Migrating a Db2 database from a Windows x86 system to a new Windows x86 system

By restoring an existing Db2 backup image from a Windows x86 system to a new Db2 instance on another Windows x86 system, you can effectively migrate a Db2 instance. This process applies whether moving to a new on-premises server instance or to a virtual machine (VM) instance that is hosted by a cloud provider.

Before you begin

This procedure assumes that you have completed the following prerequisite tasks:
  • You have created a target instance of Db2®, either on an on-premises x86 server or on a cloud-hosted x86 VM.
  • You have configured access to your Db2 instance to match that of your source system. For example, if you want to maintain user authentication by using Kerberos and you are restoring your backup image to a cloud instance, ensure that the target system supports Kerberos.
The procedure also assumes that you are restoring your backup image onto a same-version Db2 instance, such as 11.5.9 to 11.5.9. You can upgrade your restored Db2 instance whether it resides on an on-premises system or a cloud server instance. For more information, see Upgrade essentials for Db2 servers.

About this task

There are several advantages to using the Db2 backup and restore commands to migrate a Db2 instance:
  • The data is moved at the physical level, so no decryption of data is required.
  • Many users are familiar with the backup and restore process.
  • Because the backup and restore feature is part of Db2, there is no additional licensing cost.
  • You do not have to restore a backup of the most current version of Db2 at the target. This is particularly appealing for users that are planning a move to the cloud but don't want to go through an upgrade as well. You just need to ensure that the cloud provider has a virtual server that can run your older version of Db2. If you choose to upgrade your moved Db2 instance at a later date, it can all be done on the cloud provider side.

Procedure

To migrate a Db2 database by using the BACKUP and RESTORE commands, see Backing up data and Database rebuild.