IBM Db2 12.1, released on November 14, 2024, introduces over 200 new features and enhancements designed to improve database efficiency, simplicity, and reliability. Key highlights include:

• AI-Powered Query Optimizer: This feature integrates advanced AI capabilities into the query optimization process, enhancing performance through automated tuning and intelligent query optimization.
• Namespace Separation with New Tenancy Model: Db2 12.1 introduces a logical separation between database schemas, allowing for better resource management and data isolation within a single database.
• Db2 pureScale Enhancements: On Linux systems, Pacemaker replaces TSAMP as the cluster manager, resulting in faster failure recovery times and improved operational management.
• Performance Enhancements for Backups: The introduction of intra-tablespace parallelism initiates multiple threads to process a single tablespace, leading to faster backup operations.
• Apple Silicon Driver Support: Db2 12.1 now supports drivers running on Apple Silicon, providing developers and DBAs with greater flexibility.
• Security Enhancements: The release includes features such as establishing trusted contexts through stored procedures and enabling SSL for data in transit in high availability disaster recovery solutions.
• Federation Enhancements: Db2 12.1 expands support for a wider range of data sources, including Snowflake, Oracle 23c, MariaDB, MongoDB, and SAP, along with performance improvements.
• Cloud Object Storage Performance and Scalability Enhancements: The release delivers native cloud object storage performance enhancements for large-scale environments.
• Columnar Tables Performance Enhancements: Upgrades include schema evolution with DROP and RENAME support for online updates, improved UPDATE and JOIN operations, and optimized online table movement using ADMIN_MOVE_TABLE.
• New IBM Db2 Starter Edition: This edition provides a selective set of capabilities for businesses to utilize Db2’s core data management features for new applications and services.

For a comprehensive overview of all new features and enhancements in Db2 12.1, please refer to the official IBM documentation.

• IBM Db2 12.1: AI-Powered Query Optimizer
• Namespace Separation with New Tenancy Model
• Db2 pureScale Enhancements
• Performance Enhancements for Backups
• Apple Silicon Driver Support
• Security Enhancements
• Federation Enhancements
• Cloud Object Storage Performance and Scalability Enhancements
• Columnar Tables Performance Enhancements
• New IBM Db2 Starter Edition
• What’s changed in Db2 12.1
• Announcement Letter and Revised technical information: IBM Db2 Community Edition 12.1
• Product lifecycle pages:
  • IBM Db2 Starter Edition (5900-BEN)
  • IBM Db2 Standard Edition (5737-K74)
  • IBM Db2 Advanced Edition (5737-K73)
  • IBM Db2 Warehouse (5725-Z65)
  • IBM Db2 Advanced Enterprise Server Edition (5725-L47)
  • IBM Db2 Enterprise Server Edition (5765-F41)
  • IBM Db2 Connect Enterprise Edition (5765-F30)
  • IBM Db2 Connect Application Server Edition (5724-D54)
  • IBM Db2 Connect Application Server Advanced Edition (5724-Z19)
  • IBM Db2 Connect Unlimited Edition for System z (5724-B62)
  • IBM Db2 Connect Unlimited Advanced Edition for System z (5724-Z18)
  • IBM Db2 Connect Unlimited Edition for System i (5724-M15)
  • IBM Db2 Performance Management Offering (5725-T27)
  • IBM Db2 Advanced Recovery Feature (5725-L16)
  • IBM Db2 Advanced Edition for SAP Solutions (5737-K73)
  • IBM Db2 Advanced & Standard Edition Add-on for IBM Db2 Advanced CEO (5725-E89)
• Software Downloads:
  • IBM Db2 Community Edition: https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?formid=urx-33669
  • Db2 SaaS/Other Db2 Trials: https://www.ibm.com/products/db2/get-started
  • Db2 recommended fix packs: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/360045
  • purchased products: IBM Passport Advantage® Web site
  • Clients and Drivers: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7175827