Db2 Tools New Features Summary - Level Set 20.0.19

[Cynthia Hamm]

Level Set 20.0.19 (LU19769) for the Database Management Solutions for Db2 for z/OS is now available. This Level Set PTF helps you identify your current level of maintenance and installed features. 

The following feature in Level Set 20.0.19 requires activation:

• PDS Analysis End of Support. The PDS parmlib option and analysis option in RC/Migrator, RC/Compare, and RC/Update are now obsolete. These options use a partitioned data set (PDS) to access the internal structure of the Db2 subsystem during analysis. Instead, we now only use live, real-time data from the Db2 catalog tables during analysis, which is more efficient.
  This feature is disabled by default. To enable (activate) this feature, you must activate Level Set 20.0.19. For more information, see Activate a Level Set.
  Once enabled, the PDS option can no longer be specified in the MIGRATOR parmlib member and the PDS Analysis Option is no longer available in the analysis options or generated batch jobs. 

The following features in Level Set 20.0.19 do not require activation:

• Detector Data Areas Moved to 64-bit Shared Private Storage. Detector collections now use 64-bit shared private storage instead of non-shared private storage, providing high-performance access and improved scalability. The existing storage protection controls prevent a collection from allocating an excessive amount of 64-bit shared private storage, performing a controlled end of a collection interval and starting a new one.

• Fast Unload New NOPRINT Option for the DDLDDN Keyword. Fast Unload can now use the DDLDDN keyword with the new NOPRINT option to suppress printing of DDL statements to the data set specified in the PTIMSG DD statement. This enhancement provides greater control over the content that is written to PTIMSG during unload processing.

• RC/Migrator, RC/Compare, and RC/Update Support for Temporal Referential Integrity. While generating DDL for temporal tables, the PERIOD BUSINESS_TIME clause is now included for referential constraints when required to ensure the validity of historical data.
  
  RC/Merger Feature Registration in Feature Registry Service (FRS). The use of the RC/Merger component in RC/Migrator is now trackable through the IBM Function Registry for z/OS. This tracks usage of the move analysis option in RC/Migrator. Monitor this information to help determine if your site is getting the most value out of RC/Migrator.

• RC/Query Enhancements:

• Package Reports Updated with DEPLEVEL Field. On subsystems running Db2 13 M501 or higher, the Package List (PK-L) and Package Detail (PK-D) reports are enhanced with the DEPLEVEL field. On Db2 13 M502 and above subsystems, the BIND commands (LBIND, LREBINB, and CBIND) are enhanced to generate the DEPLEVEL in BIND statements. These enhancements let you track dependencies at the SQL statement level instead of just the package level, enhancing your automatic rebind efficiency.

• • Expand PRIQTY/SECQTY Fields to Accommodate 1 TB/200 GB. The PRIQTY and SECQTY fields in the Tablespace Detail (TS-D) report were expanded to accommodate the 1 TB and 200 GB maximum values for those fields in Db2 13. This enhancement ensures that the full allocation details are displayed without truncation or formatting constraints. For example, prior to this enhancement, the truncated 1 TB value would display as 073,741,824 K instead of 1,073,741,824 K and the truncated 200 GB would display as 9,715,200 K instead of 209,715,200 K.

  • Additional RTS Columns in Index Real-Time Statistics Report (I-RT). The REORGTOTALSPLITS, REORGSPLITTIME, and REORGEXCSPLITS Db2 13 columns were added to the Index Real-Time Statistics (I-RT) report. These columns let you track index performance and reorganization needs, improving efficiency.

  • FOR SORT and FOR DGTT TABLESPACE Clause Support. On subsystems running Db2 13 M508 or higher, the FOR SORT and FOR  DGTT clauses are now generated when applicable for CREATE TABLESPACE DDL statements. These clauses provide greater control of work file space allocation for work file operations.

  • Support for Comments in Body of Views and MQTs. Comments from body text that are included in the FULLSELECT clause in view and materialized query table (MQT) objects are now included in generated DDL and HDDL automatically when applicable. You no longer have to manually insert these SQL comments into your DDL files.

• Recovery Estimator Support for Image Copy Backup Type Selection. The Recovery Estimator batch utility (RECOVER-TOOL ESTIMATE-RECOVERY) now includes advanced support for specifying image copy backup types during the Db2 tablespace recovery estimation process.
  
