This Db2 for z/OS News from the Lab blog entry was originally published on 2018-02-12.

One of our top priorities at the lab is to modernize the Db2 for z/OS application environment. We've delivered on that effort by introducing the Db2 native REST service provider. When enabled in versions 11 and 12, the REST service provider enables you to externalize SQL statements as consumable, scalable, and RESTful services. These services allow your mobile, web, and cloud applications to securely access business-critical data in the Db2 subsystems in the backend.

Wondering how it works? The REST service provider is easy to use. With appropriate authorization, application developers and database administrators can create a new Db2 REST service by using the REST service manager APIs or the BIND/FREE SERVICE commands. Db2 defines the service as an application package that contains a single SQL statement and stores it in the user-defined table.

Db2 manages the service as a native object, leveraging the existing DDF capabilities for user authorization and authentication, service classification and monitoring, and client information management. Authorized users can discover and invoke the service through any REST HTTP client. Db2 processes an HTTP request in JSON, executes the bound SQL package, and returns the result in JSON to be used by applications.

Ready to get started? The setup is quick. Simply apply the PTFs in the following APARs for your version of Db2:

• Db2 12 APARs PI70652 and PI86868
• Db2 11 APARs PI66828 and PI86867

Need help? Check out these short videos on how to set up the Db2 native REST service provider and how to create, discover, and invoke Db2 services.

Visit the IBM Knowledge Center to learn even more.

James Pickel is a Senior Technical Staff Member (STMS) at the IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory and the chief architect of Db2 for z/OS mobile, cloud, and security. Tom Toomire is a Senior Software Engineer at the IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory and the technical lead for the Db2 native REST service provider feature. Guanjun Cai is an information architect and developer for Db2 for z/OS and Machine Learning for z/OS at the IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory.