking news in the DBMS industry for January thru March 2006.
A Guide to DB2
Locking – Part 2. In the second of a three-part series (adapted from my book, DB2 Developer’s Guide) on locking in DB2 for z/OS, we extend our understanding of DB2 locking by examining the types of locks, claims and drains, and lock avoidance. On Data and Database
Administration. Data and database administration are complementary roles. It is important to know the differences between the roles - and to remember that both are required in order to effectively manage business data.
Model-Based Development and Management. In this z/Data Perspectives column we discuss how an integrated solution for modeling can help streamline information exchange and enable organizations to effectively translate disparate requirements in context.
The
Buffer Pool: A View Review. The manner in which views can be utilized to provide the greatest benefit can be an area of disagreement between DB2 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 with DB2.
A Guide to DB2
Locking – Part 1. In the first of a three-part series (adapted from my book, DB2 Developer’s Guide) on locking in DB2 for z/OS, we examine the high-level basics of DB2 locking, including the reason a DBMS needs a locking mechanism, locks versus latches, the BIND parameters that impact locking, and the impact on your programs.
Do
The Simple Things First. Sometimes we can get too caught up in making things more complex than they really are. By concentrating on the simple things, and making sure we get them done correctly, we can greatly improve the manner in which we administer and use DB2. Database
Design and the Internet. When databases are designed for e-business applications the tendency is for the DBA to get swept up in the dynamics of web-based design and development. This can be a dangerous mistake when designing databases. This column examines why this is so. Database
Storage Management. Storage management can be quite complex, but when you factor in multiple different database platforms on a variety of operating systems, managing storage becomes extremely challenging.
Assuring Data Integrity in DB2.
(Part 2) In part 1 of this article, we discussed some of the mechanisms DB2 uses to maintain data integrity. Part 2 of this article discusses more of these mechanisms, highlighting check constraints and their guidelines, code constraints, and more.
The Database
Report: 4Q2005. This year-end installment of "The Database Report" covers the latest breaking news in the DBMS industry for the fourth quarter of 2005.
Index: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 and older Craig Mullins: Articles Published in 2005 Top Five DB2 V8 Transition Do’s
and Don’ts. This z/Data Perspectives column provides guidance on things to avoid and things to plan for as you begin to migrate from DB2 V7 to DB2 V8 on the z/OS platform.
Model-Based Development and Management. An integrated solution for modeling can help streamline information exchange and enable organizations to effectively translate disparate requirements in context. With an integrated model-based approach, data and metadata can be more smoothly and accurately passed across functional boundaries.
DBA Staffing Considerations. It can be difficult to determine the optimal number of DBAs required to keep an organization's databases online and operating efficiently; this short article suggests some metrics.
Use DBA Tools to Assure Efficient Data Management. Although database administration is required to ensure the efficient and proper design and care of the data in production databases, today’s database systems do not deliver all of the needed functionality required to support large-scale development. In this column we briefly review the many types of data management tools that are available to enhance the functionality of your DBMS. SQL Performance Tuning Basics. This z/Data Perspectives column offers some basic SQL tuning guidelines and rules to help guide you along the path toward building efficient DB2 applications.
The
Buffer Pool: Simple Things First. Simplicity is the theme of this installment of The Buffer Pool column. By concentrating on the simple things, and making sure we get them done correctly, we can greatly improve the manner in which we administer DB2. Database Archiving Solves Many
Issues. Database archiving solutions can be implemented not only to tackle on-going database and data growth, but also to help improve performance, increase availability and lower costs.
The Database
Report: 3Q2005. Read "The Database Report" to hear all about the latest news regarding database management systems and the most popular DBMS vendors. The Log is the Database. Database transactions logs are a rich source of information that should not be ignored. Evaluating DB2 Tool Vendors. In this installment of the z/Data Perspectives column we explore the proper questions to ask -- and have answered -- when you are shopping for DB2 tools.
Assuring Data Integrity in DB2. (Part 1) DB2 provides many techniques to automatically enforce and maintain data integrity within your tables. This article describes these techniques and discusses their benefits.
The Aging Mainframer. We continue to hear that the mainframe is dead, but is that really so? More important than the actual hardware is the people who manage it. Where will new mainframers come from? Recommended Additions to the DBA
Bookshelf. New database books are being published all the time, but which ones are actually worth buying? This month's column examines three recent books that are worth DBA's time and effort to purchase and read.
The Database
Report: 2Q2005. This edition of the quarterly column, "The Database Report," covers the latest news in the DBMS industry including: Oracle's acquisitions, IBM's Viper, and Microsoft TechEd (among other news).
Database Auditing: The DBA Corner. Database auditing enables DBAs to track the use of database resources and authority. Auditing has many uses and can be accomplished in different ways. This column examines several way to implement database auditing. Twenty-Two Years of DB2. DB2 has been around for more than two decades now and in this installment of the z/Data Perspectives column we examine how it has grown from its humble beginnings.
