Non-Java client support for high availability on IBM data servers

Client applications that connect to Db2, Db2 for z/OS, or IBM® Informix® can easily take advantage of the high availability features of those data servers.

Client applications can use the following high availability features:

  • Automatic client reroute

    Automatic client reroute capability is available on all IBM data servers. Automatic client reroute uses information that is provided by the data servers to redirect client applications from a server that experiences an outage to an alternate server. Automatic client reroute enables applications to continue their work with minimal interruption. Redirection of work to an alternate server is called failover.

    For connections to Db2 for z/OS data servers, automatic client reroute is part of the workload balancing feature. In general, for Db2 for z/OS, automatic client reroute should not be enabled without workload balancing.

  • Client affinities

    Client affinities is a failover solution that is controlled completely by the client. It is intended for situations in which you need to connect to a particular primary server. If an outage occurs during the connection to the primary server, you use client affinities to enforce a specific order for failover to alternate servers.

    Client affinities is not applicable to a Db2 for z/OS data sharing environment, because all members of a data sharing group can access data concurrently. Data sharing is the recommended solution for high availability for Db2 for z/OS.

  • Workload balancing

    Workload balancing is available on all IBM data servers. Workload balancing ensures that work is distributed efficiently among servers in an IBM Informix high-availability cluster, Db2 for z/OS data sharing group, or Db2 Db2 pureScale® instance.

The following table provides links to server-side information about these features.

Table 1. Server-side information about high availability
Data server Related topics
Db2
IBM Informix Manage Cluster Connections with the Connection Manager
Db2 for z/OS Communicating with data sharing groups
Attention: All the high availability features that can be implemented by the client application require a direct connection to the database server. You must ensure that successful connection can be established to all potential server or members in a high availability environment. If you are using a firewall, you must ensure that ports can be opened to communicate directly to all members in a high availability environment.