IBM has launched a new Db2 for z/OS Customer Newsletter to provide updates, new features, and best practices for users. This first edition covers the most important developments in Q4 2024, including new releases, critical alerts, documentation updates, and upcoming events.

Here’s a detailed summary of the first edition of the IBM Db2 for z/OS Customer Newsletter for Q4 2024:

Critical Alerts and Issues

Potential Data Loss with PBR RPN Table Spaces

A serious issue has been identified in Db2 12 and 13 for z/OS related to Partition-by-Range (PBR) Relative Page Numbering (RPN) table spaces in data-sharing environments. A defect in APAR PH54949 (UI92688/UI92689) may cause inconsistencies between Db2 12 and Db2 13 members, leading to undetected data loss.

• The issue affects migrations from V12 to V13R1M100 or activations of V13R1M500+.
• Simply removing UI92688 or UI92689 does not resolve the problem.
• IBM recommends reviewing system configurations and taking the necessary corrective actions.

Learn more

Documentation Updates

Expanded Language Support

Starting in Q1 2025, IBM will expand Db2 for z/OS documentation translation beyond Japanese to additional languages. Users who find errors in translations are encouraged to report them to moc.m1745903994bi.su1745903994@ofni1745903994z2bd1745903994.

New Features in Db2 13 Function Level 506

IBM has released Function Level V13R1M506 with several major enhancements:

• Non-disruptive clearing of data partitions using the LOAD utility.
• Improved performance for IN-list predicates.
• More concurrently active Db2 traces.
• Support for INSERT with multi-row VALUES clauses.
• Ability to add implicitly hidden ROWID columns.
• Removal of certain column mask restrictions.

Read more

New Product Releases in Q4 2024

Several new versions of Db2 for z/OS tools and management solutions were released:

Db2 Management Solution Pack for z/OS 4.2

• Updated with Db2 SQL Performance Analyzer for z/OS 5.2 and Db2 Query Workload Tuner for z/OS 6.1.1.  More info

Db2 Performance Solution Pack for z/OS 2.3

• Includes enhancements for SQL performance analysis.  More info

Query Workload Tuner for z/OS 6.1.1

• Now integrates Db2 Administration Foundation for z/OS 1.2.1.  More info

Db2 Log Analysis Tool for z/OS 3.6

• Allows users to obtain detailed information on Db2 objects using new commands in Db2 Administration Tool.  More info

Db2 Administration Tool Enhancements

• New ST line command for SYSPACKSTMT values.
• Utility job generation for table spaces and indexes.
• Improved ALTER handling with better messaging when an ALTER is not possible.  More info

Db2 Developer Extension 2.2.0

• Full support for Java and SQLJ stored procedures.  More info

Db2 AI for z/OS 1.6.0

• Includes SQL optimization improvements and general performance enhancements.  More info

Enhancements in Key Db2 for z/OS Features

SQL Tuning Services

• Better integration with Db2 Query Workload Tuner for better query performance insights.  More info

Partition-Level Statistics Utility

• The MODIFY STATISTICS utility now supports single-partition execution, improving availability for PBR tables with NPSIs.  More info

Db2 COPY Utility Enhancements

• Improved zIIP offloading support, reducing CPU usage during backup creation.  More info

Upcoming Events and Conferences

IBM is hosting several conferences, workshops, and webinars for Db2 for z/OS users in 2025:

Conferences

IDUG India (Bengaluru & Pune) – February 18 & 20, 2025
SHARE Washington DC – February 23-27, 2025
IDUG Australasia (Sydney & Canberra) – March 17-21, 2025
GSE Europe (Dresden, Germany) – March 31 – April 4, 2025
IDUG North America (Atlanta, Georgia) – June 8-12, 2025
IBM TechXchange Conference (Orlando, Florida) – October 6-9, 2025
IDUG EMEA (Düsseldorf, Germany) – October 26-30, 2025

Register for events

On-Demand Webinars

• IBM Db2 SQL PA V5.2 Enhancements Overview  Watch here
• Modernizing Mainframe Data Access  Watch here
• Db2 for z/OS 13 Function Level 506 Overview Watch here

Core Insights

• Db2 12 & 13 Users: Be aware of the PBR RPN table space issue and take immediate action.
• Db2 13 Function Level 506 introduces major enhancements for performance and usability.
• New Db2 tools have been released, including Db2 Query Monitor, SQL Performance Analyzer, and Developer Extensions.
• Upcoming events and training opportunities are available to enhance skills and knowledge.

For more details, visit the IBM Db2 for z/OS Community and stay updated with future newsletters.