Month: October 2010

New WebSphere products take center stage

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Seems like there is always something cooking with IBM. Fall 2010 has been no different. I just attended a webinar regarding what’s new with their WebSphere Application Infrastructure products. Here’s what they discussed…
WebSphere Application Migration Toolkit Version 2.0
The new Toolkit Version 2.0 was released at the end of September. It was developed to help migrate from previous versions of WebSphere to WebSphere Version 7.
That means anyone with WAS V5.1, V6.0 and V6.1 can easily upgrade to V7 because the program automatically scans applications and identifies the changes required. It removes the barrier that prevents migration to new versions in one simple scan.
The best part? The product is risk-free. It’s a totally free program that you can download from the web and the support on the program is free.
Download it for free now. Try it out and see if it works for you.
WebSphere Application Server V7 Feature Pack for Modern Batch
WebSphere Batch is a technology modified for Java. This version was built for common batch architecture across enterprises. It allows you the ability to have consistent models across multiple platforms.
WebSphere Batch Value Proposition

  • SOA alignment  complements and leverages online application assets
  • Application agility assists the development speed and power of Java
  • Cost advantage lowers execution costs so you can focus on application and not time spent on middleware logics.

WebSphere Batch Technical Advantages

  • Structured programming model
  • Container managed checkpoint
  • Time compression
  • Multi-platform

WebSphere Batch provides Feature set options which allow you to begin with the Feature Pack and grow into the WebSphere Compute Grid. The Feature Pack includes the batch container, job scheduler and batch toolkit, while the WebSphere Compute Grid Product includes those three plus parallel job manager, enterprise connectors and advanced operations pack.
To find out more about the WebSphere Application Server V7 Feature Pack for Modern Batch click here.
WebSphere Application Server V8 Open Beta
Because the product is a Beta, IBM  is looking for feedback on what’s delivered in the end, so they initiated this portion of the webinar with the following disclaimer:
“Product plans referenced in this document may change at any time at IBM’s sole discretion, and are not intended to be a commitment to future product or feature availability….”
Version 8 Beta is a follow-up from the Alpha 1H10 that was released in the summer of 2010. The Beta is a refresh of this product and was released in early October, 2010.
This version really addresses the market and enhanced productivity for developers and administrators. The goal of this version was to reduce the cots of ownership and increase business agility.
This was done in several ways:
1.     Reducing Barriers to Adoption – allows administrators to configure the deployment environment so IT can use it faster.
2.     Fit for Purpose Programming Models to Jumpstart Development – allows customers to choose program models that best suit their application needs.
3.     Fit for Purpose Application Foundations & Tooling – focused on high performance, strength, scalability, security and more.
The advanced Beta themes included the broadest programming models and standards possible. It is meant to be fast, flexible and simplified with extensive deployment environments and utilize integrated joint solutions.
Download the WAS next open Beta here.
About TxMQ
TxMQ, headquartered in Buffalo, NY provides flexible staffing solutions across all divisions and departments within a company. As a leading staffing agency, TxMQ provides placement of permanent and contract professionals within a wide variety of skill sets including Information Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing Operations, Accounting and Finance, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, and Administrative Management.
Contact us today to find the solution that’s right for you.

IBM Launches DB2 10 for z/OS

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Just this morning, IBM announced the launch of DB2 10 for z/OS with a general availability beginning on October 22, 2010.
IBM believes DB2 10 addresses the following challenges:
Business challenges:
Containing budgets
Workload growth
Good consistent customer service
IT staff productivity
Resilience
Agility
Audit & compliance
Technical Challenges:
Hardware evolution
Application evolution
Virtual storage constraints
Data contention
DB2 10 will deliver results to businesses for all these challenges.
According to IBM, DB2 10 for z/OS is simpler, utilizes proven technology and cost effectiveness, with CPU reductions for most workloads. IBM listened to the technical and business requirements needed for the new version and took the most important and resounding concerns into consideration.
Rick Bowers, DB2 for z/OS Director at IBM stated that they wanted to make sure the user experience out of the box was the best that it could be.
DB2 10 key enhancements, improvements & features:
1. Reduce hardware and software cost by reducing CPU usage
2. Improve business resiliency
3. Improve scalability and availability
4. Increase security and simplify compliance
5. Reduce administration and system management
6. Enable flexible migration paths
7. Enhance query and reporting facilities to get more out of data
8. Faster and easier
Achievements of DB2 10
Reduced costs
Compared to previous DB2 versions, most customers achieve an out of the box CPU savings of five to 10 percent for traditional workloads, and up to 20 percent for some specific workloads.
CPU usage is reduced by optimizing processor times and memory access, leveraging the latest processor improvements, larger amounts of memory, and z/OS enhancements.
Proven technology
DB2 10 builds on the already proven technologies of previous versions. Businesses can scale five to 10 times more concurrent users with less complexity and cost. A reduced response time leads to better performance all around.
Increased Security
DB2 10 offers a new DB2 data security solution that allows you to manage access to a table at the level of a row, column, or both. This ensures that your critical data is safe and allows you to define and create audit policies to address your specific business security needs.
Improved productivity
DB2 10 is all about allowing you to do more with less. It utilizes features like easier scaling and simpler memory management, more online processing, access path stability and more. Resiliency improvements for virtual storage and availability can increase your productivity.
In summary, DB2 10 takes all the best features of the previous versions and makes them better, according to IBM. Improved resiliency, availability, flexibility and reliability are all features from which you will benefit.
About TxMQ
TxMQ, headquartered in Buffalo, NY provides flexible staffing solutions across all divisions and departments within a company. As a leading staffing agency, TxMQ provides placement of permanent and contract professionals within a wide variety of skill sets including Information Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing Operations, Accounting and Finance, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, and Administrative Management.
Equip your company with the talent your team deserves. TxMQ can begin matching employees to your unique staffing needs today. Contact us today to find the solution that’s right for you.

