IBM and Centerfield Technology

Transcription

1 IBM and Centerfield Technology The purpose of this document is to describe the differences between Centerfield s HomeRun suite of tools and iseries Navigator. The functional areas covered by each tool are explained as well as the value-add of each. Differences in objectives iseries Navigator and HomeRun, while both provide benefit to system and database administrators, have different overriding objectives. iseries Navigator The database support within iseries Navigator is designed to provide a set of tools to accomplish basic database creation and administration tasks. Almost all existing support is focused on the use of SQL for data definition, data import/export, procedure/function creation, performance collection and analysis, and some simple real-time monitoring. The focus of iseries Navigator is to provide database administrators a graphical interface to do their job. In light of this, iseries Navigator does the following things very well: Creating and displaying all types of database objects and associated procedures, functions, constraints, and triggers. Showing relationships between database objects graphically. Providing the infrastructure to manually collect and analyze detailed performance data (collections, reports, visual explain) These tools are very useful in the hands of an expert database administrator or programmer well versed in SQL, database design, and query optimization. They are also helpful in situations where the user must work interactively with the database and there isn t much a to automate the work. HomeRun The functions within HomeRun are focused on ease of use and automation. HomeRun is built on top of i5/os features and iseries Navigator functions. Where appropriate, HomeRun will invoke iseries Navigator functions to provide customers with easy access to features Centerfield does not plan to implement but are useful to the administrator. All software within HomeRun is driven by rules set up by the administrator. HomeRun advanced features include: Data collection that results in advice being generated based on best practices for DB2 for i5/os. The advice is intended to optimize DB2 and system resources for SQL-based and legacy applications. Automate performance optimization tasks such as identifying new indexes and properly tuning existing indexes. Provides functions to automate and safely implement advice in production databases. Fully audit all tool use.

2 Allow the administrator to undo any action taken with the tool as an additional safety net for production systems. Addresses issues related to database security (from a network perspective), unbridled use of ad hoc query tools, and diagnosing complex problems related to an application s use of DB2. HomeRun is most useful in the hands of the system administration group that may not have enough people or expertise to efficiently manage DB2 and SQL yet have the responsibility for making the system run efficiently. Graphical view of the relationship between iseries Navigator and HomeRun:

3 HomeRun These are the strengths of the HomeRun product and Centerfield. Centerfield is in the business to provide answers through software, support, consulting and training. We have a team of support people and consulting expertise to help when time is tight and the fire is hot. Because our customer base is not always on the latest release of i5/os, we support features on older releases of the operating system and not just the latest. This reduces the risk to our customers by allowing them to get the same function without having to move as quickly to the next release to get new features. Centerfield s HomeRun suite focuses on providing advice not just raw data. Most tools show a plethora of cryptic data requiring an expert level of expertise to decipher. While it is easy to show a grid on a screen, it is more useful to interpret the data and provide actionable suggestions. This reduces the learning curve, expertise, and the time needed to solve a problem. Specifically: We are focused on products that automate processes not just improve manual analysis. We are focused on delivering value through software expertise and through our people expertise. We reduce the learning curve and time investment required of our customers. We are focused on providing prioritized, actionable advice not just volumes of raw data. We are focused on reducing the time between problem identification and problem resolution. We know your time and the time of your end-users is valuable. Centerfield has the desire and ability to customize our software or service based on your needs rather than providing a one-size-fits-all package. Our products are improved 2-3 times a year not every years. Centerfield does not forget that you have legacy databases and applications that don t use SQL. shall be considered proprietary to Centerfield Technology, Inc. This information is not to be shared with individuals outside of your organization unless Centerfield Technology, Inc. has specifically provided either written or verbal consent allowing said individuals access to this information.

4 HomeRun and iseries Navigator detailed comparison The following chart compares the HomeRun package with the functions in iseries Navigator. Index management Automatically generate index advice Can build indexes directly from advice N/A Can build indexes automatically from advice N/A (if given permission) Prioritize advised indexes N/A Support CQE N/A Identifies unused indexes N/A Methodology to minimize the overhead of unused indexes N/A N/A Identifies duplicate indexes N/A Identifies redundant indexes N/A Identifies poor S/O logical files N/A Identifies clustered index candidates N/A Identifies other sub-optimal indexes (disk I/O & CPU) N/A Full undo capability for changes made with tool N/A Extensive include/exclude filtering to focus data analysis N/A Identifies changes that will help RPG programs using native database I/O N/A Perfect index advice for N/A Recommend EVI SQL performance Data Collection Collect for all jobs Collect for selected jobs Collect based on filtered jobs Collect for jobs that are yet to start Automated collections (scheduled) Filter by IP address Option to filter out i5/os SQL (only collects user SQL) Show actual user profile Create profile for later use Set maximum amount of DASD to use for a collection Compress data collection files

5 Database management Create SQL tables Create SQL views Create SQL indexes Create EVI indexes History of index creation Show indexes over file Create the index in batch Create the index at a scheduled time Store the create index script (reverse engineer only) Data Analysis Select specific collection to analyze Analyze multiple collections in same session Select a collection timeframe to analyze Analyze data by file, SQL statement, index usage, program, job Analyze detail data about individual executions Analyze data from ODBC/JDBC by user profile rather than QUSER Drill down [Easily combine selection criteria by job, user, file, indexes, and time frames.] (can only be done by modifying reports by hand) (can only be done by modifying reports by hand) (with Insure/Diagnostics audit support enabled) Print quality reports Easy report navigation Graphics in reports Data is sortable Control ad hoc queries Automatically adjust priorities of ad hoc queries Allow only specific users to use multiple processors for a query Audit query requests Prevent long-running queries based on user, time of day, and query tool

6 Data security Protect database tables from unrestricted access from ODBC, FTP, DRDA, DDM, Remote Command, etc. Audit use of ODBC, FTP, DRDA, DDM, Remote Command, etc. Report on attempts to use restricted interfaces Advanced diagnostics Quickly identify record and object locks Quickly resolve record and object lock issues Diagnose and solve semaphore and mutex wait issues Quickly diagnose database transactions in limbo (commit cycles) Quickly identify jobs that use a high amount of temporary storage Correlate iseries jobs with specific OneWorld and EnterpriseOne users (JDE/Oracle) Detailed query analysis Visual representation of SQL statement implementation for easy analysis Pop-up information about implementation steps Import existing SQL statements from AS/400 programs, service programs, data collections, Query/400 objects, Query Manager objects, text files, AS/400 source files, data collections, or via the Windows clipboard (only data collections) (only data collections) Will work with Query/400 queries and OPNQRYF commands Integrated support for QAQQINI settings Optional levels of detail & analysis for a statement Ability to try 144 different combinations of performance and functional options to tune the SQL statement including advanced features such as database parallelism Built-in help so new users can learn the nuances of query optimization and techniques to improve performance Some Some Ability to run a query and see data in a grid Ability to see joblog messages related to query optimization Option to save existing optimization information for later analysis or comparison after system changes but not integrated with Explain < N/A Displays all of the new information captured in Shows grouping functions Does subqueries Attempts

7 Metadata display Tree view of database structure and related objects Quick view of data in file Security (functions controlled by system authority) (functions controlled by system authority) (including file dependency information) (in Insure/Explain) (functions controlled by system authority and authority granted within Insure components) Show most table properties Visually represent table, index, and view relationships Define constraints, procedures, sql scripts, views, etc. Visual relationships Partial