Informix News

• Date: Tuesday, Mar the 23th
• Time: 1 hour, 8:30 AM Pacific, 10:30 AM Central, 11:30 AM Eastern, 4:30 PM London, 5:30 PM Berlin/Paris
• Title: What's new in IDS 11.50xC6 ?
• Speaker: Cosmo David (IBM)

You can register for the webcast here...

IBM IDS 11.50 release has been enhanced with new functionality to timely meet several customer needs. These features cover a range of areas, further strengthening IDS position by improving on Availability, Performance & Administration. Jerry Keesee, Director of the Informix Lab will introduce the call and Cosmo, IBM IT specialist will be our technical speaker. Presentation material will be available at www.ibm.com/informix/labchats prior to the event.

After the harsh but necessarily criticism regarding IBM's Informix strategy, it seems that things come in motion.

The IIUG Board of Directors had their quarterly meeting and IBM presented a three-year plan for Informix. Notice that this isn't a three-year plan regarding the future development of Informix from a technical point of view. Informix Technology has never been a problem, it is simply excellent ! The commercialization of the technology is the weak point. So IBM's three-year commercialization plan for Informix is build 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

I think this is an important step in the right direction from IBM. The timeframe of three years shows that the announced strategy change is not a near-term profit-raise task. However we are all stigmatized as in 2007, with the release of IDS 11, IBM already promised a sustainable Informix commercialization strategy and failed to deliver (from my point of view). The next months will show if IBM is able to 'port' the renewed commercialization strategy from Powerpoint to Reality. The new website (including the well done e-book on IDS) and the planned events are a promising start into a new Informix future !

Please read the complete IIUG Insider here.

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Die nachfolgende Information ist sicherlich für alle interessant, die auf der diesjährigen Cebit Messe unterwegs sind.

Die zwei geplanten Vorträge mit dem Thema Informix-Update zeigen, dass mehr Dynamik in das Thema Informix@IBM und der Vermarktung von Informix zu kommen scheint. Das akuelle Newsletter-Editorial der IIUG bestätigt dies. Super !

Nach meinen Informationen wird auf der Cebit-Messe auch ein preislich äusserst attraktives Bundle (Appliance) bestehend aus Hardware und Informix-Software (2-Node MACH11-Cluster, 1xPrimary/1xSDS) durch eine der Informix-Distributoren angekündigt. Hierzu gibt es sicher in den nächsten Tagen noch konkretere Informationen.

Email des Informix Newsletter-Teams:

Liebe Leserinnen und Leser, in den nächsten Tagen stehen auf der CeBIT eine Reihe an INFORMIX Vorträgen an. Informix finden Sie auf der CeBIT 2010 in Halle 2, Stand A10. Dieses Jahr haben wir kurzfristig die Möglichkeit bekommen, im Rahmen der CeBIT 2010 einen sehr interessanten Vortrag zum Thema 'Informix Update' präsentieren zu können. Der erste Vortragstermin ist bereits am Dienstag, 2.3.2010 von 16:00 Uhr bis 17:00 Uhr im Konferenzraum 1 am IBM Messestand (Halle 2, Stand A10). Der zweite Termin ist am Donnerstag , 4.3.2010 von 15:00 Uhr bis 16:00 Uhr, auch im Konferenzraum 1 am IBM Messestand. Als Sprecher werden Ihnen kompetente Informix Kollegen sowohl aus dem weltweiten Informix Team als auch aus Deutschland zur Verfügung stehen. Versäumen Sie es auch nicht sich am Informix Demopunkt 75 (IBM Stand, Halle 2, Stand A10) über die neuesten Trends und Technologien des Informix Dynamic Server aus erster Hand zu informieren. Sollten Sie leider nicht die Möglichkeit haben uns im Rahmen der CeBIT 2010 zu besuchen, so möchten wir Sie gerne auch noch einmal auf die geplante Informix Infobahn Roadshow hinweisen, die vom 12.4. - 16.4.2010 in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz durchgeführt wird. Weitere Informationen dazu und die Anmeldung finden Sie hier: http://www.ibm.com/de/events/infobahn Wir würden uns freuen Sie auf der CeBIT 2010 und auf der Informix Infobahn Roadshow begrüssen zu können.

After integrating the three new Informix blogs in planetIDS and The Informix Zone I'm happy today to announce another Informix related blog created by an IBMer:

• New Informix Blog: Bruce Weed

Excerpt:

A quick introduction: my name is Bruce Weed and I work at IBM, where I’m responsible for leading strategic direction around the Informix business as well as leading Information Management Business Partner strategy, enablement and marketing.