An Introduction to WebSphere MQ

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Today, most companies rely on the stability of their technology to ensure that the business continually runs smoothly. The problem is, your company’s technology infrastructure is probably comprised of several types of systems. And more than likely, these systems are managed through different departments and quite possibly located throughout the entire country.
Therefore integrating your applications across your company and with key partners, suppliers and customers is the best way to provide security to your business. This is done through service oriented architecture or SOA.
What is WebSphere® MQ?
IBM WebSphere® MQ provides a flexible messaging backbone that allows you to integrate your existing IT programs with SOA. It works across a variety of industries, including banks, telecommunication companies, government agencies and more.
SOA allows your existing IT systems to respond to requests and change faster than ever before by acting as a universal translator between systems. Think of it this way… Each of your IT systems speaks a different language. WebSphere MQ translates all these languages quickly and easily so all your systems can work together quickly and efficiently.
And because WebSphere MQ is supported by almost every IT system, you shouldn’t need to replace your existing hardware or operating systems. This increases the reliability of data that is delivered throughout your systems. They all speak to a central hub, which then disburses the information accordingly.
Benefits of WebSphere MQ
1. Reliable – WebSphere MQ allows for instant, reliable data delivery. Information gets transferred quickly and simply with no delays. In addition, your data is insured if there is a temporary system outage.
The cost and penalties of lost data are severe, especially when the data is critical for your company’s success. Lost information can disrupt your daily processes and cost you dearly in both time and money. If the delay is large enough or severe enough in nature, the loss of customer trust can be detrimental, especially when it comes to the security of personal information such as account numbers or social security numbers.
2. Back-up – WebSphere MQ helps eliminate single points of failure in your system by providing backup to take over if a system failure occurs. It ensures that transported data is logged and up to date so that if failure does occur, the data can be reconstructed easily. It also preserves the integrity of the messages and the applications that are transmitting those messages.
3. Clustering – Clustering allows messages to be re-circulated around system parts that have experienced a network failure. Without this feature the messages may otherwise be undeliverable.
4. Security – Keeping your business information confidential is extremely important. WebSphere MQ makes security a priority addressing areas such as encryption, authentication, authorization, and privacy.
With built-in security features, your data will be protected as it moves throughout your technology infrastructure. In addition, it supports Secure Sockets Layering (SSL). SSL protects your site and technologies from fraudulent activity and keeps your users’ sensitive information secure.
5. Growth – WebSphere enables your business to grow by allowing full access to your IT systems. As your business and services grow, so to do your IT needs. WebSphere continues to allow everything to work together in a cohesive manner. The structure of your IT system is unique to your company alone. WebSphere MQ can be customized to fit your business needs individually.
IBM WebSphere MQ Facts:
– Used by more than 10,000 customers worldwide
– Controls and moves more than 10 billion messages every day
– Has more than 800 IBM Business Partners worldwide supporting it with software, solutions and services
– Supports more than $1 quadrillion worth of business transactions daily
ABOUT TXMQ
TxMQ offers a full range of WebSphere services. These include:
– Installation
– Systems assessment and architecture review
– Health check
– Upgrades
– Systems monitoring and maintenance
TxMQ, headquartered in Buffalo, NY provides flexible staffing solutions across all divisions and departments within a company. As a leading staffing agency, TxMQ provides placement of permanent and contract professionals within a wide variety of skill sets including Information Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing Operations, Accounting and Finance, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, and Administrative Management.
Equip your company with the talent your team deserves. TxMQ can begin matching employees to your unique staffing needs today. Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 228, email [email protected] or visit us at to find the solution that’s right for you.
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