Upgrading and patching Netezza Performance Server systems that have UDX code

After you and other permitted users register UDX code with your Netezza® system, there are no special requirements or procedures necessary to preserve those user-defined objects during a service pack update or an upgrade to a new release. In most cases, the objects continue to operate in the same manner on the newly updated or upgraded system as on the previous release.

Note: If the UDX base class changes in the new release, the older object files will no longer work. You must recompile your object files from the C++ sources and use the CREATE OR REPLACE [FUNCTION | AGGREGATE] commands to update the object files in your Netezza Performance Server system. If you obtained your UDFs or UDAs from a third-party resource, you need to obtain updated objects that are recompiled for the new release before you use the CREATE OR REPLACE command. Be sure to review the IBM® Netezza Release Notes to see whether the UDX base class changed or if there are special compilation issues for the Netezza Performance Server release.

If the new release or service pack introduces any new features or changes that affect the operation of UDXs, Netezza Performance Server describes the changes in the release notes for the service pack or the release. Before you install any new release or service pack, carefully review the release notes to familiarize yourself with any new features, changes, fixes, and known issues for that release. After you upgrade, if the later release has a new base class, you might need to recompile your UDXs to replace the object files with versions that support the new features.

If you downgrade your Netezza Performance Server release, the downgrade can result in a loss of support for features that are available in the later release. If you downgrade to a release that supports only UDX version 1, your UDX version 1 code should continue to work following the downgrade; however, UDX version 2 objects do not work and must be dropped. If the earlier release uses a different base class, you might need to recompile your UDXs or obtain the objects that are compiled on the earlier base class.

Make sure that you have recent backups of your Netezza Performance Server system, which also includes any UDX code that is registered with the Netezza Performance Server system. If there is a problem or failure situation during the upgrade, the backups provide you with the ability to restore the system to the point of the backup image.