Introduction to IBM Db2

It is very important to understand the basics of DB2 before getting into deep DB2 world.

What is DB2?

Db2 is a family of related data management products, including relational database servers, developed and marketed by IBM that serve several different operating system (OS) platforms. DB2 product is extended with the support of Object-Oriented features and non-relational structures with XML and JSON.

Initially, IBM had developed DB2 product for their specific platform. Since year 1990, it decided to develop a Universal Database (UDB) DB2 Server, which can run on any authoritative operating systems such as Linux, UNIX, and Windows.

Db2 comes out of the same IBM where E.F. Codd worked to develop the relational database concept in the first place. It has been around since the dawn of the relational database, but gets regular refreshes with new features all the time. There is a vast amount of engineering that has gone into Db2, driven by clients pushing IBM to make it better. Db2 can serve as a traditional relational database, a hierarchical database, an object-oriented database, an XML database, a store for JSON, or a key-value store, all depending on how exactly you implement it. It can have some interesting integrations with Spark.

Db2 is not the least bit open-source, but does have some free distributions. It is fully proprietary to IBM, and if you want to run it on larger servers, you must pay for proper licensing.

How Db2 database product works?

A Db2 database product is designed to store, analyze and retrieve the data efficiently and are used by organizations of all sizes. This product provides a data platform for both transactional and analytical operations, as well as continuous availability of data to keep transactional workflows and analytics operating efficiently.

A Db2 DBMS separately manages physical structures and logical structures housed by Db2 databases. The physical storage of data can be managed without affecting the access to logical storage structures.

A DBA can install and configure Db2 database server to create and use Db2 databases. The Db2 database server manages data in databases across a multiuser environment, enabling many concurrent users to access the same data simultaneously. It also provides utilities for backing up & recovering data, prevents unauthorized access and offers performance tools & data management capabilities. Db2 databases are created using Data Definition Language, or DDL, commands and are composed of tablespaces, tables with rows and columns, views, indexes, stored procedures and other supporting structures. Once created, a DBA or developer can use a Db2 database and its underlying structures to create, read, update and delete data to support an organization's business requirements.

Photo Credit : IBM

What Platforms Does Db2 Run on?

There are several separate code bases for Db2. Some of the concepts and implementations can be very different, and a DBA for one code base cannot always do the other platforms. The main platforms are:

• Db2 for Linux, Unix, and Windows (LUW)

• Db2 for z/OS

• Db2 for iSeries (AS400)

Db2 also runs on Docker, now. There are decent images in the Docker store to use as a starting point.

Data server editions and features.

Depending upon the requirement of needful features of DB2, the organizations select appropriate DB2 version. The following table shows DB2 server editions and their features:

ESE / AESE (Advanced Enterprise Server Edition) : It is designed for mid-size to large-size business organizations. This edition offer features like:

Table partitioning

High Availability Disaster Recovery (HARD)

Materialized Query Table (MQTs)

Multidimensional Clustering (MDC)

Connection concentrator

Pure XML

Backup compression

Homogeneous Federations etc..

WSE / AWSE (Advanced Workgroup Server Edition) : It is designed for Workgroup or mid-size business organizations. This edition supports :

High Availability Disaster Recovery (HARD)

Online Reorganization

Pure XML

Web Service

Federation support

SQL replication

Backup compression etc..

Express Edition : It is designed for entry level and mid-size business organizations. It is full featured DB2 data server. It offers only limited services. This Edition supports :

Web Service Federations

DB2 homogeneous federations

Homogeneous SQL Replications

Backup compression

Enterprise Developer Edition : It offers only single application developer.

It is useful to design, build and prototype the applications for deployment on any of the IBM server but this edition cannot be used for developing applications.

Express-C : If someone wants to hands on or wants to try the features of DB2 then he or she can us the DB2 express C edition on his/her system. It provides all the capabilities of DB2 at zero charge. It can run on any physical or virtual systems with any size of configuration

DB2 Versions

For IBM DB2, the current version is 11.5.5 , the AI Database, which was released on June 27, 2019. It added AI functionality to improve query performance as well as capabilities to facilitate AI application development.

All the versions of DB2 till today are listed below:

Features available in Db2?

DB2 has all the standard features of a relational database. It enforces data integrity by default and offers a wide range of recovery options to fit nearly any possible scenario. Db2 is appropriate both for high-volume OLTP environments and giant data warehouses and analytics environments depending on how you implement it. DB2 offers several different formats of multi-server clustering for high availability, disaster recovery, and applying massive amounts of computing power to larger data sets.

Db2 Database Servers.

Db2 is often installed on a dedicated database server. There are several reasons for this. First is usually that your databases should be in the most protected firewall zone possible, and should not generally be exposed to the internet. Db2 is often licensed by the server, so consolidating databases on a small subset of servers makes sense for cost reasons. Often database servers may be some of the more powerful servers in your enterprise because managing fast concurrent access to data properly may impact the performance of multiple applications.

Applications often connect into the database server(s) from whatever servers they live on.

Usually there is a production database and one or more non-production databases so that changes can be tested before they get to production server. These databases should be on different servers to isolate production as much as possible.

Applications Work With Db2?

SAP is one of the larger ones that usually certifies on Db2. Most IBM applications or middle ware like WebSphere and WebSphere Commerce work with Db2. Db2 has an Oracle compatibility mode that when engaged, allows the vast majority of code that runs against Oracle also run against Db2. You can connect to Db2 from bash, KSH, PowerShell, Ruby, Java, Python, Jupyter Notebook, C++, and nearly every language you can think of. Several communication protocols work with Db2 such as DRDA, CLI, ODBC, and JDBC. That's all in this post. If you liked this blog and interested in knowing more about IBM Db2. Please Like, Follow, Share & Subscribe to www.ImJhaChandan.com