Db2 for z/OS Master Class 2026 - Announcement
Db2 for z/OS Development is hosting a week-long IBM Db2 for z/OS Master Class designed for experienced System Engineers and Database Administrators. This intensive, hands-on workshop focuses on critical challenges around continuous availability and rapid recovery in Db2 for z/OS environments.
Participants will gain practical insights into proven best practices for maximizing Db2 for z/OS and IBM Z performance, along with in-depth training on monitoring and optimizing system and transaction performance using Db2 Statistics and Accounting traces. Upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to earn Badge Accreditation. For a detailed agenda, please refer to the Curriculum section below.
This is a client-only course, and participation is by invitation only.
- Clients who attend will benefit from:
- Small class sizes for a highly interactive learning experience
- Direct access to the Db2 for z/OS Development SWAT team , including opportunities for personal mentoring
- Peer networking with other Db2 for z/OS professionals who share real-world challenges and expertise
- Badge Accreditation upon successful completion
There will only be two offerings of the Db2 for z/OS Master Class in 2026 and seating is very limited.
If you are a client who is interested in attending this class, please fill out and submit the application form. Alternatively, if you are an IBMer and you have a client who is interested in attending the class, you can fill out and submit the application on their behalf (one form per company).
Application Submission Deadline
Applications will be reviewed and acceptance notices will be emailed. A registration link with payment instructions will be included in the invitation. If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Lin (dclin@us.ibm.com)
Last day to submit an application and register is two weeks prior to class start.
Detailed information
Course Dates
- Monday, May 4, 2026 (9:00 am) to Friday, May 8, 2026 (2:30 pm) Central European Time (CET), 4.5 days
- Monday, September 14, 2026, (9:00 am) to Friday, September 18, 2026 (2:30 pm) Pacific Time (PT), 4.5 days
Location
- The first class (May) will be held in Ehningen,Germany at the new IBM Technology Campus.
- The second class (September) will be held in the US at IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory, San Jose, California
Requirements
Client participants must have at least 1 of the following (or equivalent experience level):
- IBM Certified System Administrator - Db2 for z/OS
- IBM Certified Database Administrator - Db2 for z/OS
Cost
- $2,950 USD per client participant
- Client participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and meal expenses
- A registration link with payment instructions will be included in the acceptance email
Application Form
Click here to submit the application: Db2 for z/OS Advanced Class Application Form
Curriculum
Module I – Continuous Availability
- Continuous availability vs. Fast failover
- Coupling Facility structure duplexing
- Automated restart
- Multiple Db2 data sharing groups
- Multi-site data sharing group and extended distance
- Preventative software maintenance
- Application considerations
Module II – Special Considerations for WLM, CICS and DDF
- WLM policy
- CICS/Db2 interface
- Distributed access to Db2 for z/OS
- Db2 System Monitor Profiles
Module III – Speed of Recovery
- Disaster Recovery
- Db2 log-based recovery
- Cyber Vault
Module IV – System Performance Monitoring and Optimization using the Db2 Statistics Traces
- Data collection
- Db2 system address space CPU time
- Dataset open/close
- Log activity
- Lock/latch
- Memory management
- Buffer pools
- Data sharing performance
- Dynamic SQL
- Dynamic Statement Cache
- Monitoring Dynamic SQL Statements
- Miscellaneous
Module V – Understanding Db2 for z/OS Accounting Information
- Data collection
- Where is a Db2 transaction spending its time?
- Most common reasons for large suspension times
- Additional accounting info
Instructor Profiles
Anthony Ciabattoni is an IBM Certified Executive IT specialist and a current member of the Db2 for z/OS Development SWAT team based out of the Silicon Valley Lab with over 29 years of working directly with Db2 for z/OS. His experience includes being a customer lead Db2 architect as well as working in the Db2 for z/OS Tools development lab. He is a recognized Db2 for z/OS SME, 12+ years a member of the IBM Db2 for z/OS Customer Advisory Council and elected 9 straight years as an IBM Information Champion before joining IBM. In Anthony’s current role as a Senior technical advocate for Db2 for z/OS Development Lab he conducts consulting and educational workshops, Db2 health checks, and 360 Continuous Availability studies for worldwide Db2 for z/OS customers as well as a lab advocate to some of IBM’s largest North American customers. He has also presented Db2 topics at IBM worldwide conferences, IDUG (NA, SA, EMEA) and SHARE Conferences (US). Participated in authoring numerous Db2 for z/OS red books and white papers.
Frances Villafuerte is a Senior Technical Staff Member with the IBM Silicon Valley Lab, where she has been the architect and technical leader in DB2 z/OS Development team. Since she joined DB2 for z/OS development team in 2000 and has been working on lead architect of several Db2 areas such as Online Schema evolution, data Management, insert performance improvement, LOBs and Real Time Statistics. She has wide technical knowledge in several critical core functional areas within the product. She is also the lead architect for Universal Table space and recent LOB compression feature. She often speaking on these and other topics in various of conferences.
Bart Steegmans is a Consulting Db2 Product Support Specialist from IBM Belgium. He is working remotely for the Silicon Valley Laboratory in San Jose and providing technical support for Db2 for z/OS performance problems. He has over 35 years of experience in Db2. Before joining IBM in 1997, Bart worked as a Db2 system administrator at a banking and insurance group. His areas of expertise include Db2 performance, database administration, and backup and recovery. Bart is co-author of numerous IBM Redbooks publications about Db2 for z/OS.
Kirt Dailey is a member of the IBM Db2 for z/OS SWAT Team and a seasoned mainframe database and systems programming leader with over 26 years of experience in large, complex parallel Sysplex environments. He has led teams of Db2 and IMS administrators, implemented ITIL frameworks, driven Agile adoption, and delivered significant performance improvements for mission‑critical workloads. Kirt’s expertise includes buffer pool and group buffer pool tuning, WLM policy optimization, disaster recovery design, real‑time replication, and system and application performance analysis. He has served as technical lead for major Db2 migrations and developed RSU‑based maintenance strategies to ensure system stability and high availability.
Alysia Moreno is an early-career engineer and a valued member of the Db2 for z/OS SWAT Team, specializing in performance, availability, reliability, and recovery. She plays an active role in world-wide customer engagements across a range of advanced technologies, including Cyber Vault, zHyperLink, and asynchronous LOCK1 duplexing. In addition to her engineering work, Alysia is developing innovative efficiency enhancements through the use of Python and REXX tooling. Her background includes experience as a Db2 system programmer for a large customer installation, and she recently earned her MBA in IT Management. Alysia is preparing to contribute to on-site Db2 360 Continuous Availability studies and is eager to share her expertise at upcoming Db2 for z/OS conferences, where she looks forward to engaging with the community and exchanging ideas.