RE: Question about UDB on iSeries

John,

Everything you need is integrated into the OS...the integration is where the
i in iSeries and i5 comes from.

In fact, most iSeries shops don't have a DBA per say.  The operating system
built around the database and pretty much takes care of itself.  

However, there are optional License Programs (LICPGM) from IBM that improve
upon the base tools and may prove useful.  For example, Backup and Recovery.
The base backup and recovery tools provides all you need for complete system
saves, recoveries, and partial saves including "save-while-active" to save
tables while in use.  However the optional Backup, Recovery, and Media
services (BRMS) license program makes better use of Media Library devices,
provides for media management (on-site, off-site movement) and simplifies
complicated backup and recovery schemes.
http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/service/brms/

Another example is the optional Performance Tools LICPGM.  Collection and
basic reporting is built into the OS.  More advance reporting from the green
screen is available with the Performance Tools LICPGM.  However, now a days,
the iSeries Navigator GUI has considerable reporting abilities.  I'm not
sure the how useful the Performance Tools LICPGM even is.
http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/perfmgmt/
http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/perfmgmt/pt400.htm
http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/navigator/mcfunc.html

also for profiling programs:
http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/perfmgmt/pex.htm


Lastly, there are some third party applications that try to provide a more
useful/easier to use way of doing things.  Examples:

http://www.helpsystems.com/products/index.html

http://www.mpginc.com/perfnav1.htm

http://www.midlandinfosys.com/osb/showitem.cfm/Category/169/Performance_Moni
tor_&_Optimization.html


One piece of management software I'd recommend is monitoring/paging software
from Helpsystems or Bytware
http://www.bytware.com/products/mplus.html


HTH,

Charles Wilt
iSeries Systems Administrator / Developer
Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America
ph: 513-573-4343
fax: 513-398-1121
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: McKown, John [mailto:john.mckown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 9:06 AM
> To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Question about UDB on iSeries
> 
> 
> Please keep in mind that I know **ZERO** about the iSeries 
> and UDB. We are considering a conversion from z/OS on zSeries 
> to i5OS on iSeries. The company doing the presentation 
> basically said that everything that we need, with a few 
> exceptions, is integrated into the i5OS on the iSeries. In 
> particular UBD is integrated (so we don't need to buy it). 
> But I was wondering if any iSeries people out there have an 
> opinion about the lack of requirement for any extra software 
> to support UDB on iSeries. Such as performance monitors, 
> reorganization utilities, anything at all? I'm confused (as 
> usual) about why UDB on iSeries does not require any such 
> software while it appears, to me, that DB2 on z/OS really 
> requires a lot of extra cost software. This is the whole 
> reason that we are considering this conversion. z/OS simply 
> requires too much extra cost software compared to other platforms.
> 
> > --
> > John McKown
> > Senior Systems Programmer
> > UICI Insurance Center
> > Information Technology
> > 
> > This message (including any attachments) contains 
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