Have issues? Communicate! A brief look at Db2 SQLCA

Db2 command line output with printed SQLCA

With many conflicts and problems, big and small, going on, communication is important. So, why not take a brief look at the Db2 SQL Communications Area (SQLCA)? According to the Db2 documentation, an SQLCA is a collection of variables that is updated at the end of the execution of every SQL statement. It provides the structure to pass important information from the database product to the user or application.

Db2 for your data lakehouse

Db2 as engine and data source
for the data lakehouse

A while ago, I was working with IBM watsonx.data to prepare a presentation on data lakehouse solutions. When talking about the (query) engines for a data lakehouse, typically, it is mostly about Presto and Spark. Did you know that Db2 can be used both as data source AND as query engine in watsonx.data (see screenshot)? Let's take a look...

Db2 catalog: Updated documentation links to database metadata

New Db2 metadata created

In 2017 I wrote the post "Db2 Catalog - A guided tour", a title which I also use for some of my talks at user group meetings and conferences. It contains some now outdated links to the Db2 documentation. Time for an update, so that I can find that important information quicker again. And maybe you too...

Db2: Loading and unloading of data on remote clients with external tables

Unload Db2 data to remote client

Today, I am going to take a look at another variation of external tables. They can be used to load data from a remote Db2 client or unload data to that client - directly from or into a file. I tested it with the Db2 CLP and with a Python script and it was quite easy.

Simple container-based Minio deployment for Db2

MinIO console with Db2-generated files

You probably have read that I am testing Db2 external tables and remote storage. External tables are data files stored outside the database itself, either in the local file system or on (typically) S3-compatible object storage. To be able to test everything locally, even without Internet connectivity while traveling, I installed and configured MinIO. Here are the few steps to get it up and running as a Docker/podman deployment.

Once again: Db2 External Tables

Db2 log files and data on IBM COS

Today, I once again share some notes about Db2 External Tables. Recently, I set up Db2 12.1 Community Edition and had some time to "play" with external tables, multi-tenancy, and catalog tables. As this blog serves me as external memory :), here is what I need to remember...

Db2 12.1 Community Edition for Docker on Fedora

Db2 version 12.1 is ready for testing

Last November, Db2 v12.1 became generally available. It took some days before the containerized Db2 Community Edition was upgraded. Today, I pulled the new container image and installed it on my Fedora system with/in a Podman environment. Here is my quick writeup.