In today’s data-centric world, efficiently managing historical data is crucial for businesses striving to maintain performance and reduce costs. DB2 11 for z/OS introduced a revolutionary approach to data archiving that significantly enhances the way enterprises handle infrequently accessed data. This blog explores the new archiving capabilities provided by DB2 for z/OS and their impact on data management.

Archiving Features in DB2 for z/OS

The core of DB2’s enhanced archiving functionality lies in the introduction of archive tables, which store deleted rows from base tables, known as archive-enabled tables. These tables allow DB2 to automatically manage historical data, reducing the need for manual intervention. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Automatic Data Management: Archiving is managed by DB2 with no need for changes to existing applications or DBA intervention.
• Improved Performance: By storing seldom-accessed data separately, queries on the main table can perform faster.
• Cost Efficiency: Archive tables can be stored on lower-cost storage, optimizing operational expenses.

Seamless Query Integration

One of the standout features is the ability to include or exclude archive data in SQL queries dynamically, without altering the query syntax. This flexibility is achieved using global variables like SYSIBMADM.GET_ARCHIVE, making it easy to adjust queries to either include or omit archived data based on business needs.

Implementation and Management

Activating archiving for a table is straightforward with the ALTER TABLE statement, which links a base table with an archive table. Specific criteria must be met to ensure compatibility, such as matching column attributes and the absence of certain table features (e.g., periods or row permissions).

Additionally, DB2 introduces options to deactivate archiving when no longer needed, converting archive-enabled tables back into regular tables without the need to drop or recreate them.

Considerations and Restrictions

While the archiving functionality is powerful, it comes with some restrictions. For instance, certain operations like ALTER TABLE to drop columns are not allowed on archive-enabled tables. Also, careful attention is required to manage compatibility between different DB2 versions, especially when using dynamic SQL.

Conclusion

DB2 for z/OS offers a robust, automated solution for managing historical data. Its innovative archiving capabilities streamline data management processes, improve query performance, and help enterprises optimize storage costs. As data continues to grow exponentially, these features ensure that DB2 remains a vital tool in the enterprise data management toolkit.

For more detailed insights, I would like to refer to my DB2 11 for z/OS Archiving Data document. Although it’s an older resource, it remains an excellent guide to understanding these functionalities in depth. Additionally, check out IBM’s official documentation for the latest updates on DB2 for z/OS – links at end of this blog entry!

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