DB2 Tools Vendors

DB2 Tools Vendors

There are a plethora of DB2 tool vendors offering many combinations of products from the categories we just reviewed. Appendix C, "Valid DB2 Data Types" provides an up-to-date listing of the major DB2 ISVs. Each vendor name in Appendix C is accompanied by the type of DB2 add-on tools the company supplies .

Evaluating DB2 Tools Vendors

Although the most important aspect of DB2 tool selection is the functionality of the tool and the way it satisfies the needs of your organization, the nature and stability of the vendor that provides the product is important also. This section provides suggested questions to ask when you are selecting a DB2 tool vendor.

1. How long has the vendor been in business? How long has the vendor been supplying DB2 tools?

2. Does your company have other tools from this vendor? How satisfied are the users of those tools?

3. Are other organizations satisfied with the tool you are selecting? Obtain a list of other organizations who use the same tool, and contact several of them.

4. Does the vendor provide a 24- hour support number? If not, what are its hours of operation? Does the vendor have a toll-free number? If not, how far away is the company from your site? You want to avoid accumulating long distance charges when you are requesting customer support from a vendor. (If an 800 number is not shown in the vendor list, that does not mean that the vendor does not have a toll-free customer support line.)

5. Does the vendor provide a newsletter? How technical is it? Does it provide information on DB2 and the vendor's tools, or just on the vendor's tools? Does the vendor provide a bulletin board service? Can you access it before establishing a relationship with the vendor to evaluate its usefulness ? If so, scan some of the questions and reported problems for the tools before committing to the vendor's product.

6. Does this vendor supply other DB2 tools that your organization might need later? If so, are they functionally integrated with this one? Does the vendor supply a full suite of DB2 products or just a few?

7. Does the vendor integrate its tools with other tools? For example, a product that analyzes databases to determine whether a REORG is required should integrate the REORG job with your shop's job scheduler.

8. Does the vendor provide training? Is it on-site training? Does the vendor supply DB2 training as well as training for its tools? Are installation, technical, and user manuals provided free of charge? ”How many copies? Is mainframe- or PC-based training available for the vendor's tools?

9. Evaluate the response of the technical support number. Call the number with technical questions at least four times throughout the day: before 8:00 a.m., at noon, just before 5:00 p.m., and again after 9:00 p.m. These are the times when you could find problems with the level of support provided by the vendor. Was the phone busy? Were you put on hold? For how long? When you got a response, was it accurate and friendly? Did the person who answered the phone have to find someone with more technical knowledge? (This can indicate potential problems.)

10. How knowledgeable are the technical support representatives who answer your test calls? Do they know their products inside and out, or do they struggle with the products? Do they know DB2 well (such as a former DBA), or are they unseasoned?

11. Will the vendor answer DB2 questions free of charge in addition to questions about its product? Sometimes vendors will, but they do not advertise the fact. Try it out by calling the technical support number.

12. Does the vendor have a local office? If not, are technicians readily available for on-site error resolution if needed? At what price?

13. Will the vendor deliver additional documentation or error-resolution information by overnight mail? Does it publish a fax number?

14. How are software fixes provided? Electronically? By tape? On the WWW? Is a complete reinstallation required? Are fixes typically accomplished using zaps?

15. How many man hours, on a short notice, is the vendor willing to spend to solve problems? Is there a guaranteed time limit?

16. Is the vendor willing to send a sales representative to your site to do a presentation of the product tailored to your needs?

17. Is the vendor an IBM business partner? How soon will the vendor's tools be modified to support new DB2 releases and versions? Does the vendor participate in IBM's ESP (early ship program) for new DB2 versions and releases?

18. Have the vendor's tools been reviewed or highlighted in any industry publications recently? If so, obtain the publications and read the articles.

19. Will the vendor assist in developing a cost justification? Most tool vendors are eager for your business and will be more than willing to provide cost justification to help you sell upper management on the need for the tool.

20. Does the vendor provide sample JCL to run its product? Skeleton JCL? A panel-driven JCL generator?

21. Does the vendor charge an upgrade fee when the processor is upgraded? How flexible are the terms and conditions for the contract?

22. If the vendor is sold or goes out of business, will the vendor supply the source code of the tool?

23. Is the vendor willing to set a ceiling for increases in the annual maintenance charge?

24. Does the vendor supply database administration tools for other DBMSs used at your shop? Can the same tool, using the same interface, be used to manage multiple databases across multiple operating systems?

25. How does the vendor rank enhancement requests ?

These 25 questions provide a basis for evaluating DB2 tool vendors. Judge for yourself which criteria are most important to your organization.