By Haakon Roberts and Eric Radzinski .   Over the past several Db2 for z/OS versions, one of our focus areas has been CPU reduction. A big part of that effort has been to cut the cost of database management by further exploitation of z Systems Integrated Information Processors (zIIPs) in IBM utilities. For example, we enabled the offloading of index build in LOAD, REORG, and REBUILD INDEX in Version 8, of the UNLOAD phase of REORG in Version 9, of RUNSTATS in Db2 10, and of inline stats in Db2 11. As you're probably... [More]

Tags:  dba utility administration db2z12 db2z11

By Mo Townsend and Paul McWilliams .   Are you ready? The End of Support (EOS) for Db2 11 for z/OS is coming fast, just 12 months away on September 30, 2020! If you haven't started your Db2 12 migration, here are some next steps resources to help you get started: Watch Db2 12 for z/OS Migration webcast replays featuring John Campbell , to build a solid foundation for your migration plan and to ensure a safe and successful migration. In particular, the following replays are available: Db2 12 for z/OS Technical Overview - Part 1 Db2 12... [More]

Tags:  migration database_administrator dba db2z12 db2z11

By Paul McWilliams , based on John Campbell 's webcast. In Part 1 of his " Greatest Hits, War Stories, and Best Practices 2019 " webcast, IBM Distinguished Engineer John Campbell's provided some background on the subject of running out of the basic 6-byte log RBA addressing range in Db2 for z/OS. John said that this subject has become somewhat controversial because of conflicting recommendations given in various presentations, blog posts, and in face to face-conversations.  He also clearly outlined his strategy recommendations... [More]

Tags:  db2z11 best_practice jc_hits db2z12 migration

APAR PH02437 introduces the new DSNB233I message in Db2 12 and Db2 11. The new message reminds you to convert page sets to the extended 10-byte RBA or LRSN format, to avoid outages that might occur if Db2 reaches the 6-byte logging limit. Db2 (with APAR PH08298 applied) issues the DSNB233I message only for the first 20 pagesets opened that remain in the 6-byte format. Db2 11 introduced support for the extended 10-byte RBA and LRSN , and you have the option to convert the bootstrap data set (BSDS) to the 10-byte format as soon as you migrate to... [More]

Tags:  db2z11 db2z12 dba migration administration

Db2 for z/OS Utilities Suite continues to deliver new features and enhancements to further  simplify and reduce the cost of database management. Continuous delivery has enhanced the ability for IBM Db2 Utilities to deliver new features supporting not only Db2 engine enhancements, but delivering value to your business in terms of availability, performance and reducing overall cost. In the webcast, we'll focus on some of these enhancements that you'll find in Db2 12, as well as a significant number of them available for use with Db2... [More]

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In the last blog post in the education series, Tim discussed the Db2 SQL Coding badge offered by InterSkill. Another company that offers Db2 skill courses is ExitCertified. They offer a variety of instructor-led classroom or virtual courses as well as self-paced learning including the Db2 11 for z/OS Application Programming Workshop.    ExitCertified’s Application Programming Workshop is intended for users who have experience with COBOL or PL/I for z/OS. The course is offered as both an instructor-led class or as a self-paced... [More]

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By Tim Hogan Do you or other members of your organization have a need for IBM Z or Db2 for z/OS-focused education? Are you interested in earning IBM-approved credentials in technical areas that are key to your business? Do you want a way to share your certified skills with others in the mainframe technical community? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then the IBM Open Badge program may be for you! IBM has partnered with several training companies, including LearnQuest, Tech Data, Global Knowledge, Ingram Micro, Arrow,... [More]

Tags:  db2z12 db2z11 education

By Jeff Josten and Paul McWilliams .   Welcome to the Db2 for z/OS News from the Lab community blog! Here you can get the latest Db2 for z/OS news directly from the Db2 subject matter experts who call IBM's Silicon Valley lab their home, including news about all new capabilities and enhancements in Db2 continuous delivery, and useful hints and tips! The blog features posts by the same IBM experts who design, build, test, and support Db2 for z/OS. We'll be focusing on new capabilities in Db2 12... [More]