I'm more than happy to see that - beside Cathy Elliot's blog - this new blog has been started to spread the word about Informix not only from a technical perspective.

I remember the dinner I had with Bruce during the IOD 2007 conference in Las Vegas. Bruce has always been a friend of Informix and I'm confident that he will be able to push things further forward for our favorite data server.

Welcome Bruce to the Informix Blogging Community !

The planetIDS website has been slightly redesigned.

During that process I've integrated the new Informix blogs from Kevin Brown, Jonathan Leffler and Frederick Ho. You'll now find their blog posts directly on planetIDS and additionally on the right side of The Informix Zone.

planetIDS will be further re-structured during the next weeks.

• http://www.planetids.com

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Ich möchte hiermit nochmal auf den in 2 Wochen am 23.03. in Hamburg stattfindenden IUG-Workshop aufmerksam machen. Falls Sie sich noch nicht angemeldet haben, dann beeilen Sie sich bitte, denn die Anzahl Teilnehmer ist begrenzt.

Mit den Schwerpunkt-Themen Virtualisierung, Cloud Computing und Entwicklungswerkzeuge" haben wir m.E. ein äußerst interessante und aktuelle Themengebiete ausgewählt. Zusätzlich werden wir Sie auf diesem Workshop von IUG-Seite über interessante Entwicklungen hinsichtlich Informix@IBM informieren.

Ein Besuch bei der Deutschen IUG lohnt sich. Vielen Dank !

Der 53. Workshop der deutschen Informix User Group findet am Dienstag, den 23.03.2010 in Hamburg statt.

Die Themen-Schwerpunkte dieses Workshops sind Cloud Computing, Virtualisierung und Entwicklungswerkzeuge. Ich denke, das sind alles aktuelle und äußerst interessante Themen. Hierfür konnten wir als IUG erstklassige Experten für Sie gewinnen, die einen anspruchsvollen und abwechslungsreichen Workshop-Tag garantieren.

Nehmen Sie die Gelegenheit wahr und melden Sie sich zeitig für diesen Workshop an, da das Platzkontingent limitiert ist. Am Vorabend (Montag, 22.03) findet der traditionelle IUG-Stammtisch statt. Der IUG-Stammtisch ermöglicht in in lockerer, ungezwungener Atmosphäre Erfahrungen mit anderen Informix-Anwendern auszutauschen und natürlich auch geschäftliche Kontakte zu knüpfen.

Weitere Informationen zum Workshop finden Sie auf der Webseite der Deutschen IUG:

• Übersicht IUG Workshop
• Agenda IUG Workshop
• Anmeldung IUG Workshop

Wir von der IUG freuen uns, Sie in in Hamburg begrüßen zu dürfen !

Event I

This is a virtual event. So people worldwide should be able to attend. The main focus of this event is IBM Data Management and more specifically DB2 and IDS. As far as I can see from the agenda, Informix will have emancipated coverage through the event.

Informix Speakers will be:

• Brian Kirk and Andrew Ford (Network IP)
• Jerry Keesee (Director IBM Informix Database Development)
• Kevin Brown (Informix Chief Architect)

The Registration page is:

• IBM Data in Action - Virtual Conference

Event II

This event is dedicated to the US. It will take place in New York at March the 16th. The main focus of this event will be The New Face of Informix:

Speakers from IBM:

• Arvind Krishna (General Manager IBM Information Mangement)
• Rob Thomas (Vice President, Worldwide Business Development IBM Information Management)
• Jerry Keesee (Director IBM Informix Database Development)

More information as well as the registration page can be found here:

• Event Overview: Discover the New Face of Informix

Mark your calendar for these important Informix events.

It is good to see that, beside Jerry, other high level IBM executives start talking about 'Cinderella' Informix.

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Neue Ausgabe des IBM/Informix Newsletters

Im Newsletter-Archiv befindet sich die neueste Ausgabe (02/2010) des INFORMIX-Newsletters.

