Chicago's Great Lakes Informix User Group is back!

MEETING AGENDA

1:00 Ron Flannery - Open the meeting and set agenda

1:10 Tony Alverez - IBM and Informix: What does the future hold?

1:30 Tom Sensabaugh - Futures of IDS, Foundation, Linux, and U2

2:00 Pizza and Refreshments

2:30 Mike Segal - Product upgrade rollout dates

3:00 Ron Flannery - What do you want from GLIUG? => Call for Volunteers and Leaders

3:30 Prize Giveaways

TOPIC DETAILS:
Ron Flannery - Introductions and Agenda
Is an IIUG board member, long-time president of the Michigan Informix User Group(4years) and lead author of Informix Handbook did a short presentation on the IIUG and how it helps user groups and the user community in general.

Talked about the IIUG's relationship with IBM and what it can provide to this new group. Join the IIUG and benefit from the bi-weekly, Informix E-newletter etc.... IBM was committed to helping the GLIUG group get started.

Tony Alverez - IBM and Informix: What does the future hold?
Tony Alverez, our local IBM representatives presentation describe the future of IBM software products.

Reaffirmed its commitment to the Informix community and share with us what the future holds. IBM will embrace informix and co-existence with DB2. It wants to enrich the technology by infusing both side to best leverage the products. Support for informix is not going away. Will continue to support and enhance the informix product line for as long as customers require. IBM already provides tools for informix and DB2 to seamlessly co-exist.

What to expect:
* Investment protection
* Multi-platform support
* Integration of informix key functions into DB2
* Unparalleled support
* No forced migration

Tom Sensabaugh - Futures of IDS, Foundation, Linux, and U2

Reiterated that Informix is not going away. IBM IDS 9.x offers world-leading extensibility features. Discuss the latest features of the 9.x versions of IDS and Foundation:
* Dynamic log allocation
* OLTP - Innovative features for achieving unsurpassed transaction rates.
* A set of features designed to make IDS easier to administer
* Deliver higher performance enterprise replication
* IDS with J/Foundation
* J/Foundation provides support for Java
* Stated that IBM has made a commitment to Linux.

***BREAK- PIZZA AND REFRESHMENTS***

Mike Segal - Product upgrade rollout dates

General outline of Product Roadmap for the classic Informix products like OnLine, SE, 4GL. Discussion about the difference between IDS 7.x and IDS 9.x. These products would be for quite some time.

Ron Flannery - What do you want from the GLIUG?- Call for Volunteers and Leaders

Looking for leaders and volunteers to resurrect the group. Defined the structure of the GLIUG and explained how IBM's Data Management Group will assist in running the group. Describe the commitment and time needed to be on the board. Asked for topics to be discussed in future group sessions.

Our Next Meeting:
Wednesday, March 20, 2002, 1:00-3:30 PM

LOCATION: Sears complex in Hoffman

THE LATEST INFORMATION: Join our E-newsletter

GLIUG IN A NUTSHELL: The GLIUG is back! Please join us to reinvigorate the group at Sears' Hoffman location on Wednesday, March 20, from 1:00 - 3:30 PM. Network with fellow Informix users and learn about the future of your favorite products in this meeting that includes NO ENTRY FEES, free food and drinks, and great giveaways. You can become a part of the future of the GLIUG as we define a new operating structure. The meeting will feature at least three speakers from IBM's Data Management group as well as a member of the International Informix User Group. Please see details below. We hope to see you there! Please RSVP if possible.

GIVEAWAYS AND REFRESHMENTS: IBM will supply pizza and soda, served at the break at about 2 PM. We will also provide raffle prizes that include Informix certification exam vouchers, a signed copy of Ron Flannery's Informix Handbook, and more!

FEEDBACK AND RSVP: Please help us create the NEW GLIUG! Send suggestions and RSVP (much appreciated) to Ron Flannery (rflanner@speedlink.net) and we'll work to make the meeting a success! (NOTE: The previous email address for RSVPs was having problems so please use this one.)

TOPICS:
1) IBM, Data Management, and Informix: What does the future hold?
2) Futures of IDS, Foundation, Linux, and U2
3) What do you want from the GLIUG?
4) Call for Volunteers and Leaders
5) The International Informix User Group and the User Community

1) IBM, Data Management, and Informix: What does the future hold?
IBM representatives from all over the world recently attended the E-Business University (EBU), an event that helps the employees understand the future of IBM software products. Our local IBM representatives will describe the information they learned from the meeting, both from the Informix and Data Management point-of-view. Find out what the future holds for your products and ask questions about what you need to know. IBM reaffirmed its commitment to the Informix community and we will share with you what the future holds. IBM will also continue to strengthen its relationship with key ISVs like SAP, Siebel, Peoplesoft, and i2. The Data Management group (owners of Informix) will have various representatives that can help you understand these Informix products as well as the rest of Data Management's portfolio.

2) Futures of IDS, Foundation, Linux, and U2
IBM will discuss the latest features of the 9.x versions of IDS and Founation, and how they compare to 7.x. Find out if an upgrade to 9.x will help you! We'll also discuss the outstanding commitment that IBM has made to Linux. Finally, we'll provide an update on the direction of the U2 products.

3) What do you want from the GLIUG?
We'll work with you to define the structure of the new GLIUG, how it will work with IBM's Data Management Group, and how it will be run.

4) Call for Volunteers and Leaders
For GLIUG to meet regularly, we need volunteers, including a president and 3-4 board members. Please think about your time commitment and if you would be willing to help in any way. We will attempt to hold elections during the meeting. Our current plan is to hold a quarterly meeting, so if you can commit to helping out that often, we would be glad to have you. Note that the meeting notices will be provided purely on the Web site and via our E-newsletter, so most of the work will be involved with meeting logistics, and IBM will help.

5) The International Informix User Group and the User Community
Ron Flannery, IIUG board member, long-time president of the Michigan Informix User Group and lead author of Informix Handbook, will do a short presentation on the IIUG and how it helps user groups and the user community in general. Find out about the IIUG's relationship with IBM and what it can provide to you.

Watch this Web site and join our enewsletter for the latest information!

Directions

* Once inside the complex (more directions below):
Follow the signs to visitor parking. After parking your car, return to the main entrance (you passed it on the way to visitor parking), and register at the front desk where you will be given a name tag.

* From the Loop or O'Hare Airport:
Take I-90/I-94 West and stay on I-90 West (the Northwest Tollway) toward Hoffman. Exit at Beverly Road and proceed North (right). You will see the Sears entrance on the right.

* From the South:
Take the closest North/South expressway to I-90 (Northwest Tollway) West. Stay on I-90 West to the exit of Beverly Road and proceed North (right). You will see the Sears entrance on the right.

* From the West of Route 59:
Take I-90 East (the Northwest Tollway) to Route 59 (first exit after Rt. 25). Exit and proceed North to Higgins Rd. (Rt. 72). Turn left on Higgins and proceed to Beverly Rd. which borders the complex on the West. (You will actually pass the complex which is located on the South side of Higgins.) Turn left (South on Beverly Rd.). You will see the Sears entrance on the left.

Our E-newsletter

We have created a new E-newsletter that will be used for meeting announcements and occasional news about Informix products. To subscribe, please send an email to
majordomo@iiug.org and include the following in the message:

subscribe gliug-members
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