An update on Db2 13 for z/OS and Tools
By Irina Kazakova (Irina.Kazakova@ibm.com) and Benedict Holste (benedict.holste@de.ibm.com)
It’s been some time since we wrote about the general availability of Db2 13 for z/OS. In the meantime, two new function levels have been published. Further, new versions of core Db2 for z/OS tools have been released. This blog post summarizes the news and provides links to more detailed information.
Db2 for z/OS function level 502 and 503
Function level 502 introduces the following new application capabilities in Db2 13 for z/OS:
- Db2 controlled sysplex workload balancing
- Record dependencies and validity at the statement level for packages
Function level 503 introduces the following new application capabilities in Db2 13 for z/OS:
- New default values in existing rows for added ROW CHANGE TIMESTAMP columns
- Accelerator-only support for more than 32K elements in an IN list
- SELECT INTO statement support for OPTIMIZE FOR n ROWS
Next step forward in the modernization of the Db2 for z/OS ecosystem
IBM announced the availability of several new offerings that work together to extend the ability to analyze and tune SQL statements within Db2 for z/OS environments and that also deliver significant usability improvements to help database administrators and application developers.
IBM Unified Management Server for z/OS 1.2
UMS for z/OS provides a foundational framework for modernizing the installation, configuration, administration, management, and operations of Db2 for z/OS and IMS subsystems. It provides a common set of discovery, configuration, and operational interfaces, both visual and programmatic, to Db2 and IMS database services. UMS 1.2 includes the following enhancements:
- Support for Zowe 2.0
- Improvements to the installation and configuration process
IBM Db2 Administration Foundation 1.2
IBM Db2 Administration Foundation for z/OS is a no-charge product that provides Db2 for z/OS administration capabilities including catalog browsing, Db2 commands and SQL execution, query tuning, and more. The new version 1.2 includes the following enhancements:
- Integrated support for the extended SQL analysis and tuning features (SQL tuning services)
- Expanded support for IDAA administration tasks
- Numerous ease-of-use enhancements
IBM SQL Tuning Services 2.1 and IBM Db2 Query Workload Tuner for z/OS 6.1
IBM SQL Tuning Services is the foundation of our SQL performance solution. It provides SQL analysis and tuning capabilities that can be used on their own or from within other products through REST APIs. The new version of the SQL Tuning Services delivers the support for additional tuning functions included in IBM Db2 Query Workload Tuner 6.1.
IBM Db2 Query Workload Tuner for z/OS offers advisors that provide expert recommendations to DBAs to help improve performance for a single SQL query or group of SQL queries (workload). It also helps enable greater collaboration between developers and DBAs by enabling them to gain insights into SQL performance. The new version delivers the integration into the SQL tuning services and provides them as REST APIs.
IBM Db2 for z/OS Developer Extension 2.1
The IBM Db2 for z/OS Developer Extension is a no-charge extension for Visual Studio Code, which is a very popular Integrated Development Environment (IDE) these days. The extension provides the capabilities to connect to and work with Db2 for z/OS subsystems, including SQL execution and stored procedure development. The new version 2.1 provides the following features and benefits:
- Integrated support for the extended SQL analysis and tuning features
- Support for exploring and navigating Db2 catalog objects
- Visual Studio Code remote development