Configure Datastores for Db2

Attention: This feature is in Early Adopter Product (EAP) release status. We will continue the development of additional features and provide additional interfaces via patch updates and future releases. Please contact Micro Focus SupportLine if you require further clarification.

You can connect to a Db2 database using two methods. The recommended method is to use connection strings, as these can be used for both 32-bit and 64-bit client connections. Connection strings are configured using the connect attribute within MFDBFH.cfg. If you do not use connection strings, you must connect using ODBC DSNs.

Db2 datastores can be created in their own database, or you can store many datastores in a single database - this database may also contain one or more region databases, and a single cross-region database.

Unlike some other database types, Db2 does not support the mixing of ANSI and EBCDIC collating sequences for table columns in the same database. This means that if you require EBCDIC files to be used, they need to be deployed to a separate datastore database to non-EBCDIC files. However, IBM does not provide commands to allow the creation of databases with an EBCDIC collating sequence; instead, you need to use a Db2 API call to achieve this, which is called when using the dbfhadmin -createdb -ebcdic syntax. The actual collating sequence used is that specified by the MFCODESET environment variable. If MFCODESET is not set, the default collating sequence for the platform is used.

Use these steps to configure datastore databases in Db2.

  1. Create Datastore Scripts for Db2
    Due to Db2 database creation being very slow, it is advisable (although not mandatory) to create the databases in advance, using scripts.
  2. Windows: Create Datastore Data Sources for Db2
    If you are not using connection strings in your configuration file, you must create ODBC data sources. (Connection strings are the recommended connection method for Db2 databases.)
  3. UNIX: Create Datastore Data Sources for Db2
    If you are not using connection strings in your configuration file, you must create ODBC data sources. (Connection strings are the recommended connection method for Db2 databases.)
  4. Update the Configuration File for Db2 Datastores
    Add the database entries and connection details for your datastore, region and cross-region databases in MFDBFH.cfg.
  5. Create a Datastore and Upload a File to a Db2 Datastore
    If you have not already used script files to create your datastores, use the dbfhdeploy command line utility to create them. You can use the utility to upload data files to the datastores.
  6. Create an XA Resource
    If you are handling transactional data, you are required to create an XA resource for the datastore that houses the transactional data files.
Parent topic: Configuring Datastores