DB2 DBA

  • I'm the resident SQL Server DBA for my company. They've asked me to self-study to become the resident DB2 DBA at both a system level and an application level including becoming a master at the DB2 flavor of SQL in DB2. It's not the Windows version, either. I need to learn about the AS 400 it's running on, as well.

    I'm, of course, Googling like mad but if someone has some good suggestions for books and links, I'd really appreciate it.

    Now I know how people feel when they want to become an SQL Server DBA. Without an onsite mentor to get me started, this going to be one hell of a ride.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • I support our AS400 at work from a software/programming standpoint.

    I use this link: http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v6r1m0/index.jsp

    There are lots of documents, many of which are PDF you can save. I haven't visited the site for awhile. I just noticed that they have a link to a new site I'm not familiar with.

    Another site I like Tek-Tips: http://www.tek-tips.com/

    It's not heavily used anymore for the AS400 but it has lots of perviously asked questions and may be of help.

    Most of my career has been with the AS400. My development has been using RPG and old-school tools. I have little experience with the SQL side of the platform. The reason for that is we are not doing any new development on it and I have been told to not learn anything new on it. SQL on the box has been around for years, but, we have been slowly replacing the software running on it and I have been concentrating on .NET and SQL Server development. The AS400 will someday go away here.

    Having said that, I may still be able to offer assistance.

    Tom

    🙂

  • Absolutely outstanding, Tom. THAT's what I was looking for! Thank you very much for your time.

    If you run into a problem on SQL Server, throw a rock at me and I'll see what I can do to help. It's the least I can do for your fine offer.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden (3/20/2014)


    Absolutely outstanding, Tom. THAT's what I was looking for! Thank you very much for your time.

    If you run into a problem on SQL Server, throw a rock at me and I'll see what I can do to help. It's the least I can do for your fine offer.

    You are welcome.

    Actually Jeff, you and others have helped me countless times through SSC. I don't have to ask a question here because there are so many already answered by you and others that I can find what I need. It's because of your help on SSC that I felt the need to give back to you. I just hop\e I can be of service to you as you have been to me.

    Tom

    PS: You also keep me in stitches with the pork chops. 😉

    Shhhh... don't tell anyone, but, I'm a lurker on "THE THREAD".

  • Shucks. Thanks for the awesome feedback, Tom. :blush: I really appreciate the thoughts.

    Shifting gears back to the task at hand, thanks again for the link to the IBM site. I read the first 90 pages in detail and scanned through the next 200 or so last night. Absolutely amazing product. I had no idea that DB2 was that good nor how "carefree" the i Series of systems are. For example, you don't actually have to maintain indexes. WOOOHOOO!!!.

    What's really cool is that it's ALL in a single searchable document. I don't have to bounce through a dozen different web pages to do a search for something. MS could learn a bit there.

    Thanks again!

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden (3/21/2014)


    Shucks. Thanks for the awesome feedback, Tom. :blush: I really appreciate the thoughts.

    Shifting gears back to the task at hand, thanks again for the link to the IBM site. I read the first 90 pages in detail and scanned through the next 200 or so last night. Absolutely amazing product. I had no idea that DB2 was that good nor how "carefree" the i Series of systems are. For example, you don't actually have to maintain indexes. WOOOHOOO!!!.

    What's really cool is that it's ALL in a single searchable document. I don't have to bounce through a dozen different web pages to do a search for something. MS could learn a bit there.

    Thanks again!

    Carefree is right. Our system i rarely needs any attention. I have always liked IBM's support and documentation. The machine has a reputation of being old and "legacy" but the iron is really good. If IBM had placed a native GUI interface on it, it might have a better image.

    Tom

  • Jeff,

    I inherited an aging DB2 environment last year, and having zero experience with DB2 it's definitely been a crazy ride learning. The IBM mentality is very dissimilar from Microsoft's with some I've liked and some I haven't. Luckily all my DB2 systems are on Windows, but I'm still learning the in's and out's of DB2.

    If there's anything I can help with having been down this path let me know. I can't say I'm a DB2 expert by any means, but I've collected lots of resources along the way.

    Take care --

    Sam

  • Thanks, Sam. I very much appreciate the offer of help.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

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