Host databases

A host database is a relational database system from which a link request originates.

The term database is used throughout this document to describe a relational database management system (RDBMS). Other systems with which Db2 Connect communicates might use the term database to describe a slightly different concept. The Db2 Connect term database can also refer to:
System z®
Db2® for z/OS®. A Db2 for z/OS subsystem identified by its LOCATION NAME. Use the z/OS -display ddf command to get the Db2 server location name, domain name, IP address and port.

A Db2 for z/OS location is the unique name of a database server. An application uses the location name to access a Db2 for z/OS subsystem or a Db2 for z/OS data sharing group. A data sharing group enables applications on different Db2 subsystems to read from and write to the same data concurrently. The application uses a Db2 data sharing group network address to access a Db2 data sharing location. The accessed Db2 subsystem is transparent to the application.

Since Db2 supports multiple databases at the same Db2 location, the location name is analogous to a Linux®, UNIX, and Windows database alias name. A database alias can be used to override the location or location alias name when accessing a location. A location alias is another name for a location. It is used to control which subsystems in a data sharing group are accessed by an application.

LOCATION NAME is also defined in the Boot Strap Data Set (BSDS) as well as the DSNL004I message (LOCATION=location), which is written when the Distributed Data Facility (DDF) is started. LOCATION NAME supports up to 8 alias location names, allowing applications the ability to use different dbalias names to access a Version 8 z/OS server.

IBM® Power Systems Servers
IBM Db2 for IBM i, an integral part of the IBM i operating system. Only one database can exist on an IBM Power Systems server unless the system is configured to use independent auxiliary storage pools.