Sponsored by Mainline Information Systems

Magnolia Room

Carr America Conference Center

4400 Rosewood Drive

Pleasanton, CA 94588

Agenda

8:30 – 9:30      Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:30 – 10:30    Linux Measurement and Performance Tuning

Speaker:  Ron Gordon,   Mainline Information Systems

Linux is becoming a strategic environment for many customers today.  Although Linux is generally thought of as Linux is Linux is Linux regardless of the platform, this thought does not hold true then trying to get optimal performance from Linux implementations, regardless of the hardware platform the is running Linux and the corresponding applications.  This session will review Linux construction and why performance measurement and tuning is critical to getting the highest performance.  Tools and tuning techniques and hints and tips will be review so the audience can immediately analyze their current Linux environment and take corrective actions if needed.

10:45 – 11:45  Understanding the Performance and Management Implications of FICON/FCP Protocol Intermix Mode (PIM)

Speaker:  Dr. Stephen Guendert,   Brocade Communications

FICON/FCP protocol intermix mode (PIM) in a common storage network has been supported by IBM since early 2003 yet has not seen widespread adoption among end users for a variety of reasons.  Recent developments such as the new IBM System z10, Node Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV), virtual fabrics, and advances in storage networking management make PIM a more compelling technological strategy for the end user to enable better utilization of capacity and operational cost savings.

11:45 ‑ 1:00    NCCMG Business Meeting/ Lunch sponsored by Mainline Information Systems/Product   Presentation

1:00 – 2:00      Telling Compelling Stories with Numbers

Speaker:  Stephen Few,   Perceptual Edge

Data visualization is rapidly becoming recognized as vital to business intelligence. At long last, the dream of using information to make intelligent business decisions might finally be within reach. Pictures of quantitative information bring patterns, trends, and exceptions to light that might never be seen in tables of numbers. This is only true, however, when information is visualized in ways that our eyes and minds can comprehend and accurately interpret. Sadly, most data displays are poorly designed, often to the point of misinformation. This is a travesty, because the skills needed to design effective data displays are easy to learn. Unfortunately, however, they are not intuitive. In his presentation, Stephen Few, author of Show Me the Numbers, Information Dashboard Design, and Now You See It will reveal the differences between data visualization as popularly practiced and data visualization that really works.

2:15 – 3:15      PowerVM Virtualization and Planning

                        Speaker: Jaqui Lynch, Mainline Information Systems

Implementing virtualization on any platform offers up considerable cost savings.  This session will cover some of the key planning issues for Power VM, IBM's virtualization on their system P servers. It will look at key planning points and how to get the best performance from those servers.  In particular it will address points to remember when consolidating servers into this environment in order to avoid under sizing.

Please pre-register by contacting Keith McAndrew at (916) 715-8352 by Friday July 31, 2009. Registration is $25 at the door.

Report from the May 2009 meeting:

   Speakers:  David Martin, Ted McGavin and Peg McMahon

Call for speakers in 2009. If you are interested in speaking, call Cathy Nolan at (925) 675-5308 or (925) 890-8390.

If you have not attended a meeting within the last two years, you will be deleted from the mailing list.  To remain on the mailing list, either attend one meeting or email cathy.nolan@bankofamerica.com by November 1, 2009.