Knowledge is Power for Attendees of IBM TechXchange 2024

Late last month, the annual IBM TechXchange conference took place in Las Vegas, hosting over 5,000 IT professionals from across the industry who were eager to learn more about the world of IBM^®. As a long-standing IBM^® partner, Rocket Software looks forward to sponsoring and bringing value to this event year-over-year. Our team led impactful sessions on optimizing data management and application recovery—critical skills as AI and machine learning continue to reshape IT environments.

Here’s a look at Rocket Software’s highlights from the event:

Making application recovery more manageable

Recovering applications isn’t something IT professionals hope to deal with, but preparation is essential. In “Db2 Application Recovery Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices,” Tom Crocker, a senior solution advisor at Rocket Software, provided attendees with actionable insights on what to do when disaster strikes, and how to meet recovery time objectives when challenges arise.

Key takeaways:

• Best practices for fast recovery: Attendees left with clear, strategic steps to prepare for and manage application recovery.
• Confidence in crisis: Rocket’s experts reinforced the mindset of “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,” empowering IT teams to tackle unforeseen events with resilience.

What’s next and what’s new with Db2

Data management is demanding and ever-changing, requiring products and services to innovate constantly. In the session, “How OMEGAMON Db2 Supports Db2 13 and ‘What's New’ Since GA!” Matthias Tschaffler, a product owner and principal software engineer at Rocket Software, went over some of the most useful new features and functions of Db2.

Key takeaways:

• New Db2 metrics: Attendees learned about new Db2 trace metrics that allow IT teams to track and optimize application performance in real-time.
• User-driven updates: Many features were developed based on user feedback, making the software even more intuitive for frequent Db2 users.

Back to the basics with CICS

Managing Customer Information Control System (CICS) operations is vital for many IT departments, but it’s also a complex area where teams sometimes struggle.

Ezriel Gross, a principal solutions advisor at Rocket Software, led the session “Introduction to CICS for the Non-CICS Specialist” and provided attendees with a practical introduction to CICS, demystifying this powerful IBM service.

Key takeaways:

• CICS fundamentals: Gross covered how CICS supports simultaneous online requests, data integrity, and resource prioritization, which is essential for IT Teams managing high-demand applications.
• Practical applications: By breaking down CICS basics, Gross enabled participants to return to their teams with the knowledge needed to make the most of this powerful system.

Improving CICS performance through advanced tools

For those looking to dive deeper, Rocket Software also held a more advanced session combining CICS with OMEGAMON, which monitors and manages mainframe applications and environments.

The session, “Using OMEGAMON for CICS and CICS Performance Analyzer to Analyze Problems and Tune CICS Systems” was led by Gross and Henry Fogwill, a CICS infrastructure engineering principal at Evernorth Health Services. The two covered common CICS performance challenges and solutions, especially when using CICS in conjunction with IBM’s monitoring tool, OMEGAMON.

Key takeaways:

• Diagnosing common problems: Attendees gained insights into identifying the root causes of recurring performance issues.
• Enhanced troubleshooting: By combining CICS Performance Analyzer and OMEGAMON, IT teams can more effectively monitor, analyze, and tune their CICS systems to ensure peak performance.

IBM TechXchange continues to be an invaluable platform for IT professionals of all levels. Beyond exploring new technology and learning from experts, attendees had the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and address shared challenges in the field. Rocket Software is proud to contribute to this vibrant community and is committed to supporting IT leaders in their journey toward smarter, more resilient IT infrastructures.

Learn more about how Rocket Software can help you make the most of your IBM products.