Redbook Details Key DB2 11 Enhancements

IBM just released a draft version of the Redbook, "DB2 11 for z/OS Performance Topics." The publication details key functions for those migrating from DB2 Version 10.

DB2 10 was a major release that provided out of the box CPU savings, and this direction continues with DB2 11. Most of the DB2 11 CPU reductions are built into the DB2 engine and do not require application changes. You can take advantage of these enhancements even in CM mode (after REBIND for static SQL and PREPARE for dynamic).

IBM points to these CPU reductions for customers migrating from DB2 10:

• Online transaction workloads savings of up to 10 percent.
• Update-intensive batch workload savings up to 10 percent.
• Complex reporting queries savings of 25-40 percent when processing compressed tables. 
• Queries executed on DB2 Analytics Accelerator can see up to 10 percent savings.
• zIIP eligibility can contribute to cost reduction as the majority of asynchronous SRB processing under DB2 address space as well as the RUNSTATS and LOAD utilities are now zIIP-eligible.

Of course there's far more than I can include here, but to give you a broad idea of the material covered in this publication, here's the chapter list:

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Subsystem

Chapter 3: Synergy with z platform

Chapter 4: Availability

Chapter 5: DB2 Analytics Accelerator

Chapter 6: Data sharing

Chapter 7: SQL

Chapter 8: Application enablement

Chapter 9: Distributed environment

Chapter 10: Utilities

Chapter 11: Installation and migration

Chapter 12: Monitoring

If a DB2 10-to-DB2 11 migration is in your near future -- or if you've already completed one -- this Redbook is well worth your time. I'd appreciate hearing about your impressions of the document, as well as your views on DB2 11's most compelling enhancements. Please share your thoughts in comments.

The Value of Early Access

I want to follow up on my recent post about the IBM DB2 11 for z/OS Early Support Program (ESP).

When I was working as a DBA I never participated in an IBM ESP, but I would have loved to have had the opportunity. I did, however, take part in a few beta programs run by other product vendors.

Getting early access to a product is hugely beneficial. First, it gives you the opportunity to test a product in your environment and ensure it doesn't negatively impact your system or applications. It also allows you to try out new features and provide feedback that helps your fellow customers. Vendors really do value and implement customer input. A number of my suggestions were acted upon, and because I'd offered constructive comments, vendors were more responsive to me when I asked for changes or additions. It's almost like a direct line to development.

I also saw internal benefits from taking part in product betas. As soon as the product was made generally available (went GA), I knew I had management buy-in, because my bosses knew that rolling out this new release wouldn't pose any negative impact on the business.

Now consider all that, and imagine getting to preview something as integral to your work life as DB2. By participating in the IBM DB2 ESP, you get the benefit of testing new features and seeing how they'll integrate with your own system and applications. You have the assurance, from testing, that the next release of DB2 will work well in your environment. From the day DB2 11 GAs, your company will immediately benefit from the new release. And finally, you can benefit professionally from your experience by sharing what you've learned at a local user group meeting or as a presenter at an IDUG conference.

As a vendor (CA Technologies), we get early access to DB2 as an IBM development partner. IBM provides us with a list of enhancements that could impact our products and we work through these changes. We also find bugs in DB2 and work with IBM to get them corrected.

While there are system requirements for companies looking to join in the DB2 ESP, keep in mind that IBM is seeking diversity. You don't have to be a large customer or a prominent vendor to take part; the goal is to test DB2 in all types of environments.

Perhaps you've participated in a past DB2 ESP. If so, it'd be great to read about your experience in Comments. What prompted your company to take part? What were the benefits?

 

DB2 11 for z/OS Early Support Program

IBM recently announced the DB2 11 for z/OS Early Support Program (ESP). Selected ESP participants are able to utilize the next version of DB2 prior to its general availability. Contact your IBM representative for details.

The DB2 11 ESP begins on March 8, 2013. For more, read the announcement letter. This is from the overview:

"DB2 10 delivered strong CPU savings that drove great value for IBM clients. DB2 11 follows up with even more CPU savings and improved performance. Compared to DB2 10, DB2 11 clients may achieve up to 5 percent out-of-the-box CPU savings for various traditional online transaction processing (OLTP), heavy INSERT, and SAP workloads. Select query workloads may see even more benefits, with up to 20 to 30 percent CPU savings. Read intensive OLTP workloads may see up to 10 percent CPU savings with DB2 11. Decompressing data is much faster using DB2 11, with significant performance improvements, delivering up to 15 percent CPU savings when running the queries against compressed tables. Deep integration between DB2 and System z continues to bring value.

"Additional RUNSTATS and LOAD workloads can now take advantage of zIIP engines, driving faster LOAD processing, improved performance, and CPU savings. With IBM zEnterprise EC12 (zEC12) and DB2 11, you can achieve additional CPU reductions through the use of pageable large (1 MB) pages and Flash Express, as well as the support of 2 GB pages."