Maintaining your Db2 instance

You keep your Db2 instance current by applying the latest mod packs and any special builds that apply to your deployment. You can also employ an IBM Expertise Connect representative for a more guided support experience.

Note: While IBM® does not warrant that our products are defect free, we do try to fix them or develop bypasses or workarounds to ensure products work for you.

Mod pack updates

Db2® mod packs are provided to customers who have purchased products under the Passport Advantage® (PA) program. Mod packs are the primary maintenance delivery vehicles for Db2 database products and are released on a periodic basis. They follow the IBM Maintenance Delivery Vehicle standard four part product signature numbering scheme. mod packs are used to indicate new significant features and also contain fixes for known defects.

Mod packs have successfully passed IBM's extensive quality assurance before being made available for download. They are also cumulative, so the latest mod pack for a given release includes all previously delivered fixes for that release.

While it is important to maintain your Db2 database system environments at the latest mod pack level, you do not need to apply the latest mod pack to contact IBM Db2 technical support. All that is required is that your Passport Advantage Software Maintenance agreement is current. However, if it is determined that you have encountered a known problem that is addressed in a released mod pack, the solution is to apply the appropriate mod pack. IBM retrofits only new fixes into an earlier mod pack on an exception basis.

Db2 Cumulative Special Builds

You might encounter a new problem that is not yet fixed in a mod pack. In this case, IBM Db2 technical support first tries to provide you with a workaround for the problem. If no workaround is available, IBM Db2 technical support might be able to provide a Cumulative Special Build (CSB). A CSB is designed to make fixes available to customers more quickly, while maintaining the same reliability of a mod pack. Apply the most recently published CSB as soon as it is released.

With the release of Db2 11.5.4, IBM maintains the code stream for the CSB and runs extensive quality assurance against the build. This means the CSB is always built in a cumulative manner based on the latest mod pack. This practice ensures improved quality in the CSB, compared to special builds in previous releases. The CSB is released as needed and the download link is shared through cases opened with IBM Db2 technical support. IBM Db2 technical support also publishes a list of Known Issues (KIs) that are fixed in a specific CSB, along with a download link for the CSB, in a tech note every four to eight weeks. The link to the tech note for the published CSB can be found in the Db2 mod pack and fix pack download page. The schedule is subject to change.

Note: Effective November, 2024, as new mod packs are released, the CSB is built on the latest mod pack code streams. It is recommended to apply a mod pack containing the CSB fix as soon as it is released. A Db2 CSB is not provided for defects that are already fixed in a released mod pack.

IBM Expertise Connect

The IBM Expertise Connect Program is designed for the needs of IBM customers that require a more customized approach to support than that available through standard support. In this service, IBM pairs your department or organization with assigned experts to serve as your focal point for support services. The Technical Account Manager works with you to become familiar with your specific environment, the skill levels of your support staff, your status and reporting needs, and other factors that influence your support experience. The Technical Account Manager then works with you to establish a communication and reporting structure that fits with how you do business. Through proactive support, your IBM Expertise Connect representatives help you plan around known product issues and, through skill sharing, enhance your organization's skills in using IBM software.

For more information, visit the IBM Expert Labs website.