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 It contains some now outdated links to the Db2 documentation.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.

Db2 12.1 is now available

Since yesterday, November 14th, the new version Db2 12.1 is available. You can download Db2 12.1 from the usual Db2 fix packs by version page. I recommend to check the documentation for Db2 12.1 and to start with the section on what is new. Last, here is the formal announcement from earlier this year.

See you at IDUG EMEA, in person or as virtual attendee

The 2024 IDUG EMEA Db2 Tech Conference is just around the corner, starting the next weekend. You can still register to attend either in person in Valencia, Spain, or to follow virtually via streamed sessions. Because I use this blog to find my own stuff, here are some links to keep handy.

A look at local external tables in Db2

Surprising Db2 results or not?

My recent post about Db2 backup to S3 or Object Storage triggered a question. And the answer to it is that I wrote about external tables first in 2017, about 7 years ago. Since then, some features were added or changed for external tables and remote storage support, most recently in Db2 11.5.7 (AFAIK). With my new Db2 playground in place, I thought it was nice to test external tables again.

Revisited: Db2 backup to S3 / Object Storage

Db2 backup in an S3 bucket

One of the popular posts I have written is on Db2 and S3-compatible Cloud Object Storage, a follow-up from an older article on that same topic. Because things change and I recently set up my new test environment, I just tested backing up a Db2 database to an S3-compatible bucket in my IBM Cloud storage service. Here are my notes.

Three plus one simple (and free) ways to test Db2

Getting started with Db2

Recently, I switched jobs and now want to set up a "playground" on my machine. First on the list is IBM Db2. So, what options are available to anyone to test Db2 and build up some Db2 skills? In this blog, I plan to provide an overview and share what I option I am going with. Why titled I this blog post "three plus one"? Because a possible solution for quickly testing Db2 queries is not really a full Db2 database. So let's start with that one...

About BIRD, SQL, IBM granite models, and your business reporting

BIRD-SQL benchmark

Some years ago, when composing SQL queries, I was hoping that those queries would just "fly", performing flawlessly and quickly. Now, I stumbled over something SQL-related that seems to fly: BIRD-bench. It measures Large Language Models' (LLMs) capabilities to generate SQL queries from text input. It is at the core of SQL: You describe the result set you need.

Lakehouse: Bronze, silver, and gold levels of data

Is this a Data Lakehouse?

While working with customers and IBMers on data processing projects (to keep it as broad as possible), I often hear the talk about bronze, silver, and gold standards. These standards sometimes refer to the systems the data is stored in in terms of reliability, availability, performance, bandwith, and more. The IBM mainframe in a geographically dispersed parallel sysplex configuration may be considered such a gold standard. Lately, bronze / silver /gold standards are more frequently heard in the context of Data Lakehouse architectures and data sources or data zones. So, what is bronze, silver, and gold when discussing data and data lakehouse?

Get ready for IDUG North America Db2 Tech Conference

In about a week (June 23-27), IDUG North America Db2 Tech Conference is going to start. Are you already registered and will attend either on-site or virtually? Agendas for on-site attendees and the virtual participants have been posted. 

"Breakfast Buffet Available" is something you only find on the on-site agenda. As I am to attend virtually, I will have to stack up food and drinks and get ready for an exciting week of technical talks related to Db2 for z/OS and Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows.

Next German Db2 User Group meeting in Munich on April 12th

The next German Db2 User Group (DeDUG) meeting is planned for April 12th and will be held at IBM in Munich. You can find more information on DeDUG's temporary homepage. The meeting will have a hybrid format, timely sign up required. That's already all for today.

Authentication for your IBM Cloud Code Engine functions

Protect your Code Engine functions

How can we protect an API function implemented as IBM Cloud Code Engine function? This was one of the questions which I recently answered. When migrating from IBM Cloud Functions to Code Engine, this is a common question. Cloud Functions offer some basic security to protect against unauthorized calls. Code Engine and their functions differ in flexibility and hence you have to deal with authentication. Here is a simple solution.

Spreadsheets: How to excel with Db2 data

Generated chart in Excel file

Recently, I had to produce a spreadsheet from database data. One naive way is to export the data to a CSV file, then import the data from that file into the spreadsheet. Another option was to quickly script a small Python program that fetches the data and directly generates a Microsoft Excel file. As a bonus, I added even a line chart (as shown).

Tutorial on cloud end-to-end security - an overview

Cloud solution architecture

Recently, my team updated our tutorial on applying end-to-end security to a cloud application. The tutorial features a typical app with an attached NoSQL database and object storage. Moreover, it leverages other services for increased security and to provide observability. Even better, all components can be automatically deployed, including a Tekton-based delivery pipeline. In this blog post, I am going to provide an overview and discuss some implementation details.

DeDUG: German Db2 User Group meeting February 2nd

The year 2024 is still young and a great event is coming up in about three weeks. DeDUG, the German Db2 User Group, is having their first meeting on February 2nd and is going to be at Atruvia in Karlsruhe. Best of all, I plan to attend and even give a talk. Currently, the agenda lists me with "Unicode und Db2", but I have renamed it to "How to treat 💔💔💔 (broken hearts) with Db2". It hopefully is a great start into February with carnival and Valentine's Day.

Am I going to meet you in Karlsruhe? Please make sure to register.