IBM Technologies, Skills, and Certifications

IBM, the Big Blue, has transformed from a large system hardware vendor into the enterprise information service company. While IBM provides many products and services, we can count on three key products to build a successful, safe, and stable career in IT industry:

IBM DB2 Database

It is the only database product competitive to Oracle Database server. DB2 has been around for long time, and it has a lot of installations. With DB2 skills, you don’t have worry about your job today and tomorrow. In fact, DB2 implements all the standard relational database features, and its structure is a lot like Oracle, that makes your DB2 skill transformable. It is a valued-added skill.

WebSphere Application Server

It is the most popular application server in the industry. It is J2EE compliant. IBM puts great efforts on marketing this product that build a sizable job market on this tool. Again, it is a value-added skill because your WebSphere skill can be easily transferred to other J2EE compliant application server environments such as Bea WebLogic, Oracle AS, JRun, JBoss, etc.

Rational Suite

Some analysts said IBM over-paid for Rational Software acquisition; I say it worth the money. Now IBM’s Rational Unified process (RUP) implemented in Rational Suite is the primary software development lift cycle methodology that is widely adopted across the industry. Whether or not using Rational Suite at work, all IT processionals need to at least understand RUP and software life cycle concept in general.

IBM Certifications

IBM's certification program is not as popular as those from Microsoft, Oracle, Sun, and Cisco. If you happen to work on IBM products, you can consider the following two IBM certifications:

• IBM DB2 Certificated Database Administrator
• IBM WebSphere Solution Developer

More IBM certification information:
http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/certs/index.shtml

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Observing Super Bowl Sunday (roundup)
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Should Apple heed Chrysler's, GE's Super Bowl make-it-here message?
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Clint Eastwood in 'Super Bowl ads: Winners and losers (second half)'
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Samsung's Bowl ad claims it can help Apple fanboys break free
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The Super Bowl ads: Tech winners and losers (first half)
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iPad, Kindle Fire are not post-PC, says IDC analyst
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Aliens crave Earth wives in Chevy Volt Super Bowl ad
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Women to Facebook: Stop banning our breast-feeding pics
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Kia offers 5 hours of Adriana Lima for Super Bowl
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Coke's polar bears ready to talk Super Bowl live online
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Corning's mind-blowing concept of a glass future
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Apple's Siri the butt of Doritos Super Bowl ad
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VW adds a driver's car to the Jetta model range
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Woman accused of trying to sell fake Facebook stock
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Should Apple stop holding its big launch events?
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Obama supporters pick Patriots, GOPers go for Giants?
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New York Giants Web site says they've already won Super Bowl
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Will Monster's new in-ear headphone dazzle audiophiles?
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What if the Vita had an Apple logo instead of Sony's?
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