Inhaltsverzeichnis der Ausgabe Februar 2010:

• Aktuelles
• TechTipp: Update statistics (Teil 2)
• TechTipp: Environments - DBUPSPACE
• TechTipp: ONSECURITY
• TechTipp: onstat -x
• Hinweis: INFORMIX auf der CeBIT 2010
• Hinweis: INFOBAHN 2010
• Hinweis: 53. IUG-Workshop in Hamburg
• Hinweis: Lizenzbestimmungen Workgroup Edition - SHMTOTAL
• Hinweis: Termine für INFORMIX Schulungen 2010 stehen fest
• Hinweis: IBM Schulungen für eine geförderte Weiterbildung zertifiziert
• Hinweis: Release Übersicht
• A Smarter Planet
• Anmeldung / Abmeldung / Anmerkung
• Die Autoren dieser Ausgabe

• Ausgabe Februar 2010

The nomination period for the Panther Beta Program has been extended by IBM. Take the chance, fill out the registration form and play with the Panther:

• http://ibm.com/software/data/informix/beta/

Participating in an IBM beta program gives you many advantages:

• You have the chance to explore the new Informix functionality in an early stage
• You will have a direct contact to the Informix labs
• You have the chance to influence the future development of Informix by delivering your own ideas
• You can test your existing application and ensure that it works smoothly with the new Informix release
• You will get a cost free online training covering the new functionalities
• You can see how the new features could help you to reduce your management costs and bring you further business advantages
• You educate yourself on leading edge technology

There are probably even more advantages then the ones summarized here.

2010 will be the year of the Panther. From a technical perspective we have never been disappointed through all the years. Each IDS release brought exciting new functionality due to an excellent Informix engineering team working at IBM. Panther will be no exception to that rule.

There are known shortfalls regarding market visibility of Informix as well as some ambiguous messaging from parts of IBM regarding Informix. However I think that they discovered that and are already on the way fixing it. So 2010 will not only be the year of the Panther, it will also be the year of the new face of Informix !

Join the Panther Beta Program and support the efforts of the committed Informix Technical Team to further enhance this IBM software gem !

A new video discussing IBM Informix Database Technology at work:
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After some critical voices regarding IBM's Informix strategy came up during the last months, it seems that IBM is listening and starts to improve things. A new IBM website invites us to discover Informix after an esthetic surgery :-) :

• Discover the new face of Informix

You can download an Informix focused e-book from the above website called "Do more with less - Discover hassle-free data management with IBM Informix". It describes some of the key advantages of IDS in a nice (high level) manner.

Well done, IBM !

Note:
While IDS is truly hassle-free, unfortunately the IBM websites are not. Even if logged in with my IBM ID, I had to fill out a registration form with name, country, address, phone (:- This should be improved. Generally it doesn't make sense to force people to fill out lengthly registration forms if you want to spread the word about something (in this case IDS). Make it as easy accessible as possible !

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Deutschland, Österreich und Schweiz aufgepasst:

Vom 12.-16. April bietet IBM in verschiedenen Städten (3x Deutschland, 1x Österreich und 1x Schweiz) die kostenlose Teilnahme an der diesjährigen IBM Informix Infobahn Roadshow an.

Unter anderem erwartet Sie auf geschäftlicher Seite ein Informix Business Update und ein Ausblick für das laufende Jahr sowie auf technischer Seite brandaktuelle Informationen zu der in der 2. Hälfte 2010 erscheinenden neuen IDS Version (Codename Panther.

Weiterführende Informationen sowie die genauen Termine und Anmelde-Möglichkeit finden Sie auf folgender IBM-Seite:

• IBM Informix Infobahn Roadshow 2010

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Die Termine und Themen-Schwerpunkte der diesjährigen IUG Workshops stehen jetzt fest:

• 1. Workshop
  • Datum: Dienstag, 23. März
  • Ort: Hamburg
  • Thema: Cloud Computing, Virtualisierung und Entwicklungswerkzeuge
• 2. Workshop
  • Datum: Donnerstag, 10. Juni
  • Ort: Stuttgart
  • Thema: Informix: Die Datenbank der Zukunft
• 3. Workshop
  • Datum: Dienstag, 26. Oktober
  • Ort: Düsseldorf
  • Thema: Data Warehouse und Business Intelligence mit Informix

Neben den traditionell produkt-fokussierten Vorträgen der IBM sind vor allem Beiträge aus Kunden- und Anwendungssicht gerne gesehen !

Wenn Sie sich mit einem der Bereiche Cloud Computing, Virtualisierung oder Entwicklungswerkzeuge bereits auseinandergesetzt haben, würde ich mich als IUG-Verantwortlicher für diesen am 23.03.2010 in Hamburg stattfindenden Workshop freuen, wenn Sie Interesse hätten, Ihre Erfahrungen an die IUG-Gemeinschaft weiterzugeben.

Gerne können Sie mich bei Interesse Ihrerseits hierzu kontaktieren.
Sie müssen dazu kein IUG-Mitglied sein, sondern können auch als 'Gastredner' sprechen.

Vielen Dank !

PS:
Weiterführende Informationen zu den einzelnen Workshops werden im Laufe der nächsten Wochen auf den Seiten der IUG zu finden sein (siehe IUG Workshops).

