Level Set PTF 20.0.14 (LU15357) 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.
Features Applied with Level Set PTF 20.0.14
This list summarizes the features that are delivered by applying Level Set PTF 20.0.14 (LU15357).
The following feature in this Level Set PTF requires activation:
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Log Analyzer removal of online mode for log analysis. Log Analyzer has been updated to remove the online mode for processing log reports. Batch mode is still available to analyze Db2 logs and SMF records. The use of batch mode offers better performance and increased security when using Log Analyzer to run reports to audit data changes, replicate data, and perform recoveries.
The following features in this Level Set PTF do not require activation:
In addition, the following FL506 functionality is supported:
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REBUILD-PENDING empty (RBDPM) status. Database Analyzer, Fast Load, and Rapid Reorg now recognize the new REBUILD-PENDING empty (RBDPM) status. RBDPM treats the logical partition of a non-partitioned secondary index (NPSI) as empty so that application queries can continue to run.
In Database Analyzer, RBDPM was added to the extract and action conditions. Statistics collection is bypassed for indexes in RBDPM status.
In Fast Load and Rapid Reorg, RBDPM is used after a logical partition of a nonpartitioned index is emptied because a data partition is loaded with an empty or dummy data set using IBM LOAD with the NOKEYDELETE option.
The PIT TIMESTAMP UTC 'timestamp' and PIT TIMESTAMP LOCAL 'timestamp' keywords were updated to preserve the consistency of keyword syntax across Recovery Compliance toolkit utilities.
New keywords were also added in the Recovery Estimator utility (RECOVER-TOOL ESTIMATE-RECOVERY) to enable recovery estimation to the most recent full image copy and enable recovery estimation to specify a timestamp value on data sharing and non-data sharing subsystems.
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DDL formatting enhancements. Words are no longer split across lines when generating DDL for non-text based Db2 objects such as tables and tablespaces in Alternate Catalog Mapping (ACM), Log Analyzer, RC/Extract, RC/Query, RC/Migrator, and RC/Update. The indentation level is also maintained when possible across lines for consistent formatting.
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Log Analyzer enhancements:
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Enhanced support for DDL Redo/Undo and Reports on Tables. You can now create DDL activity reports or generate Redo/Undo DDL statements for ALTER TABLE statements that include ADD PERIOD, ADD RESTRICT, APPEND, AUDIT, and/or DROP RESTRICT.
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XML Support in DML Redo/Undo SQL Generation. Log Analyzer can now generate Redo/Undo SQL statements for complete XML documents. Previously, the serialization of XML column data of an XML table was only done at the row level. Now, the complete XML document can be serialized and stored as a member in a partitioned data set (PDS). The new FILESQL utility can then be used to execute Redo/Undo SQL statements to replicate, backup, or recover XML data.
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RC/Compare, RC/Migrator, and RC/Update PBG to PBR2 support using ALTER TABLE…ALTER PARTITIONING. Support was added to convert tablespaces or tables from growth-based (PBG) to range-based (PBR) using the ALTER TABLE… ALTER PARTITIONING statement. The tablespace for the table is converted from PBG to PBR with relative page numbering (RPN or PBR2). Use this enhancement to migrate a table from a PBG tablespace to a PBR tablespace and to convert PBG tablespaces to PBR2. This enhancement helps prevent performance degradation or data and index management issues from occurring when a table in a PBG tablespace grows too large.
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RC/Migrator and RC/Update online panel enhancements to support Advanced Triggers. You can now edit an advanced trigger in an alter or migrate strategy, and generate DDL that includes CREATE TRIGGER, CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER, ALTER, and/or DROP statements as needed. You can alter the VERSION, QUALIFIER, DEBUG MODE, ACTIVE, and SQLPATH attributes and add new versions of a trigger. In RC/Migrator, you can also generate incremental change language (ICL) statements for advanced triggers and when converting ICL to DDL and recover an advanced trigger to its previous state.
For more information, see New Features in the Release Notes in the Database Management Solutions for Db2 for z/OS documentation.
New Version (3.0.0) of the DBM for Db2 Plug-in for Zowe CLI
A new version of the DBM for Db2 Plug-in for Zowe CLI adds support for Zowe V3. This plug-in version no longer supports Zowe V1, which reached end of support on September 30, 2024.
The changeSetValues parameter in the options profile now contains a default set of change specifications for the table DDL and the dependent objects retrieval scenario. This update simplifies configuration by providing a ready-made set of specifications. You can now adjust or comment out settings instead of defining them from scratch.
For a list of all changes, see the Change Log in our GitHub repository. To download the new version of the DBM for Db2 Plug-in for Zowe CLI, go to npm registry.
Important! Level Set Activation Requirement
Starting with the PTF for Level Set 20.0.16 (planned for release in May 2025), Level Set 20.0.01 or higher must be activated. Xmanager will not start at this maintenance level if the active Level Set is 20.0.00.
Activation of a Level Set is similar to activation of Db2 function levels and enables users to control when certain functions or behaviors occur. Activation also makes it possible for you to revert to previous behaviors, similar to Compatibility Mode in Db2 terminology. Activation of a Level Set lets you use any features in the Level Set that require activation.
To enable these capabilities, activate Level Set 20.0.01 or higher before the PTF for Level Set 20.0.16 is applied. Activation of Level Set 20.0.01 enables customers to roll their Xmanager maintenance across members of a sysplex and avoid an outage as maintenance is applied. For information about activating a Level Set versus applying a Level Set PTF, see Activate a Level Set in the Database Management Solutions for Db2 documentation. This article details activation prerequisites, activation considerations, examples, and an activation use case. A video is also available that provides a walk-through of the activation steps.
For a list of the available Level Set PTFs and their corresponding features, see New Features.
Db2 Tools 20.0 Validation Project
Join the Db2 Tools Validation Project, where the Broadcom product teams reveal upcoming features and seek your feedback. See what we are developing, as we develop it. Validation meetings are your best opportunity to influence the development of the Database Management Solutions for Db2 for z/OS products.
Register today at: https://validate.broadcom.com/key/db2tools200.
Modernization for Mainframe Database Management Beta Program
Another reason to join the Db2 Tools Validation Project is to participate in our Modernization for Mainframe Database Management Beta program, which includes:
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A web user interface that provides an intuitive experience for database administrators and application developers, boosting productivity while minimizing the learning curve. You can perform catalog navigation for Db2 objects and execute Db2 commands with type-ahead suggestions and reference links to related documentation.
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A Visual Studio Code extension that enables generation, self-provisioning, and deployment of DDL to improve productivity for application developers. Db2 management history, artifacts, and execution context are saved to track changes effectively.
By participating in the Beta program, you can:
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Help shape and influence our next-generation user experience.
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Have early access to the software.
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Directly interact with our Database Management for Db2 subject matter experts.
In return, we ask that you provide us with regular feedback about the user experience and feature set that is offered through the capabilities of this new user interface.