DB2 Introduction

Relational Database:

It is a database that depends on the rule of relations, and anything can be defined as a relation.

Let see an example

There are rows and columns in the table, and they can have relations between them so as two tables can.

Relational databases are based on the rule of RDBMS. It is a relational database management system.

DB2:

IBM developed the Database named DB2. It is a database that follows relational database management system principles. By using DB2, we can fetch the data, analyse it and store it efficiently. DB2 is based on Object-Oriented features and non-relational XML structures. It is a group of related data management products that include data servers developed and marketed by IBM. It is developed on a concept based on SQL, i.e., standard query language on the relational database system, which means DB2 uses SQL queries to retrieve and store the data into the Database. We can use DB2 on AS/400 IBM mainframe and personal computers.

DB2 also supports the storage of non-relational formats like XML and JSON DP. It is not open-source but provides some free distributions. IBM fully owns it, and if we want to run on large servers should have to pay for the licensing

IBM has been working on the database servers since the 1970s where the initiated with the mainframe platforms that include Virtual Storage Extended known as VSE, Virtual Machines(VM), which support multiple OS in a single PC, and Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS)

History of DB2

In the year 1983, DB2 came into the market for MVS version 1. IBM used DB2 To shift the world to the new relational databases from information management systems like IMS.

The difference between File systems and Database:

File System

Database

The Access is slow

Access is speedy

Perception of the data in the file is hard as there is no column heading.

Perception of the data in the Database is easy as the column names exist.

It provides low concurrency.

It provides high concurrency.

It provides less security.

It provides high security.

  • Then onwards, IBM carried on with the development of DB2for the mainframe and for distributed platforms, i.e., open system platforms such as Windows, Unix, and Linux. In 1996, IBM released the new version of DB2 called DB2 UDB version 5, also called the DB2 Universal Database for distributed platforms. This was the first step by IBM to optimize the web.
  • After releasing DB2 UDB version 5, IBM did not stop delivering DB2 for years; there were many innovations, likewise pure XML that supports XML documents, released in 2006.
  • In 2009, IBM released the DB2 SQL compatibility factor, making it easier for the customers to migrate from a relational database product to the DB2.
  • In 2012, IBM released the new version of DB2, DB2 10.0, with various features that helped the customer minimize the operational cost. The most important feature was multi-temperature storage.

Let's see an example where we can distinguish the data as Hot and Cold. The hot data is the data we can access often, and it will be stored in the fast and the most expensive hardware, whereas the coal data is the one where the Access and which will beside in the cheaper devices and slower.

  • In 2013, IBM released DB2 10.4, which provided BLU acceleration by using parallel vector processing power, the memory-based column store, modern storage Technology, and Dynamic memory usability.
  • Next, in 2016, IBM released DB2 11.1, which provided the primary information that minimizes the total cost of the ownership DB2 11.1. Also provided us with efficient analytics and availability, security for your application which are business-critical and reliable.

Let's see some advantages:

DB2 has been around for years and has matured as a robust RDBMS.

1. Powerful Structures Query Language

It offers more powerful SQL than th Microsoft SQL. It provides features like before triggers, object tables, various user-defined functions, and Java methods. MS SQL does not support these features. SQL allows users to directly access the data through the database management interface of DB2. We can also implant the code into the application programs implemented in the languages like Java and COBOL.

2. Various Platform support.

IBM released the version of DB2, which can be executed on the platforms instead of only windows based platforms. Involving the DB2 list of platforms like Sun, Linus, AIX, and HP-UP. The feature of executing on all the software and hardware platforms is provided by DB2, whereas other database engines don't offer.

3. IBM Support

the primary advantage of the DB2 is the IBM offering. the reason for popularity of DB2 is because of high-quality software support of IBM

  1. fetching of data is significantly fast
  2. it provides high security
  3. it is independent
  4. It provides very high concurrency, Allowing multiple applications and users to access the data parallelly and Concurrently.
  5. redundancy is low
  6. it provides flexibility with the designs
  7. It offers easy access, and user is not required to know the physical relationships of the DatabaseDatabase they wish to access
  8. it is reliable, secure and offers high availability
  9. it can efficiently handle large volumes of data
  10. it can work with various operating systems

Let's see some disadvantages

  1. it is not open source, so we need licensing, which is quite expensive, and support is paid.
  2. We can create the tables, but it should be within block sizeof tablespace.
  3. It consumes mainframe processors
  4. It is difficult to resolve the issues and debug the issue.
  5. the BIND process is time costly for the larger plans.