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By  Koshy John and Ann Hernandez. If you are a Db2 for z/OS DBA, you know that good performance relies on good statistics, which you collect by running the RUNSTATS utility. If you ever collect frequency statistics for single-column column groups, you may have wished that these jobs would run faster and cost less than they do. Fortunately, IBM has recently delivered an enhancement that can improve performance and reduce costs associated with collecting frequency statistics.    You can now adjust the value of a new subsystem... [More]

Tags:  db2z11 dba performance db2z12 utility administration

By Haakon Roberts and Judy Tobias .   Before Db2 Version 5, table columns that were in a partitioning index could not be updated. Since Version 5, the columns were updateable in tables that were created in Version 5 or later, but the partitioning key columns in older tables remained non-updateable. You needed to use an awkward and time-consuming procedure, such as unloading the data, dropping the table, recreating the table, and reloading the data, to make the columns updateable.   Y ou now have much better alternatives. If you... [More]

Tags:  dba db2z12 administration db2z11

By Jim Pickel , Gayathiri Chandran , and Judy Tobias. Customers have been telling us that they lack adequate safeguards to protect data in Db2 for z/OS from viewing by unauthorized internal personnel. In Db2 11 for z/OS, we address that problem by introducing enhancements that provide a simple, transparent, and consumable approach to enabling pervasive encryption of data at rest. This same function is also available as a base release enhancement to Db2 12 for z/OS.   You can enable this solution without application outages. Using this... [More]

Tags:  dba db2z11 db2z12 administration security

By Nigel Slinger and Ann Hernandez. If you’re involved in supporting Db2 for z/OS environments, you probably wish there were a simpler way to deal with preventive maintenance. The good news is that the IBM zServiceAdvisor can now make your life easier and, more importantly, improve the health and stability of your IBM Z environment.      The IBM zServiceAdvisor is a smart IBM Z software maintenance solution that runs on a mobile app for iPhones and Android phones. You can download the app now at no charge (from one of the... [More]

Tags:  support db2z11 db2z12 administration zserviceadvisor

By   Haakon Roberts and Ann Hernandez.   If you run the CHECK LOB utility in Db2 12 or Db2 11 for z/OS, you will be happy to learn that performance has just gotten better. The IBM Db2 Development team has recently changed the code so that the CHECK LOB utility now uses more prefetch than before. This can result in a dramatic reduction in synchronous read I/O and a significant reduction in CPU and elapsed times. Internal testing shows a reduction in CPU time of 47% and a reduction in elapsed time of 92%, due to the use of prefetch... [More]

Tags:  dba db2z11 administration utility performance db2z12

By  Akiko Hoshikawa and  Judy Tobias.   In Db2 11 for z/OS and Db2 12 for z/OS, we introduce an enhancement that improves your ability to obtain accurate real storage usage statistics. In the past, z/OS capacity planners have experienced difficulties in determining an accurate estimate of the main memory that their Db2 subsystems used. With this enhancement, you can have more confidence that you are acquiring the appropriate amount of main memory for your Db2 environment.   When you enable this enhancement, Db2 writes new... [More]

Tags:  storage db2z11 administration db2z12 dba

By  Patrick Malone and Paul McWilliams Db2 for z/OS DBAs who use the LOAD utility in Db2 11 and Db2 12 can reduce the cost and effort of preparing input data sets for the LOAD utility, examining LOAD utility job output, and dealing with discard data sets, by using several new IGNORE options. DBAs are often aware of records in input data sets that trigger errors and violations during LOAD utility processing, even though the errors and violations are acceptable.  To avoid the errors and violations, the DBA can pre-process the input data... [More]

Tags:  dba db2z11 administration db2z12 utility