Easy IWA: Part 1 – The TPCH database, data generation and IBM Informix 12.10.FC4

Abstract

This first article in the Easy IWA series details the regular requirement for a referentially complete database schema along with the capability to generate and load data during testing and POC exercises. This article provides information on implementing the TPCH database schema in IBM Informix, the dbgen data generation utility and loading the generated data.

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Easy IWA: Part 1 – The TPCH database, data generation and IBM Informix 12.10.FC42020-08-18T15:42:25+01:00

Easy IWA: An Introduction to the Easy IWA Technical Articles Series

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the Easy IWA Technical Articles Series. Using the TPCH database schema, Data Generation utilities and sample queries from http://www.tpc.org, this series covers everything to get up and running with IBM Informix Warehouse Accelerator including data generation, creation of an accelerator, loading a Data Mart and running a set of queries.

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Easy IWA: An Introduction to the Easy IWA Technical Articles Series2021-06-08T16:38:05+01:00

An Introduction to the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT)

Abstract

ILMT is an ever increasingly more important piece of software with the growth in usage of virtualized technology. This article provides a brief overview of what ILMT is, why it may be relevant and some considerations with deployment.

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An Introduction to the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT)2020-08-18T15:42:57+01:00

How to unload to a flat file without dbaccess

Abstract

The ‘unload’ command is not part of SQL, it is functionality built into dbaccess, other command line utilities and some GUI tools. This article shows how to extract data to a flat file directly from SQL in your application code (for instance), but only in version 11.50.xC6 or later.

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How to unload to a flat file without dbaccess2020-08-18T15:43:25+01:00

An Introduction To TimeSeries

Abstract

What is TimeSeries? TimeSeries has actually been around for a fairly long time dating back to 1992 where it started at Illustra.  It was then ported to Informix when Illustra was acquired by IBM, followed by the first Informix release of the TimeSeries Data Blade in 1996. However, it is now beginning to generate a lot of hype and interest.  The reason why we are only now starting to hear about TimeSeries with any persistence is quite simply due to need and achievability.  By this I mean: firstly, there are now larger amounts of data stored about numerous things than there were 15 years ago – simply put data is increasingly the lifeblood of every industry.  Secondly, the hardware capabilities have progressed sufficiently to manage these increasing amounts of data; however, due to these huge data stores, things are becoming sluggish, and companies are looking for improved ways to store and manage their data: enter TimeSeries…again!

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An Introduction To TimeSeries2020-08-18T15:44:05+01:00

How to calculate the size of databases

Abstract

The ability to view the size of all your databases can be of great value. However, there is no command currently provided with IBM Informix Dynamic Server that shows the total size of each of your databases in an instance. If you want to know which databases are using the most space, but do not have a GUI or need an automated script, this article provides an SQL statement that will enable you to view the size of any database you wish to measure .

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How to calculate the size of databases2020-08-18T15:44:36+01:00

Identifying and connecting to an HDR secondary server

Abstract

In cases where a simple IBM Informix Primary / HDR Secondary server pair exists, it may be considered unnecessary to implement Informix Connection Manager to manage switching between the two, as OLTP applications can simply connect to whichever is the active Primary in a group defined in the sqlhosts file. This article describes a unique method for connecting appropriate applications to the active HDR Secondary in this scenario.

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Identifying and connecting to an HDR secondary server2020-08-18T15:45:10+01:00

Generate and run update statistics on Informix

Abstract

One major factor to obtaining and sustaining good performance within an IBM Informix database is having the appropriate statistics available. This article provides another method and explores the “output to pipe” utility within SQL. There are several ways that statistics can be maintained, the most common, apart from home grown, are: What is focused on here is having a simple method to generate and run efficient update statistics commands providing the recommended set of required statistics without getting into setting up AUS or compilation of dostats – i.e. a simple way to ensure your database has the relevant statistics generated using a single command; ideal for test environments or small production environments. This also makes use of the IBM Informix SQL statement “output to pipe” which is used to pass output to another program, in this example, “awk”.

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Generate and run update statistics on Informix2021-06-08T16:36:39+01:00

How to restore with “ontape” from a different IDS edition

Updated June 2020

Open source C program “bsed” is no longer accessible and has been superceded by “bbe”:

Examples in this article have been reworked accordingly.

Abstract

Depending on your IDS version, you may be unable to restore a test instance from production using “ontape” if the edition (Ultimate/Enterprise, Growth/Workgroup or Innovator) is different, even if the version is otherwise the same. This article provides a solution.

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How to restore with “ontape” from a different IDS edition2020-08-18T15:47:38+01:00
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