COMMON POWERUp 2026: Full Schedule

Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2026!

Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana for POWERUp 2026, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!

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9:15am CDT

Visual Explain - IBM's SQL Performance Show-&-Tell

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Studio 3-4

Evaluation Survey

For many years now IBM have positioned SQL as the primary interface to the database on IBM i. At the same time, new capabilities are being added only to SQL, not to the native database interface. We need a different tool to understand and analyze query implementation plans and feedback from the optimizer – the SQL component that determines the most effective way to deliver the data we ask for in SQL statements. Visual Explain is just such a tool, and it both shows us graphically what plan the optimizer has chosen, as well as tells us details about each step along the way. It can also give us suggestions on ways to improve performance of our queries. With IBM i 7.6, IBM continue to enhance our ability to manage the database effectively.

Learning Objectives:

1. A brief description of optimization with SQL 2. The several ways of invoking Visual Explain 3. The various panes of the Visual Explain window 4. Some features of Visual Explain for managing how it behaves 5. Examples of improved performance after using suggested changes

Speakers

Vern Hamberg

Senior iSeries Developer, OneMain Financial

Vern has worked on IBM midrange systems for over 35 years, beginning with the System/38 and AS/400. At present he is a Senior iSeries Developer at OneMain Financial. He serves on the Strategic Education Team (SET) of COMMON and is one of the SMEs for Db2. He is also honored to have... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Studio 3-4

Database, Programming: RPG

10:45am CDT

SQL and IFS

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Balcony L

Evaluation Survey

SQL is great for accessing data located in a relational database. But in a modern world it is also necessary to consume data that is located in the IFS (Integrated File System) or provided by web services With each Technology Refresh IBM introduces and enhances Db2 for i Services. With one of the latest Technology Refreshs provided new SQL Stored Procedures for reading data from and writing Data into the IFS. In composition with other SQL Functions it is easy to scan through IFS files or decompose *.csv files or JSON files or XML documents located in the IFS.

Learning Objectives:

In this session you’ll learn how to write data to the IFS and how to read IFS files, by using no other programming language than SQL. It will be also demonstrated how to access and decompose *.csv files located in the IFS without copying them into a physical file or SQL table.

Speakers

Birgitta Hauser

ModEdCon

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Balcony L

Database, Database

3:45pm CDT

SQL Coding Tips & Techniques

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

SQL is a very powerful language for processing data. There are many ways to write SQL statements to get the desired results. However, not all queries are created equal. This session will compare different ways to approach a problem from an SQL perspective in terms of code maintenance and performance. Taking the right approach for writing SQL helps Db2 for i help you.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding of SQL Set-based processing Learn SQL coding techniques to avoid for poor performances Tools to help capture SQL errors

Speakers

Mike Zaringhalam

Developer, PC Richard & Son

Have you ever wanted to meet someone who started Hawaiian Shirt Fridays at their work place?
If the answer is 'Yes!', then feel free to reach out with any questions you have regarding Hawaiian shirts... Or IBM i related topics.
My main focuses are RDi, DB2, Modernization, and D... Read More →

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Galerie 4

Database

Track Student

5:00pm CDT

Panning for Performance Gold with Visual Explain

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

Balcony L

Evaluation Survey

Analyzing your database environment can provide significant performance riches, provided you have the right tools for the job. Visual Explain fits the bill, but learning to understand Visual Explain diagrams can be overwhelming and difficult. This session provides an introductory look into how to read and analyze your Visual Explain diagrams to find SQL performance gold.

Learning Objectives:

`- Identify the various methods of collecting data to produce a Visual Explain diagram - Understand how to understand the flow of data through a Visual Explain diagram - Learn to perform basic query access plan analysis, including learning about various Visual Explain node types

Speakers

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM

Ryan Moeller is a software engineer working on Db2 for i, specifically on the SQL Query Engine (SQE) team. He joined the team in the Rochester, MN development lab in 2020. Ryan specializes in SQL, database development, and query performance analysis.

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Balcony L

Database

COMMON POWERUp 2026

9:15am CDT

Vern Hamberg

10:45am CDT

Birgitta Hauser

3:45pm CDT

Mike Zaringhalam

Kent Milligan

5:00pm CDT

Ryan Moeller

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