  Database administrators can use the new BACKUP-TYPE keyword in the recovery estimation job to define the specific backup types to be used for the recovery. This functionality provides a more precise and flexible way to estimate recovery timelines based on available resources. It also helps database administrators validate critical disaster recovery scenarios by isolating specific data sources. For example, you can estimate recovery scenarios that use only remote image copies to ensure business continuity during a regional outage. Or, prioritize local copies for rapid operational restores.

• REST API Enhancement to Auto Select Environments. The DBM Data Service (REST API component) was enhanced to automatically select the Xnet environment when multiple Xnet environments are available for a Db2 subsystem. This enhancement makes it easier to use the Database Management Solutions for Db2 REST API endpoints to interact with your database systems.

• Subsystem Analyzer Enhancement to Report and Unload Metrics by SSID for Data Sharing Groups. You can now use the new DSG_MEMBER parameter in the PSABATCH job to unload and report collection data for each member of a data sharing group. Using a single PSABATCH job to generate separate metrics for each member saves time and system resources. You can use the same job repeatedly because the job does not require updates when members are added to or removed from the data sharing group.

• SYSVIEW for Db2 Enhancements:

• IRLM Contention Report Updates. Sort key functionality that groups the current lock contention holders and waiters in the IRLMCONT online report is now provided. This enhancement also includes a new IQLIRLMA report that uses the new IFCID 1051 record. This enhancement lets system administrators identify blocker jobs regardless of which Db2 member the holder or waiter is on.

• Archive Table Enhancements. The following archive tables were enhanced to support new Db2 metrics:

• AUDIT_AUTH_CHANGES_DETAIL. Support was added for IFCID 319 MONITOR-CONN-PROF-ACTION and MONITOR-CONN-PROF-ID values in this table. IFCID 319 provides an audit trail for security processing. These new values indicate whether a security warning or exception was triggered and the profile ID that was in effect when it occurred.

• SUBSYS_DDF_DETAIL and SUBSYS_DDF_DAILY. Support for the IFCID 365 DBAT-TERM-TCPSOCK-CLOSED and HPER-DBATS-TERM-POOLINAC fields was added to these archive tables. Also, IFCID_SEQUENCE_NUM is also now supported in the SUBSYS_DDF_DETAIL table. This information helps administrators analyze distributed database access thread (DBAT) terminations in Db2.

• SUBSYS_ZPARMS. The STATTIME_DDF subsystem parameter in Db2 12 and 13 is now supported. This parameter replaces STATIME_MAIN as the timer for DDF location IFCIDs 365, 411, and 412. The default value is zero to maintain the current behavior. Support for MXAIDTCACH is also added. This value shows administrators the amount of memory that is allocated for AI data caching for each thread. 

• SUBSYS_SQL_DETAIL_DYNAMIC, SUBSYS_SQL_DETAIL_STATIC, and IDB2ACCT_STMT_DETAIL. New zIIP metrics were added to IFCID 58, 151, 316, and 401 and these archive tables. This information is beneficial to administrators who monitor zIIP time that is consumed for accounting purposes.

• Support in New Db2 13 Fields in IFCID 224. Support was added for the new STATEMENT-ID and STATEMENT-TYPE fields in IFCID 224. Administrators can use this information to locate the affected SQL statements for which a select procedure was bypassed.

• Thread Termination/Dynamic DSNZPARM Enhancements: 

• Utility History zPARM Added to View DSNZPARM Data Display. The View DSNZPARM Data Display was updated to include the utility history zPARM (UTILITY_HISTORY_ZPARM). This enhancement lets you view and manage this setting dynamically through the online panels.

• Monitor Profile Name Added to Thread Monitor Messages. The thread monitor profile name now appears in several messages to identify the profile that is being used or acted upon. This enhancement is helpful if you have multiple thread monitor profiles defined.

• Add New CDDS_MODE Value to the View DSNZPARM Display. The Thread Terminator DSNZPARM Display was updated to report the new SOURCE_ONLY value for the CDDS_MODE (compression dictionary data set) zPARM. This enhancement fully exploits the CDDS_MODE parameter options that are available in Db2 13 M506, enabling you to identify how the system participates in a GDPS continuous availability with zero data loss environment.

For more information, see New Features in the Release Notes in the Database Management Solutions for Db2 for z/OS documentation.

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