Maximizing Your DB2 10 Upgrade ROI

Last week I wrote a blog talking about what items your shop can work on now to help prepare for DB2 10. It morphed somehow into a DB2 upgrade debate talking through many issues such as the merits of upgrades, release costs, management ideas and other opinions.

DB2 upgrades are not the same in any two companies and maybe not even the same within the same company. As multiple DB2 systems sometimes support different applications with varying requirements, the Return on Investment (ROI) is completely different. Also, comparing DB2 z/OS or DB2 LUW to Oracle system upgrades also does not even begin to be similar or comparable as all these databases have completely different contract clauses, ROI requirements and upgrade factors. Apples and oranges are both edible but that is where the comparison and similarities stop.

DB2 upgrades depend on the technology. First-hand experience has shown that bad research, poor database design, application development techniques, bad choices in third party vendor tools and an assortment of other factors make ROI equations for upgrades complex or almost impossible. Having helped fix bad technology decisions, redesigned bad database designs and fixed SQL application performance problems, I know that reducing costs is always on everyone’s mind. Upgrading any software especially raises cost consciousness.

To minimize upgrade costs, strive for better understanding and knowledge of the DB2 technology. This will help everyone avoid unnecessary costs and bad decisions. Work on minimizing the DB2 10 upgrade costs through better management of your DB2 systems today. Last week I mentioned the considerations of SMS environments and improving your security definitions to get ready to separate security data access.

This week the suggestion for preparing for DB2 10 is to begin analyzing your DB2 application techniques. The first thing to analyze is how your plans and packages are put together. IBM’s DB2 engineers have been telling everyone to get to DB2 packages within their environment for many releases. In DB2 10 the old plan management technique of DBRMs going directly into plans needs to be replaced by collecting them within COLLIDs and then binding into your DB2 plans. It is a small difference but it has big implications. If your shop still uses the technique of putting DBRMs directly into plans, it is time to start a process to migrate to the new method.

Next, the compliers that your applications utilize also need to be current. DB2 10 changes within the COBOL pre-compiler generate new SQLCA and SQLDA structures along with generating COMP-5 binary data attributes instead of COMP-4 or COMP. Even though there are still some ways to handle old compilers it is best to review your COBOL compiler versions to make sure they will be ready for your eventual DB2 migration.


So keep those comments and ideas coming since it is always interesting to hear the different points of view and perspectives from different companies. Everyone together can help everyone solve their DB2 questions and get the best ROI from any DB2 upgrade situation.


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