Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for monitoring updates on multiple computing platforms is disclosed. The method includes: initiating an update to a plurality of computing platforms; analyzing tracking data corresponding to each of the plurality of computing platforms indicating an installation progress of the update; dynamically calculating a timeout period for an installation of the update based on the tracking data; and displaying the installation progress for each of the plurality of computing platforms relative to the timeout period.

Abstract: Database queries are optimized through the functionality of decomposition data skew in an asymmetric massively parallel processing database system. A table having data skew is restructured by (1) storing original data values of a distribution key in a special switch column added to the table, (2) replacing the original data values of the distribution key with modified data values such as randomly generated data values, and (3) partitioning the rows across the nodes of the asymmetric massively parallel processing database system based on the distribution key. The original data values that are stored and replaced may only comprise a subset of the original data values that cause data skew in the table. Data skew is reduced, which improves performance, yet the original data values remain available, which reduces the impact on collocated joins.