Support for Db2 continuous delivery

Db2® for z/OS® versions 12 and 13 have the concept of function levels to support continuous delivery of new enhancements. A function level is a single PTF that enables the activation of a specific set of Db2 enhancements. Db2 Admin Tool support for each function level is delivered in the maintenance stream.

If all current maintenance is applied, Db2 Admin Tool 13.1 tolerates all Db2 13 function levels and supports them as soon as possible. If you are not current on maintenance for Db2 Admin Tool, certain function levels might not be tolerated or supported.

For a list of toleration and support PTFs for each function level, see Db2 13 function level support.

Recommendation: Stay current on maintenance to ensure the latest function level support.

Function level support terminology

Levels of support for Db2 13 function levels are defined as follows:

Supported function level: You can use the enhancements in this function level with Db2 Admin Tool.
Tolerated function level: Db2 Admin Tool can run on a member or subsystem at this function level, but not all enhancements in the function level are guaranteed to be supported.
If you run Db2 Admin Tool on a subsystem with a function level that is tolerated but not supported and use enhancements in that function level, affected objects or attributes might not be handled or displayed correctly. For example, if an object is dropped and recreated to implement a change, new attributes for that object might not be defined. If you do not use new enhancements in the tolerated function level, Db2 Admin Tool runs normally.
Function level that is not tolerated: If you try to run Db2 Admin Tool on a member or subsystem at this function level, results might be unpredictable. However, most Db2 Admin Tool features work.

Db2 function level confirmation when starting Db2 Admin Tool

When Db2 Admin Tool starts, if the current function level is not supported or tolerated, a confirmation panel is displayed, as shown in the following example:

ADB2CONF          DC1A Db2 Function Level Confirmation              15:19 
                                                                          
The Db2 Administration Tool tolerates function level 506.                 
                                                                          
However, enhancements in this function level are not supported.           
If you do not use any of these enhancements, Db2 Admin operates normally. 
                                                                          
Select a choice                                                           
  1.  Exit                                                                
  2.  Continue - I understand and accept the risk for FL enhancements     
  3.  Continue as above and do not prompt again for this function level.

In this example, function level 506 is activated. The Db2 Admin Tool toleration PTF for FL 506 has been applied, but the support PTF for FL 506 has not been applied. If you continue, Db2 Admin Tool works. However, you cannot use enhancements in function level 506.

If you want to continue, select option 2 or 3. If you select either of these options, you accept that you cannot use the enhancements in that function level. If you specify option 2, your choice is set for only the current session. If you select option 3, your choice is stored in the ISPF profile. When you specify one of these choices, Db2 Admin Tool sets the Maximum Db2 function level accepted to the current function level.