IBM Db2 for z/OS and Its Ecosystem – July 2025 Newsletter Summary

The July 2025 issue provides important announcements, especially the approaching end-of-support for Db2 12, as well as details on major feature updates across the Db2 product family, tools modernization, educational opportunities, and upcoming conferences.

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Must-Know: Db2 12 for z/OS End-of-Support

Support for Db2 12 ends on December 31, 2025. If you haven’t yet upgraded to Db2 13, now is the time to plan. Migration is reportedly faster and easier for most customers.

Resources:

• Blog: Is your shop ready for Db2 13?
• Webinar: Migrating to Db2 13 for z/OS

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New Product Releases – May & June 2025

Enhanced Security in SQL Data Insights

• Use Db2 secondary auth IDs for object/model management
• Access via RACF PassTickets or token files

PH66445 | PH66267 | More Info

Dictionary Storage Enhancement

• Store expansion dictionaries in compression dictionary data set (CDDS)
  Read more

Utility and Performance Enhancements

• Prevent MODIFY RECOVERY from deleting datasets with DELETEDS
  Read more
• Trusted contexts now valid across local and remote connections
  More
• New CAF OPEN function queue parameter
  Details
• Reduce console message clutter from Db2ZAI DCC training
  Learn more

Db2 Analytics Accelerator Enhancements

• LOB query acceleration (Phase 1) now supported
  Read more

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Tooling & Ecosystem Updates

Db2 Developer Extension 2.2.3

• Cancel unresponsive SQL
• MFA support for SQL tuning
• Enhanced stored procedure input/output handling
  What’s New

SQL Tuning Services 2.1.0.9

• New APIs for tuning without profiles
• Configurable default truststore
  Details

Db2 Administration Foundation 1.2.1.3

• Enhanced support for IBM Db2 Analytics Accelerator
• Better SQL tuning, export, and execution options
  What’s New

Data Gate Updates

• Data Gate for watsonx 1.2.0: Azure Data Lake + AWS S3 support
  Details
• Data Gate for z/OS 3.2.0: Certificate-based authentication, high-speed Db2 sync
  More Info

AI Optimizer for Z (Essentials Edition)

Accelerates adoption of generative AI across Z workloads, integrates watsonx Assistant and Code Assistant
Announcement

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Additional Tool Enhancements

• Db2 Admin Tool: Handles dependencies when dropping columns, supports 64GB tablespace sizes
  PH66867 | Idea Source
• Db2 Query Monitor: Integration with SQL Performance Analyzer
  PH66353 Info
• OMEGAMON Data Requester 1.1: Grafana dashboards for Z observability
  Release Info
• Db2 Analytics Accelerator Loader 3.1: DECFLOAT support, health monitor
  Announcement
• Db2 Analytics Accelerator 8.1:
  • LOB support
  • Cross-accelerator table copying
  • Unified monitoring infrastructure
    Read More

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Blogs Worth Reading

Recent highlights from the community:

• AI to Enlighten the Db2 for z/OS World – IDUG Recap
• JDBC + TLS Considerations
• SQL Performance Enhancements in FL507
• Z Design Council Spring 2025 Recap
• Db2 Accelerator + Loader Update

Full blog list available on the IBM Community.

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Education and Webinars

Free Online Replays

• IBM Db2 Automation Expert: ML Estimation
• Ransomware Protection for Db2

Master Class

• Db2 for z/OS Master Class:
  San Jose, CA
  Sept 29–Oct 3, 2025
  $2,950 (Apply by Sept 8)

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Conferences

SHARE Cleveland

Aug 17–21, 2025 | Cleveland, OH
Register

IBM TechXchange

Oct 6–9, 2025 | Orlando, FL
Register

IBM Data Tech Summit

Oct 7–9, 2025 | Orlando, FL
Info

IDUG EMEA

Oct 26–30, 2025 | Düsseldorf, Germany
Early Bird Pricing Ends July 15