DB2 Web Query EZ-Install – Now Available
One of the things I hear often at speaking engagements or by
working directly with customers around the world is that they know of DB2 Web
Query, would like to evaluate or get some hands on experience, but aren’t always sure how to get started
and gain quick value from it. In 2016 we started thinking about ways to
simplify the getting started process, and that has led to the emergence of
something we’re calling the
DB2 Web Query EZ-Install package!
With its availability TODAY the DB2 for i Lab Services team is providing a simplified process
of obtaining and installing the complete suite of DB2 Web Query trial software. The products are at the
latest level (including Group PTFs already applied) and include both Express Edition, Standard Edition, and the DataMigrator ETL tool. The trial code period for
this is 70 days, although you could choose to apply license keys at any time
and have this become permanent (just keep in mind your license keys will
dictate which components you have purchased which may be less than the entire
suite you’ve got in this package). Also note that while this package is made
available to you, it should not circumvent the normal ordering and acquisition
process.
One big benefit of the EZ-Install package is...IT'S EASY. A many step process including acquiring the code, installing it and setting it up is made much simpler by providing a one-stop shopping install package that also sets up the environment for you so when complete, you are ready to go to work.
For those of you that have not previously installed DB2 Web Query, this is a great place to start. For someone with DB2 Web Query already installed, think of this as a quick way to get the latest version installed for testing or analysis purposes. Note that for existing customers with Version 1 installed, this will install Version 2.2 right next to that (if done in the same LPAR/Server). If you install the EZ-Install package in the same LPAR where you have Version 2.1 installed you should be aware that this will overlay that code with 2.2 (but EZ-Install will prompt you to make sure you really want to do that).
The EZ-Install package is also more than just the products and set up. We've included some other goodies, including:
- Everything you need to start right into learning how to build reports with InfoAssist
This allows you to jump right
into learning how to build reports with the InfoAssist authoring tool. Our
current set of tutorials includes over 14 chapters that will make you very
proficient in report authoring in no time. As part of the package we install
the sample database and the meta data built over that so you're ready to dig in.
Remember that middle school math
class where you were given a problem to solve, but the complete answer was laid
out for you in the Appendix of the book? If you skipped to the answer, it would
circumvent your learning experience. So I encourage you to take on the
challenge of completing the tutorials although we are admittedly giving you the
appendix too! In other words, the package will contain the complete set of
finished tutorial reports so if you need to compare what you’ve done against
what the DB2 Web Query team has done, you have that ability. Or, use those reports to demo the product
to your management.
- DB2 Web Query Usage Reports
As a first
time user, this might be of less interest but over time will be very beneficial
to understand who is running what reports, which reports are taking the
longest, and more. See my previous
blog entry for some examples of these reports. The EZ-Install package will contain these monitoring and auditing reports and
auto-install them.
- Sample Reports for the IBM i Systems Administrator
Want to get away from green screen? The EZ-Install package includes several sample reports applicable to the metrics a Systems Admin would like to monitor and report on. Visualizations are provided over such system aspects as temp storage usage, utilization metrics such as disk I/O, CPU consumption, and spool files.
For clients already running
Version 2.2 of DB2 Web Query, we are making these sample reports available
outside of the EZ-Install package. See below for acquisition details.
- Query/400 Report Definition Discovery Tool and Sample Reports
I just recently worked with a client that had to move to a
new version of their ERP system. They were quite concerned that existing
Query/400 reports would be affected by this change but had no idea how to scope
that possible impact. I had them run our Discovery Tool to glean information
about their current queries – how many do they have (turned out to be over
10,000), which files were used the most by these queries, which queries haven’t
been used in months or years, which fields of those files are most used in selection
criteria or result sets, etc. This is information gathering to assist in understanding potential impact as well as input into a
modernization strategy.
This Query/400 Discovery tool is now available as part of EZ-Install. It is not automatically installed as you want to read the usage guide to understand what it is doing and how to use it, but its there with some sample reports over the files that are created containing the output of the tool.
HOW TO ACQUIRE THE EZ-INSTALL PACKAGE
Send an email to QU2@us.ibm.com requesting the DB2 Web Query EZ-Install Package. Be sure to include your:
- Name
- Company Name
- Serial Number (of where you intend to install DB2 Web Query)
NOTE: To acquire the standalone system administration
samples outside of the EZ-Install package (this assumes you’ve already got
Version 2.2 installed), again, send an email to
QU2@us.ibm.com
requesting the System Administration sample reports package and include the
same information as noted above).
Everything you need will be included in the email response back to you, including a link to the package, installation guide, and information on where to go from there: HINT:
ibm.biz/db2wqezinstall.
Please send any feedback you have for us at
QU2@us.ibm.com. We'll try to support any issues as best we can.
You can also reach me at
mackd
AT us.ibm.com or on twitter @mckdrmoly if you have questions or need
assistance!
