Click here todownload Novembermeeting slides. Click hereto downloadanMS Word version of the meeting minutes.
MIUG Minutes - November 17, 1996
MIUG Update: Ron Flannery
MIUG Offline Survey: an ad hoc survey held at each meeting -
Q: Would you like technical round table discussions at the meetings? A:Mostpeople answered yes. We will try to incorporate more of these sessions.Thiswould involve people at the meeting bringing up round table discussionsonvarious technical issues. We will likely make these optional and hold thematthe end of the meetings.
Q: What time would you like meetings to be held? A: Everyone agreed that6:15is a good start time: not too early, not too late. We did agree thata new,more central location needs be found. The MIUG will try to have allfuturemeetings in places like Southfield, Farmington Hills, and Novi.
Q: What are some presentations you would like to see at future meetings?A:Netscape and Informix Workgroup Server (they are bundled now). UniversalServer.
MIUG Status
The MIUG is considering sponsoring a one day technical show. The showwouldinclude several hardware and software vendor booths as well astechnical"track sessions." Doing this would require a lot of help from ourmembers,both to coordinate the show and to give the sessions. Raj from VSIsaid thatthere is a similar two day show in May. We will consider being apart ofthat show instead. Watch for updates here on our website!
The next MIUG meeting will be Tuesday, January 21, 1997. It will be heldina central place like Southfield, Farmington Hills, or Novi. For more detailsseethe MIUG webpage.
International Informix User Group (IIUG): Ron Flannery
Lester Knutsen, president of the D.C. User Group was unable to attend, butsharedhis insights into the IIUG with Ron.
The IIUG is an organization designed to help local groups and create oncollectivevoice to Informix. It has been very powerful already in helpingInformix tounderstand the needs of the user community. It is with groupslike MIUG thatthis communication takes place!
All paid members of the MIUG will be registered electronically with the IIUG.TheIIUG should be sending you a letter within the next two months, includingmoredetails on your membership! Some benefits:
- Discount on cost for Worldwide User Conference (last year was $200)
- Unlimited search ability on the IIUG website archives, which are many
- A direct conduit to Informix
Visit the IIUG website at www.iiug.orgformore details!
Data Warehousing Presentation
The data warehousing presentation was originally to be hosted byZenaCompIncorporated. Due to last minute conflicts they were unable to makeit. Manythanks to Ben Taub from Dataspace Incorporated, who filled in atthe lastminute! Click for more informationonInformix'sdata warehousing solutions.
I. Data Warehousing Overview: Ben Taub, Dataspace, Incorporated
Ben gave a nice overview of exactly what data warehousing is and how it isusedby corporations. Generally, data warehousing is used by corporationsto betterunderstand their data. It is a summarized version of their detailedtransaction(OLTP) data. Data warehouses have a methodology that is somewhatrelationalbut also has specialized design considerations. Some buzzwords:metadata,dimensions, drilldown, measures, fact table.
This is a very complex area. For more information,send E-Mail to Dataspace for awhitepaper.Good reading material is "Building the Data Warehouse" by Inmon.There arealso many good references on the web. You just need to drill down…
II. Informix Metacube: Rich Harken, Informix Software
Metacube is an Informix tool that was originally developed by StanfordTechnologyGroup (which Informix bought). It is GUI-based and allows drilldownand analysisof the data in your warehouse. Click formoreinformationon MetaCube or call Rich Harken at the Troy Informix officeat 810-524-1842.
III. Informix XPS: Dave Proksch, Informix Software
XPS is the next generation of Informix server software. It is optimized toallowprocessing large data warehouses using Massively Parallel Processors(MPP).This means that your database is spread across various nodes (i.e.,computers)on your network. Informix uses a "share nothing" approach, whichallows bettercontrol of resources. Click formoreinformationon XPS or call the Detroit Informix officeat 810-524-1842.
MIUG Giveaways:
At each meeting, a vendor will be giving away at least one nice gift, aswellas the standard assortment of mousepads, pens, and coffee cups.
ZenaComp Incorporated: Verghese Jacob from HCIA won Bill Inmon's book, "BuildingaData Warehouse."
ZenaComp was going to give away a copy of the IQ Software's IQ/LiveWeb,but free copies (limited functionality)canbe downloaded from their website at www.iqsc.com. LiveWeb is a new toolthatallows web-based reporting on databases on the Internet or intranets.Itcan be used for data warehousing and other applications.
Here is a summary of the schedule that was posted for the meeting onSeptemeber17, 1996:
The next scheduled meeting of the MIUG is September 17, 1996, at theK-Martheadquarters on Big Beaver Road in Troy. Clickforagenda, directions,andmeeting posting.The scheduled guest vendorisPlatinum Technologies. They willbediscussing their GUI-based tools to aid in Informix database administrationaswell as peforming a LIVE demo showing how to use the tools to administeranInformix database. There will be a drawing for three PlatinumTechnologiesjackets!
The tools Platinum will be demonstratinginclude DesktopDBA,ServerVision,andDBVision.These tools provide GUI interfaces to greatly simplify databaseadministrationand performance monitoring. Using Desktop DBA, adminstratorscan performall the standard DBA tasks - including table and user maintenance- rightfrom their desktops. DBVision and ServerVision monitor various databasesonthe network, displaying performance statistics, providing alarms, andmore.
We will also be discussing the future format of MIUG. Please come with yourideas.Feel free to E-mail with anyideasyou have before the meeting. We will have some whitepapers and otherInformixarticles on hand.
We will also begin to implement some regular MIUG events at this meeting.Wewill be distributing documentation, newsletters from other user groups,andperforming other giveaways. Dinner will be supplied.Also,look for an update of current Informix product offerings and informationonthe International Informix User Group.
All in all, the next meeting is not to be missed! More info to come..
Proud supporter
of the IIUG.