Appendix B. DB2 Tools Vendors

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Appendix B. DB2 Tools Vendors

IN THIS APPENDIX

  • The Vendor List

This appendix contains an extensive listing of vendors who provide DB2 products. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but lists the major players in the DB2 add-on tool market. It is accurate as of the writing of this book, but the software industry is dynamic; software development companies are buying out one another or selling their assets almost weekly.

Product names are not provided as names frequently change and some tools provide more than one function. Often these vendors supply software tools to manage other system software (such as CICS or IMS), but the focus of this list is on the DB2 development and management tools only. This list should be used as a reference tool; it does not offer any recommendations. Evaluation of the vendor's offerings is left to the reader and his or her organization.

The type of DB2 add-on tools each company supplies accompanies the vendor contact information. The tool types are coded based on the abbreviations used in Chapter 39, "Components of a Total DB2 Solution." The abbreviations are repeated here for reference:

ALT

Table alter tools

AUD

Auditing tools

CAT

DB2 Catalog query and analysis tools

COM

Compression tools

C/S

DB2- related client/server tools

DBA

Database analysis tools

DES

Database modeling and design tools

DSD

DASD and space management tools

EDT

DB2 table editors

ETL

Extract, Transform, Load tools (data movement)

INT

Data and referential integrity tools

MIG

DB2 object migration tools

MSC

Miscellaneous tools

NET

Internet, intranet, and Web enabling tools

OPR

Operational support tools

PC

PC-based DB2-related products

PLN

Plan analysis tools

PM

Performance monitors

PRF

Products to optimize and enhance performance

PRG

DB2 programming and development tools

QMF

QMF enhancement tools

QRY

Query tools

REP

Repositories and data dictionaries

SEC

Security tools

UTL

Utility enhancement, generation, and management tools


Keep in mind that some tools provide features that support more than one tool category. At a high level, it is wise to organize your evaluations of DB2 tools by tool category. Then concentrate on only the features of each tool integral to the category you are evaluating. This is the recommended approach to DB2 tool evaluation because many tools support multiple features. For example, an alter tool could also provide table editing capability. If you are evaluating alter capabilities and do not need table editing, do not let the additional feature of table editing influence your decision. Judge products based solely on the features you need. It is usually less costly (in the long run) to purchase two tools that fully support the required features (for example, altering and editing) than to purchase a single tool that only partially supports two (or more) capabilities.

This does not mean that tools that integrate multiple features always provide fewer capabilities than single-function tools. One integrated tool could provide all the features a small shop needs. Just be sure that a product supports your basic needs before looking at its additional " bells and whistles." Additionally, it can make sense to purchase multiple tools from a single vendor because it will be more likely that the tools are similarly designed and offer some level of integrated functionality.

In general, it is wise to realize that third-party add-on tools can significantly improve the efficiency of DB2 application development and database administration. When evaluating products, look for features important to your organization. Consider adopting checklists for product comparisons based upon the features discussed in this article. And remember, although DB2 is a fantastic DBMS, it leaves quite a bit to be desired in the administration, data access, performance monitoring, and application development areas.

The following list is by no means comprehensive, but it does provide most of the medium- to large- sized companies that offer DB2 add-on tools and solutions.

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DB2 Developers Guide
DB2 Developers Guide (5th Edition)
ISBN: 0672326132
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 388

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