How databases are configured to work with the software is related to the software you are installing and the scenario you are trying to achieve.
In installation scenarios where you will be using the Typical installation option, you must pre-create your database, whether that database resides locally (on the same system on which you are installing IBM® Business Process Manager) or remotely (on a separate system). The only scenario where you are not required to pre-create your database is when you are installing the DB2 Express database that is embedded with IBM Business Process Manager. DB2 Express is embedded with IBM Business Process Manager on Windows and on Linux for Intel. The user must have administrative privileges (root or Administrator) to install Express® Express. If you do not already have DB2 Express installed, it is optionally installed when you run the IBM Business Process Manager installer, and the installer also creates the common and component-specific databases on DB2 Express.
Any scenario where you are not using DB2 Express for your Typical install is considered to be a Typical installation with an existing database, meaning you already have a database installed and you will use the Existing database panel of the installer to specify its configuration properties. To use this option, you must ensure that your database has already been created.
You and your database administrator should review the information on configuring databases in the information center prior to installing and configuring the software.