DB2 Express-C Team Blog

The DB2 Early Experience program is letting people try an alpha of the next version of DB2 in the cloud. All you have to do to gain access is fill out a form.

• Apply to try it out

Once IBM approves your application, you'll be able to launch your own server full of DB2 alpha goodness in the cloud in under 30 minutes.

You can, of course, run any edition of DB2 in the cloud today.

There's an upcoming DB2 Chat with the Lab on Monday February 28:

DB2 LUW Update - What's new since V9.7 GA

Date:    Feb 28, 2011
Time:    12:30 PM - 2:00 PM (Eastern Time)

IBM released DB2 9.7 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows (LUW) in June of 2009. Since that time we have been hard at work enhancing DB2 and adding new capabilities through a series of fixpacks, releasing DB2 pureScale, as well as introducing a high-value new edition called DB2 Advanced Enterprise Server. Attend this webinar and learn about some of the improvements to DB2 LUW since the release of 9.7, as well as the outstanding value you can receive by upgrading to the new DB2 Advanced Edition.

Join Sal Vella (VP) and Jamie Watters (Senior Product Manager) to learn more.

Next steps

• Register to attend
  

Version 1.9.1 of the ibm_db2 extension for PHP was recently released. Changes include:

• Fix for db2_statistics (Failing with pconnect).

On Windows

Go to the DB2 Technology Explorer downloads section and grab a build of the extension that matches your PHP 5.3 installation. PHP on Windows is available in four official flavours:

• Threadsafe PHP compiled with VC6
• Non-thread-safe (nts) PHP compiled with VC6
• Thread-safe PHP compiled with VC9
• Non-thread-safe (nts) PHP compiled with VC9

Be sure to get a build of the extension that matches your PHP flavour. If you are running PHP with Apache, it's one of the two VC6 options.

On Linux

Make sure you have pecl installed in your package manager and then run:

pecl install ibm_db2

You will need gcc along with DB2 headers for the installation to complete. If you do not have a local copy of DB2, you can install the IBM Data Server Driver for ODBC and CLI instead.

The 2011 Information Champion program is accepting nominations through February 15. The program seeks to recognize valuable DB2 community contributions by non-IBMers. Benefits include an award crystal, a profile on ibm.com, apparel, and general recognition.

Possible people to nominate:

• Forum moderators and contributors
• Bloggers
• Community web site operators and contributors
• Leaders of product user groups
• Written contributors, such as authors of developerWorks articles, tutorials, and books
• Speakers at events and conferences

You can nominate yourself, though I personally think you'd be better off finding a fellow contributor and nominating each other. IBMers like myself are encouraged to nominate community members, though we aren't eligible ourselves.

Next steps

• Nominate someone
• Read the FAQ

There's a new run of the free courses at DB2University.com:

• SQL Fundamentals I
• DB2 Essential Training I
• DB2 Essential Training II
• Data Studio Essential Training I

This run will go from February 7 through 22. More than 650 people enrolled to the SQL Fundamentals I course during the initial run.

The best 25 students in the SQL Fundamentals I and DB2 Essential Training II courses will receive a free IBM certification exam voucher or book each.

The site is also looking for people interested in putting together a paid or free course in related technical subjects. You can contact it here.

The German translation of Getting Started with DB2 Express-C 9.7 is now available for free download. The latest edition is also available in Japanese and Vietnamese, while the previous edition is available in Bulgarian, Chinese, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.

The book aims to help readers to:

• Understand DB2 architecture, tools, and security
• Learn how to administer DB2 databases
• Write SQL, XQuery, and stored procedures
• Practice using hands-on exercises

DB2 on Campus books available in Deutsch:

• Einstieg in DB2 Express-C 9.7
• Einstieg in IBM Data Studio für DB2 

Translations of the DB2 on Campus free book series are done by community volunteers. If you'd like to lend a hand and help translate a book into your language, please don't hesitate to email db2x [at] ca.ibm.com.