Download PDF
Watch recording (logged in Tridex members only)
Session title: Screening in a Virtualized Production Environment
Session abstract: Most IT experts know the catchphrase “Never change a running system” very well, especially once you experience that a small change can have a significant impact. Anyway, “The only constant is change” is very true as well. Even if we don’t touch an application for enhancements, we’ll face security updates, software updates, hardware updates, configuration changes and data growth.
Before moving to a new machine, applying (Db2) APARs, changing schema, or SQL, it’s common to test in a sand-box, or development system – very good, but here come the challenges:
1st There are quite a few regulations that affect reliable testing of changes and they all have one in common – DON’T USE PRODUCTION DATA!!!
2nd Without real data, or with data masked and sanitized, we’ll very likely see different results than running one and the same query in production.
This session explains how you can reliably, and resource-friendly, simulate your entire production environment, WITHOUT production data and even on a different machine.
We’ll cover prescreening changes in the following areas:
- environment changes, like upgrading to a new machine, or adding more resources
- application changes, like SQL queries and schema
- data changes, like amount and distribution
The capabilities introduce a whole new world of „what if“ opportunities and especially protect you from testing that doesn’t focus on what counts: the resulting performance in your production environment.
Outline:
- Real world examples.
- What the Db2 optimizer needs to make a choice.
- How to model a production environment.
- Compare access paths resulting from buffer pool changes, RID expansion, or CPU changes.
- Test „what if“ you drop, create or change an index.
Speaker bio: Ulf Heinrich specialized in Db2 recovery and operations, managing cost reduction and 24×7 operations. As a consultant at large customer sites, he has implemented database maintenance procedures and recovery strategies, and also experienced the pitfalls of recovery scenarios under real-world disaster pressure. Ulf contributes to the ZOWE community since day one and helps customers implementing, customizing and managing modern z/OS/USS solutions. His activities cover EMEA, as well as North America through SE’s U.S. subsidiary, SEGUS Inc. As a member of SE’s Request Board, he’s working closely with customers and the development labs. As a member of the TRIDEX.org Board of Directors he’s proud to support the Db2 community in the greater NY area.