Technical Blog Post
Abstract
75 ways to demystify DB2: # 38: What is the difference between instance upgrade and update?
Body
What is the difference between instance upgrade and update?
Upgrade refers to the fact that you are moving from a different release of DB2 to a higher level of release. Meaning, if you are currently on V9.5 of DB2, then you moving to V9.7, V10.1, V10.5 or any higher release available would mean you are upgrading.
Update would mean that you are on the same release, but you are moving up on the fixpack level of the same release you are on. An example would be, if you are currently on V9.7fp5 (DB2 release V9.7, fixpack 5), and you applying fixpack 10 (i.e V9.7fp10), means you are updating your instance.
Note, you can only update fixpacks on the same release you are on. You cannot do an update between two different releases, upgrade achieves the task of moving between releases. For example, say you are currently on V9.7fp5 and you want to go to V10.1fp4, you cannot go to that fixpack level by doing an update.
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UID
ibm11141078