Sampling Techdocs : February - March 2009

Hello, here we go again for another round of interesting material from TechDocs.

• FAQ : High Performance FICON Faq and zHPF Technical summary for planning
  I think this is self explanatory.
  
  
• White Paper : Introduction to IBM Cognos 8 BI for Linux on System z
  "IBM Cognos 8 BI for Linux on System z delivers a broad range of Business Intelligence capabilities on an open, enterprise-class platform. This document provides an overview of best practice configurations for IBM Cognos 8 BI v8.4 on Linux for System z and performance measurement results with various deployments".
  
  
• Flash : System z10 OSA, OSA Feature Code History, OSA Connector and Cabling Reference
  Any technical detail you have to know on OSA cards in a three slide presentation with number of ports, supported platforms, chpid types etc.
  
  
• Presentations : Advanced I/O Configuration Topics (Part 1 of 2) and Advanced I/O Configuration Topics (Part 2 of 2)
  This is a two-part presentation John Hughes (IBM) gave at the Share Conference last February in Austin. He discusses "complex I/O configuration topics like CTCs, coupling links, and peer mode". He also illustrates (with lots of screen prints) how to work out these configurations with HCD and HCM.
  By the way, you can find lots of great presentations at the Share site (click the Proceedings tab) of nearly every session that was given at Austin or at previous conferences.
  
  
• Presentation : z/OS Communications Server use of OSA (Open System Adapter) Ethernet and Token Ring
  We're definitely into OSA this time : "OSA (Open System Adapter) is the only LAN (Local Area Network) attachment to the System z. This document details the options for attaching an OSA in QDIO and non-QDIO mode to z/OS TCP/IP and/or VTAM". Lots of information over here !
  
  
• Presentation : TS7700 Release 1.5 Technical Overview Presentation
  This is a very thorough and technical presentation of all new functionalities of the TS7700 Virtualization engine like e.g. the enlarged cache, the new disk-only TS7720 Virtualization engine, the integration of the Library Manager etc.
  

Well that's it for now. As I always say : just check them out !

Cognos Shareholders Approve Acquisition by IBM

It's final now, "Cognos shareholders have approved the previously announced arrangement whereby International Business Machines Corporation, through an indirect subsidiary, will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Cognos for US$58.00 in cash for each Cognos common share. The arrangement was approved by approximately 99.8% of the votes". So the arrangement is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2008. Read the entire Cognos News Release over here. For more info you can refer to my previous post on this acquisition.

IBM to acquire Cognos

When I google on 'IBM to acquire Cognos', the first link I get dates from July 17, 2006. It's an article in IT-Week from James Murray : 'Will IBM acquire Cognos ?' saying "IBM has a gaping hole in its portfolio that is crying out to be filled by a business intelligence specialist". According to him not SAS, Business Objects or Hyperion but "an IBM-Cognos merger could make a lot of sense".
Well, things have indeed been moving since. Oracle took over Hyperion Solutions in March and SAP acquired Business Objects last month. Now IBM and Cognos made the following announcement : 'IBM to Acquire Cognos to Accelerate Information on Demand Business Initiative'. A quote from the announcement :

"Cognos provides the only complete BI and performance management platform, fully integrated on an open-standards-based service oriented architecture (SOA), and has a strong history of supporting heterogeneous application environments, consistent with IBM’s approach. With Cognos, customers can turn data into actionable insight for coordinated, information-driven decision-making to improve overall performance. Cognos will also extend IBM’s reach further into the CFO office with powerful financial planning and consolidation capabilities.
(...)
Together, IBM and Cognos will expand IBM’s ability to provide customers with the right information they need when they need it, to optimize operational performance, and to quickly respond to changing market demands. The combination of IBM’s information management technology and Cognos will also help organizations discover new ways to use trusted information spread across their enterprises to identify new business opportunities and significantly reduce the expense and time required to address industry-specific business challenges".

There's a FAQ on the acquisition on the IBM page. More information on the Cognos products can be found on the Cognos products overview page.