02
Sat, Nov
2 New Articles

In the Wheelhouse: DB2 BLU Acceleration: Who Wants to Go Fast?

Analysis of News Events
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

This week, we're talking about big data processing with IBM's DB2 10.5 feature called BLU Acceleration. Also, RDi 9 gets released with Worklight Studio, which can help you build mobile applications to access IBM i data.

 

So Who Wants to Go Fast?

A couple of months ago, IBM announced a DB2 10.5 offering called BLU Acceleration. With customers looking to analyze, slice, dice, puree, and chop big data from social media all the way down to traditional ERP and CRM data sources, BLU ("Big data, Lightning fast, Ultra-easy") effectively optimizes DB2 for running large in-memory analytical jobs and drives down time to usable results at, according to IBM, the "speed of thought." On June 26, IBM announced via press release a number of vendor and customer testimonials about BLU Acceleration, emphasizing the business results they've seen with the product that's now generally available.

 

According to the press release, highlights of BLU Acceleration are:

  • Dynamic in-memory technology that loads terabytes of data in Random Access Memory, which streamlines query workloads even when data sets exceed the size of the memory.
  • "Actionable Compression," which allows analytics to be performed directly on compressed data without having to decompress it. Some customers have reported as much as 10 times storage space savings.
  • An innovative advance in database technology that allows DB2 to process both row-based and column-based tables simultaneously within the same system. This allows much faster analysis of vast amounts of data for faster decision-making.
  • The simplicity to allow clients access to blazing-fast analytics transparently to their applications, without the need to develop a separate layer of data modeling or time-consuming data warehouse tuning.
  • Integration with IBM Cognos Business Intelligence Dynamic Cubes to provide breakthrough speed and simplicity for reporting and analytics. Companies can analyze key facts and freely explore more information faster from multiple angles and perspectives to make more-informed decisions.
  • The ability to take advantage of both multi-core and single instruction multiple data (SIMD) features in IBM POWER and Intel x86 processors

 

This is built into DB2 10.5, not a separate product, which means the time it takes to get started is incredibly fast. So it offers in-memory processing, analysis of compressed data, and simultaneous processing of columnar or row-based tables. It's skipping data that isn't relevant and saving space by compressing data. Very cool stuff, but just how fast is it?

 

During a technology preview, IBM demonstrated that a 32-core system using BLU Acceleration could query a 10TB data set with 100 columns and 10 years of data with sub-second response time. "First we compress the data in the table by 10x resulting in a table that on disk is only 1TB in size. The query then only accesses 1 column so 1/100 of the columns in the table (1% - 10GB of 1TB). So using data skipping we can skip over 9 years and only look at 1 year (now 1GB of data). Now divide across 32 cores for the scan, each core processes only 32 MB of data. Scan will happen faster on encoded data (say 4x faster than traditional) as fast as 8MB of data on traditional system. Therefore, in the end each core is only processing 8MB of data which is no issue to get a sub-second response from."

 

References in the press release had similar results, with improvements ranging from 10 to 45 times that of pre-BLU results. That's frighteningly fast. It's a solution that just jams, and the principle is simple to understand, even for a guy like me who's not a database guru by any stretch of the imagination.

 

So...when is it coming to DB2 for i? That's the question of the hour now, isn't it? DB2 10.5 with BLU Acceleration is available on Windows, Linux (Red Hat and SUSE enterprise) on both x64 and Power Systems, AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris.

 

I've heard no direct confirmation that we'll see BLU Acceleration on DB2 for i just yet, but keep your ears and eyes open for this. The integration theme for these features are a nice match for IBM i. I'm reminded of a great scene from the movie Apollo 13, where actor Ed Harris says "I don't care about what anything was designed to do. I care about what it can do." While BLU Acceleration is designed for big data analytics, it would add tremendous value to reporting on standard DB2 for i transactional database data. Or better yet, leverage its strengths for IBM i transaction processing. More cores, more memory, and more disk arms all help performance, but if you're processing the data in a more intelligent, and yes, even a more elegant fashion, then you're getting your money's worth with the investment you've already bought and paid for.

 

I'm not a database expert, but I see these features on DB2 for i being a true game-changer in terms of breakneck speed database performance. We all have seen batch jobs that build data warehouses taking hours to run. Imagine cutting that time down to minutes or even seconds! The only hint of what's to come was at the BLU Accelerator launch this past April when Tim Vincent, the Chief Architect for DB2 for distributed platforms, hinted that they plan on extending it and also bringing it into new products. I'm going to reach out to Vincent to see if I can get some insight into what the future may or may not hold for us in the IBM i world.

IBM Worklight Gets IBM i Support in RDi 9

IBM recently released Rational Developer for i (RDi) 9 .0, which is the new branding of Rational Developer for Power Systems (RDP). Jon Paris and Susan Gantner did a great review of the product here so I'll let those folks do the talking about the nuances, updates, performance, and functionality of RDi 9. What I want to talk about is Worklight.

 

IBM Worklight is a mobile application framework for creating applications to run on smartphones, tablets, or any other mobile device. Worklight Studio 6.0 was part of this release of RDi, allowing customers to build mobile applications integrating with applications running on IBM i.

 

The Java-based IBM Worklight server, however, is not supported on IBM i. You need to tune up a Windows, Linux (System z or x86-64), or AIX server to run the Worklight Server and then connect to applications running on IBM i by way of JTOpen or SOAP. However, if you want to go play with it, the Worklight Studio client does have a built-in server for testing purposes.

 

With Worklight Studio support via RDi, one has to wonder: Will the server component be coming on IBM i eventually? It's certainly a possibility, but I have no knowledge of IBM's future plans for Worklight. As far as I can tell, the server component runs on a WebSphere Liberty Profile, which in turn runs on IBM i. Worklight was bought by IBM only last year, so it wasn't developed from scratch with IBM i in mind. Patience, grasshopper.

 

Either way, this is a step in the right direction as support for accessing IBM i data and applications has been added. Perhaps including the Worklight Studio is a precursor for more things to come, so continue to watch this space while we try to get a handle on the future of Worklight.

 

Steve Pitcher
Steve Pitcher works with iTech Solutions, an IBM Premier Business Partner. He is a specialist in IBM i and IBM Power Systems solutions since 2001. Feel free to contact him directly This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: