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

The September 2025 edition of the IBM Db2 for z/OS Customer Newsletter delivers important updates across the Db2 ecosystem — from upcoming product versions and new-function APARs to AI integration, monitoring improvements, and training opportunities.
This summary highlights the key announcements, technical enhancements, and learning resources featured in IBM’s latest release, with links to the original sources for deeper exploration.

Looking Ahead: The Next Version of Db2 for z/OS

IBM has started sharing plans for the next major version of Db2 for z/OS.
While the continuous delivery model from Db2 12 remains, IBM explains that some upcoming architectural and functional changes require a full version release rather than incremental updates.

The new version will focus on:

• Simplification, performance, usability, and availability
• Eliminating deprecated or obsolete functions
• Preparing for next-generation workloads and technologies

For details, read Haakon Roberts’ blog post:
Important news regarding Db2 for z/OS versions

New Product Releases (July–August 2025)

Db2 for z/OS – New-Function APARs

• Enhanced monitoring:
  DSNV508I message now reports excessive 32-bit storage in DBM1 and DDF spaces.
  More info
• DSN1COMP Utility:
  Improved REORG option and LOB compression report; new EXTHDICT option creates an external compression dictionary.
  More info
• HASH function acceleration:
  HASH(expression, 2) and HASH_SHA256(expression) can now be offloaded to Db2 Analytics Accelerator 7+ for better performance.
  More info
• RACF group support:
  Trusted contexts now work for both local and remote connections.
  More info
• LISTDEF and installation CLIST updates:
  Preparation for converting non-UTS catalog and directory objects to Universal Table Spaces (UTS).
  More info

Data Gate Updates

Data Gate for z/OS 3.2.0

Now supports client certificate authentication, reducing credential management complexity and improving security.
Includes security and stability fixes for replication via Integrated Synchronization.
Read more

Data Gate for watsonx 1.2.1

Adds the same client certificate connection capability and improved performance for synchronized replication.
Read more

Monitoring & Administration Tools

IBM Z OMEGAMON UI with Grafana Dashboards

A major update introduces a Grafana®-based interface for real-time and historical Db2 monitoring within z/OS.
Part of Tivoli Management Services on z/OS 6.3.4.
Watch the webinar: IBM OMEGAMON Virtual Technical Summit (July 9 2025)

Db2 Administration Tool for z/OS

Now supports PBR↔PBG conversions (FL 507) through REORG, preserving partitioning indexes in round-trip conversions.
Details: PH67403, PH67457

Db2 Automation Expert for z/OS

Provides REORG IX estimation based on utility history to forecast elapsed, CPU, and zIIP usage.
More details

Db2 Analytics Accelerator Loader 3.1

Released alongside IBM Analytics Accelerator for z/OS 8.1, it now supports:

• Loading data into multiple accelerators in a single batch job
• Ingesting data from mainframe and non-mainframe, relational and non-relational sources
• Querying loaded data via standard SQL

Learn more

Featured Blogs from IBM Experts

Recent community highlights include:

• IBM z17: What it means for Db2 for z/OS
• Simplified Migration in Db2 AI for z/OS 1.6.2
• Zero Copy Integration with Salesforce Data Cloud
• Enhanced Authorization in SQL Data Insights
• Db2 AI for z/OS 1.6.2 Announcement
• Authentication & Automation in Data Gate
• Db2 Connect TLS hostname validation change

Full blog list: Db2 for z/OS Community Blogs

Education & Events

Learning Opportunities

• Bring IBM Z Data to your Analytics and AI with Data Gate for watsonx 1.2 – Free Online Replay
• Db2 for z/OS Master Class – San Jose, CA (Sept 29 – Oct 3 2025) – $2,950
  Apply by 8 Sept 2025

Conferences

• IBM TechXchange 2025 – Oct 6–9 (Orlando, FL)
  Register here
• IBM Data Tech Summit 2025 – Oct 7–9 (Orlando, FL)
  More info
• IDUG EMEA 2025 – Oct 26–30 (Düsseldorf, Germany)
  Register