DB2(R) Version 8: The Official Guide [Paperback]

Paul C. Zikopoulos (Author), George Baklarz (Author), Dirk deRoos (Author), Roman B. Melnyk (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131401580 | ISBN-13: 978-0131401587 | Publication Date: September 27, 2003

DB2 Version 8 represents one of the most feature-packed and significant releases in DB2's history! This book is well organized into topics such as Performance Enhancements, Manageability Enhancements, SQL Enhancements, etc. Each section presents not only the new features in Version 8, but also gives technical details about the new features, gotchas, tips and tricks, and examples of how to use them - this kind of insider information is not currently available on the market today!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

IBM DB2 Universal Database v8.1.2 will help you access any information, from any application, from anywhere in your organization, anytime—and do it all more easily and cost-effectively than you ever thought possible.

Now, in DB2 Version 8: The Official Guide, a team of IBM DB2 experts shows experienced DB2 professionals exactly how to make the most of DB2 Version 8 in any environment—Linux®, UNIX®, or Windows®.

The authors draw on extensive personal experience helping customers implement state-of-the-art DB2 solutions, and unparalleled access to the IBM DB2 development team. They offer detailed, never-before-published technical guidance for the key challenges you'll face in delivering high-performance DB2 databases, e-business infrastructure, and enterprise integration solutions. Coverage includes:

• Simplifying management with the Configuration Advisor, HealthCenter(, and Memory Visualizer
• Integrating the enterprise via Federated Web Services and the DB2 enhanced XML productivity tools
• Maximizing database scalability, availability, and robustness
• Using multidimensional data clustering and other integrated business intelligence tools
• Integrating with IBM WebSphere and Microsoft software development tools
• Leveraging key improvements in DB2 SQL functionality

The accompanying CD-ROM contains a complete trial version of IBM® DB2® Universal Database Personal Edition Version 8.1, for Windows® Operating Environments, Evaluation Copy, plus the DB2 demonstration program for trying out the various SQL commands on your own machine.

If you're an experienced DB2 professional who's ready to take DB2 Version 8 to the max, DB2 Version 8: The Official Guide is the book you've been searching for.

About the Author

PAUL C. ZIKOPOULOS is Database Specialist, DB2 Certified Advanced Technical Expert, and DB2 Certified Customer Solutions Expert for IBM in Toronto, Canada. He is a co-author of DB2: The Complete Reference, DB2 Fundamentals Certification for Dummies, DB2 For Windows For Dummies, and A DBA's Guide to Databases on Linux.

GEORGE BAKLARZ, IBM Senior Manager for DB2 Technical Sales Support, works closely with customers to help them understand new DB2 technology, and to gain their feedback for improving DB2 products. George is also a co-author of the DB2 Universal Database v8 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide.

DIRK deROOS is a member of the DB2 Information Development team, specializing in database monitoring and DB2 application development. Dirk is a DB2 Certified Solutions Expert.

ROMAN B. MELNYK is a senior member of the DB2 Information Development team, specializing in database administration, DB2 utilities, and SQL. During more than eight years at IBM, Roman has written numerous DB2 books, articles, and other related materials. Roman recently co-authored DB2: The Complete Reference, DB2 Fundamentals Certification for Dummies, and DB2 For Windows For Dummies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: IBM Press (September 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131401580
• ISBN-13: 978-0131401587
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Relational Databases

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DB2 UDB V8 Certification Guide, April 10, 2003

By 

Philip K Gunning (sinking spring, pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DB2® Universal Database V8 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide (5th Edition) (Paperback)

This is a must have for production DBAs. Beside being an excellent certification reference, it is very handy as a deskside how-to reference. This edition has been updated to address sequences, MQTs, write-to-table event monitors, Health monitor and Health Center, and common client changes. The book touches on just about every area you need to know about as a DBA.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good information, but very confusing, October 1, 2003

By 

Ted Pin (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DB2® Universal Database V8 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide (5th Edition) (Paperback)

I have been involved with DB2 for a number of years and this book definitely introduced a few new tricks to me. This is especially good reading for those migrating to v8 or thinking of migrating as it covers many of the new and changed features between v7 and v8. Despite being a good source of information, this is by far the most contradictory book I have read to date (and I have read many technical books). The most annoying contradictions are when a paragraph will state that something is IMPOSSIBLE or there is ONLY ONE WAY to do it, and then the next paragraph will list a way (or many ways) to perform that exact something. One example:

p.298 "Note: The ORDER BY clause, if used, must be the last clause in your SQL statement."

p.299 "TO limit the number of rows sorted in a SELECT, the FETCH FIRST ... ROWS [clause] must be added to the end of the ORDER BY [clause]."

This doesn't really bother me because I know why FETCH would go after ORDER BY, but why state ORDER BY must be the last clause, then go on to show that ORDER BY is in fact NOT the last clause on the next page? How about not say it at all! These types of contradictions are scattered throughout the book, but I am too irritated to list them here.

Another good example of frustrating trends in this book is also on pg.298:

"You can also rename a column using an alias."

Well, what is an alias, and how do you create one? Again, this time I knew what an alias was and how to create one from prior experience, but why Baklarz and Wong do not include an explaination here (or at least a reference) is beyond me. They do not even mention that the concept of an "alias" will used for the first time in an example on pg.315, not to mention that it also won't be clearly explained.

Much of the key material in this book is bludgeoned by contradictions, typos, and lack of information/clarity where you expect it most. If you can wade through it (if you can afford the time to figure out that a parameter in an example was indeed a misprint) then definitely get this book for the reasons listed above. If not, look elsewhere.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT a good book, April 10, 2006

By 

RiversandLakes (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DB2® Universal Database V8 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide (5th Edition) (Paperback)

So it claims that Chapter 1-8 covers the objectives for Exam 700. It should have said - and MORE, SO MUCH MORE. Which borders on garbage.

Please focus only on the exam objectives. The topic on MDC perhaps should have covered over 30 pages in a book titled "DB2 New Features" instead of this one?

I passed 700 and 701 thanks to FREE IBM Exam Prep Tutorials and the Supplementals. These 2 are ALL one needs.