Sarbanes-Oxley Requires Rigor in Database Administration: The DBA Corner. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is the most significant government legislation affecting accounting and auditing in more than 70 years. If you work for a public company, you’ve most likely felt the impact of this legislation. But what will be the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on DBAs? Some SQL Tricks for the DB2
Developer. This article covers several SQL "tricks" to help out during certain type of development situations. The Tao of DBA:
The DBA Corner.
Database administration is a complex job requiring patience and experience. But does it also require a philosophy? Applying Taoist philosophy to database "problems" might just be helpful...
A
Short Introduction to Lock Avoidance in DB2 for z/OS. A brief introduction to lock avoidance techniques that can be used for your mainframe DB2 applications. Changing Table Space
Partitioning Specifications. In this installment of the z/Data Perspectives column we look at the improvements made to managing partitioned table spaces in DB2 V8.
The
Buffer Pool: On VSAM and DB2. In this installment of The Buffer Pool column we examine the issues involved when planning to migrate from VSAM to DB2.
The Database
Report: 1Q2005. Check in with "The Database Report" to read the latest news regarding database management systems and the most popular DBMS vendors. Plan for Disasters and Test the
Plan Regularly: The DBA Corner.
A disaster recovery plan is like insurance – you're glad you have it, but you hope you don't need it. But without a plan you will be unprepared in the event of the unthinkable. Often Misunderstood, Don't
Ignore Nulls: The DBA Corner.
Nulls are a necessary evil if you use today's most popular SQL database systems. Failing to understand what they are and how to use them is a sure recipe for disaster. DB2 Annoyances.
Annoyances are those little things software does to drive intelligent people crazy. There isn’t a piece of commercial software out there that is not plagued with annoyances and DB2 has its fair share of them. In this article, we examine a few of them.
Database Trends. A look at the trends and issues impacting the database market as of early 2005.
A Database Bookshelf. This short article offers suggestions on database management books that are recommended for every database professional to own.
DBA Certification. Here we examine the benefits and shortcomings of DBA certification.
How Many DBAs? One of the most common problems perplexing DBA groups and managers is how many DBAs are needed to support their environment. This article examines the issues surrounding DBA staffing.
It's
Alive! It's Alive! This article discusses the reasons why IBM's mainframe computing platform continues to not only exist, but prosper.
Open Source Database Systems. Open source is a rolling freight train that cannot be stopped, and the DBMS is caught up in the frenzy. This article examines the open source trend as it impacts database systems.
Self-Managing Database Systems.
The marketing literature tells us that autonomic computing is finding its way into modern DBMS products. But what is the truth of the matter?
The Data Explosion. This article discusses the issue of phenomenal data growth and its impact on DBAs.
On Becoming a DBA. Some advice and guidance for folks' who think they want to become a database administrator.
The Morphing of Database Administration.
Some thoughts on the ever-changing, ever-expanding role of the DBA. Intelligent Automation Can Solve
the Complexity Problem: The DBA Corner.
Database administration is a complex job. One of the ways to simplify DBA problems is through intelligent automation. By automating some of the tedious day-to-day tasks of database administration, we can simplify our complex environment and reduce manual errors.
The Database
Report: 4Q2004. Check in with "The Database Report" to read the latest news regarding database management systems and the most popular DBMS vendors. Performance Tuning Requirements
for Database Applications: The DBA Corner.
Database application tuning can be broken down into three components: system tuning, database tuning, and application tuning. This article discusses each component and how all are required to ensure efficiency. The DB2 Utility
Conundrum. As organizations finish migrating to DB2 Version 7, they have a decision to make regarding DB2 utilities. This article explains the options and examines the reasons behind this utility conundrum. Index: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 and older Craig Mullins: Articles Published in 2004 The Buffer Pool: Using Nulls in DB2.
This installment of The Buffer Pool discusses the thorny topic of nulls. What is Knowledge and
Can it be Managed?: The DBA Corner.
A look at the controversial and confusing term "knowledge management."
High Speed Transaction Recovery. As the demand for 24x7 processing increases, DBAs are looking for ways to perform database maintenance tasks with minimal or not outages. This article discusses high availability database recovery techniques to meet this demand head on. Ensuring Data Integrity is a Tricky Business:
The DBA Corner.
The term "data integrity" can mean many different things. This installation of the DBA Corner column seeks to clarify these different meanings.
Facilitating Efficient Database Management. This article provides an overview of the various types of tools and solutions available to improve database administration and management tasks. The Top Ten Features of DB2 for
z/OS V8. This installment of the z/Data Perspectives column looks at the top ten new features of DB2 Version 8. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I think I can back it up! Check it out.
Three Trusty Rules for DB2 Triggers. This short piece summarizes a response to a question on when to use triggers into three basic rules. The Five Nines
of Database Availability:
The DBA Corner.
How much availability is enough? As we push to provide continuous uptime we need to pause to define what is reasonable — |