IBM has updated the IDS System Requirements Webpage which now covers the latst IDS fixpa(c)k IDS 11.50.xC6.

As you probably know, IDS offers a superior high availability and scale out technology called MACH11 that is available on all platforms that IDS runs on. For that reason I consider IDS as IBM's flagship offering for Linux powered systems. Good news for all Linux fans:

IBM has expanded it's Linux support for IDS and it is good to see that now important free Linux distributions are supported beside the commercial ones. Here is an excerpt:

• Asianux
• Debian 5.0
• *Fedora 11
• *openSUSE 11.1
• RHEL 5
• SUSE SLES 11
• Ubuntu 8.04 LTS

(those marked with a * are only supported by the freely available IDS Developer Edition)

Many thanks to Andreas Breitfeld from the IBM Informix Development Team in Munich for providing this valuable information about the renewed Linux platform support !

In this context please read also Guy Bowerman's blog post which announces the immediate availability of the IDS 11.50.xC6 powered virtual appliance. The virtual appliance runs on Suse Linux Enterprise Server 10.

A new Informix blog as seen the light of the day:

• Ruminations on Informix

I think we can expect high quality technical content as the blog author is one of the IDS architects: Jonathan Leffler

Welcome Jonathan to the Informix Blogosphere !

I'll add the blog to Informix Zone as well as planetIDS as soon as I get the permission from Jonathan.

I just read the Editorial of the IIUG Insider January 2010. While Gary's words might sound harsh, he is exactly expressing the feeling and opinion of the worldwide Informix community.

We have all seen those statements and promises on Powerpoint slides as well as directly from IBM executives how seriously IBM takes Informix and how great IBM's strategy for Informix is. However the reality speaks a different language:

IBM still treats Informix as Cinderella, does almost nothing to create product awareness for IDS in the market and tries to push DB2 wherever possible (for years now with limited success).

Thank you Gary for your honest and courageous words !

Hopefully IBM discovers now the seriousness of the situation, stops paying lip services and brings the prototype to market.

If you have a good knowledge of MS SQL Server and you would like to share your knowledge with others in order to ease the migration process from MS SQL Server to IDS then please take a look at this IBM Residency offer:

• Residency Details: Migrating from SQL Server to IBM Informix Dynamic Server

A new issue of the IBM Database Magazine has been released.

There are two Informix related articles included. One from IIUG president Stuart Litel and the other one from Informix Datawarehouse Specialist Lester Knutsen:

• Stuart Litel - IIUG User View: To IOD or IIUG?
• Lester Knutsen - Fastest Informix DBA: How Did They Do It?

For those who are interested in running IDS on the Mac, here are some helpful articles about installing and accessing IDS thru PHP on the Mac:

• Mike Abney: Installing Informix on a Mac I
• Mike Abney: Installing Informix on a Mac II
• Antonio Musarra: Mac OS X Snow Leopard: Informix IDS 11.5 + PHP 5.3

Beside these new links (at least they are new to me), there are those existing links regarding Informix@MAC:

• Carlton Doe: Introduction to IDS on Mac OS X
• Jeffrey W. Williams: Use REALbasic to develop IDS database applications on Mac OS
• Akmal B. Chaudhri: Install IBM IDS on on Apple Mac OS X

Webcast: Top 10 reasons to consider IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ for IDS servers

• Date: Wednesday, Feb the 24th
• Time: 1.5 hour, 8:30 AM Pacific, 10:30 AM Central, 11:30 AM Eastern, 4:30 PM London, 5:30 PM Berlin/Paris
• Title: Top 10 reasons to consider IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ for IDS servers
• Speaker: Satheesh Bandaram (IBM)

You can register for the webcast here...

IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ (also known as JCC driver) has been enhanced to support IDS servers, since Cheetah (11.10UC1) release. This common driver for all IBM data servers have several advantages over Informix JDBC driver, especially in the areas of JDBC 4 capability, transaction-level work load balancing with Mach 11, tight integration with Websphere, pureQuery and other IM products, support for secure SSL among others. Join IBM JCC Development Manager, Satheesh Bandaram, at the upcoming Informix Chat with the Lab as he discusses best practices around usage of IBM Data server driver for JDBC and SQLJ for IDS. He will examine migration path, challenges you might encounter and some useful tips. Jerry Keesee, Director of the Informix Lab, will introduce the call and Satheesh Bandaram, IBM JCC Development Manager, will be our technical speaker. Presentation material will be available at www.ibm.com/informix/labchats prior to the event.