Best practices for upgrading clients
Consider the following best practices when planning your client upgrade.
- Download and install the latest fix packs before upgrading
- Having the latest fix pack installed on your Db2® system ensures that your Db2 database environment is ready for your client upgrade. For more information, see Applying fix packs in Db2 database environments.
- Determine whether to upgrade clients or Db2 servers first
In general, upgrade clients after you upgrade your Db2 servers is the traditional approach. Supported pre-Db2 version 11.1 clients can connect to Db2 version 11.1 servers. However, the functionality introduced in releases after the pre-Db2 version 11.1 client release is not available. If you plan to use this functionality in your applications, upgrade your clients to Db2 version 11.1 or install new Db2 version 11.1 client copies.
You can upgrade your clients before you upgrade your Db2 servers. However, you must ensure that your applications are able to manage any incompatibilities between releases. Review the following topics to determine if any incompatibilities apply to your application, and take necessary actions to manage these incompatibilities:- Upgrade essentials for database applications for changes to Db2 APIs, Db2 commands, and SQL statements
- Db2 server behavior changes for changes on default values for existing registry variables, database and database manager configuration parameters
- Deprecated or discontinued functionality that affects Db2 server upgrades for discontinued functionality not supported by Db2 version 11.1 clients
- Changed functionality in Db2 version 11.1 for additional changes between releases
- Carefully read The Db2 release notes prior to upgrading your Db2 Client.
- The release
notes link to topics that are useful for planning your installation of a Db2
product or fix pack. The release notes cover the following areas:
- An overview of Db2 products
- Backward compatibility
- System requirements
- Downloading
- Installation
- Known problems
- Upgrade your clients in a test environment
Upgrading clients in a test environment allows you to determine if the upgrade can be successful and to address any problems that might occurred during the upgrade process. You can also test your database applications and determine if you must upgrade them to run successfully in Db2 version 11.1.
If you are upgrading your clients first, upgrading clients in a test environment allows you to determine and manage any incompatibilities between releases to successfully run your applications on pre-Db2 version 11.1 servers using Db2 version 11.1 clients
- Install a new client copy instead of upgrading existing client
If you have software that requires a pre-Db2 version 11.1 client, install the Db2 version 11.1 client as a new copy and keep your existing client copy to satisfy the software requirement. Then create a Db2 version 11.1 client instance and keep your existing client instance with its configuration. You can select the option to create a new client instance during the installation, or you can manually create the client instance after installation.
- Perform pre-upgrade and post-upgrade tasks
Perform the pre-upgrade and post-upgrade tasks for clients to ensure a successful upgrade.