Chapter 16: Further Reading and Resources

This reading list supports and extends the material in Chapter 16. Resources are organized into two tiers based on verifiability, followed by topic-specific recommendations.

Tier 1: Verified and Authoritative Sources

These are primary sources, established reference works, and resources from authoritative publishers. They can be independently verified and are widely cited in the database community.

IBM Official Documentation

IBM's documentation is the authoritative source for ALTER TABLE behavior, utility syntax, and migration procedures. Note that URLs change frequently as IBM reorganizes its documentation sites. The most reliable approach is to search the IBM Documentation portal directly.

  • Db2 12 for z/OS: ALTER TABLE statement

  • Search for "ALTER TABLE" in the Db2 12 for z/OS SQL Reference. This is the definitive reference for what ALTER operations are supported, which trigger pending states, and the exact syntax. Pay particular attention to the "Notes" section of each ALTER variant, which documents side effects.

  • Db2 12 for z/OS: Utility Guide — REORG TABLESPACE

  • Search for "REORG TABLESPACE" in the Db2 12 for z/OS Utility Guide and Reference. Covers SHRLEVEL options, mapping tables, drain behavior, and online REORG mechanics in detail.

  • Db2 12 for z/OS: Managing Pending States

  • Search for "pending definition changes" or "REORG-pending" in the Db2 12 for z/OS Administration Guide. Documents all pending states, how they are triggered, how to detect them, and how to resolve them.

  • Db2 12 for z/OS: Migration from Db2 11 to Db2 12

  • Search for "Migrating to Db2 12" in the Db2 12 for z/OS documentation. Covers Compatibility Mode, Enabling New Function Mode stages, New Function Mode, fallback procedures, and the complete migration checklist.

  • Db2 11.5 for LUW: ALTER TABLE statement

  • Search for "ALTER TABLE" in the Db2 11.5 for LUW SQL Reference. Covers all supported ALTER operations on LUW, including those specific to LUW (such as RENAME COLUMN).

  • Db2 11.5 for LUW: REORG TABLE command

  • Search for "REORG TABLE" in the Db2 11.5 for LUW Command Reference. Documents classic and inplace REORG, ALLOW options, and monitoring.

  • Db2 11.5 for LUW: EXPORT, IMPORT, LOAD commands

  • Search for each command in the Db2 11.5 Data Movement Utilities Guide. These are the primary tools for data migration on LUW.

  • Db2 11.5 for LUW: Upgrading to Db2 11.5

  • Search for "Upgrading" in the Db2 11.5 Installation and Upgrade documentation. Covers db2iupgrade, UPGRADE DATABASE, and post-upgrade tasks.

IBM Redbooks

IBM Redbooks provide in-depth, practical guidance written by IBM specialists and customers. Search by title or publication number at redbooks.ibm.com.

  • "Db2 12 for z/OS Technical Overview" (SG24-8482 or later edition)

  • Comprehensive overview of Db2 12 features, including migration improvements, online schema change enhancements, and new ALTER TABLE capabilities.

  • "DB2 for z/OS: Data Sharing in a Nutshell" (various editions)

  • Covers data sharing architecture, rolling migration procedures, and Coupling Facility interaction during mixed-version operation.

  • "Optimizing DB2 Queries with IBM Data Studio"

  • Relevant for post-migration query performance validation and optimization hint management.

  • "Oracle to DB2 Conversion Guide"

  • IBM has published multiple Redbooks on Oracle-to-DB2 migration. Search for the most current edition. These guides provide detailed data type mappings, SQL translation rules, and stored procedure conversion guidance.

Textbooks and Reference Works

  • Mullins, Craig S. DB2 Developer's Guide. (Multiple editions, most recently from IBM Press/Pearson.)

  • The most comprehensive single-volume reference for DB2. Chapters on schema management, utility operations (REORG, LOAD, UNLOAD), and migration planning directly complement this chapter. Mullins' treatment of pending states on z/OS is particularly thorough.

  • Lawson, Susan. DB2 for z/OS and OS/390: Ready Reference. (MC Press.)

  • A quick-reference guide for z/OS DB2 utilities, including REORG, LOAD, UNLOAD, and CHECK DATA. Useful as a desk reference when writing JCL for utility jobs.

  • Zikopoulos, Paul C., Baklarz, George, and Eaton, Chris. Understanding DB2: Learning Visually with Examples. (IBM Press/Pearson.)

  • Accessible treatment of DB2 LUW administration, including REORG, IMPORT/EXPORT/LOAD, and instance management. The visual approach complements this chapter's more text-heavy treatment.

  • Date, C.J. An Introduction to Database Systems. (Addison-Wesley/Pearson, 8th edition.)

  • While not DB2-specific, Date's treatment of view updatability, schema evolution in the relational model, and the theoretical foundations of ALTER TABLE provides the conceptual framework underlying the practical guidance in this chapter.

Tier 2: Attributed Sources and Community Resources

These resources are authored by recognized experts or established community voices. While they have not undergone formal peer review, they represent the practical knowledge of the DB2 community.

Blogs and Community Sites

  • Craig Mullins' Blog (craigsmullins.com)

  • Mullins regularly writes about schema management best practices, REORG strategies, and migration planning. His posts on pending states and online REORG are particularly relevant to this chapter.

  • IDUG (International DB2 Users Group) (idug.org)

  • IDUG conference presentations frequently cover real-world migration case studies, online schema change techniques, and zero-downtime strategies. The presentation archives (available to members) are a rich source of practitioner experience.

  • IBM Data and AI Community

  • IBM's community forums include migration-specific discussion boards where DBAs share their experiences with version upgrades, Oracle-to-DB2 conversions, and REORG strategies. Search for "migration" or "ALTER TABLE" in the Db2 forums.

Migration-Specific Resources

  • IBM Database Conversion Workbench (DCW)

  • Free tool available from IBM for Oracle-to-DB2 schema and stored procedure conversion. Search for "Database Conversion Workbench" on ibm.com to find the current download location and documentation. The tool includes conversion reports that are invaluable for migration planning.

  • MTK (Migration Toolkit)

  • IBM's command-line migration toolkit for moving data and objects from various source databases to DB2. Complements DCW with data movement capabilities.

Conference Presentations

  • IDUG Annual Conferences — Migration and schema evolution are perennial topics at IDUG conferences. Look for presentations tagged with "migration," "ALTER TABLE," "REORG," or "online schema change."

  • IBM TechU / IBM Z Day — IBM's technical conferences include sessions on DB2 version migration, with specific guidance on Compatibility Mode and New Function Mode transitions.

  • SHARE Conference — The SHARE user group (share.org) hosts mainframe-focused sessions, including DB2 migration planning and execution.

Topic-Specific Reading Paths

For Schema Evolution and ALTER TABLE

Start with the IBM documentation for ALTER TABLE on your platform (z/OS or LUW). Then read Mullins' DB2 Developer's Guide chapters on DDL and schema management. Supplement with Craig Mullins' blog posts on pending states (z/OS) or REORG strategies (LUW).

For Data Migration

Start with the IBM documentation for your platform's data movement utilities (UNLOAD/LOAD for z/OS; EXPORT/IMPORT/LOAD for LUW). Then read the Redbook on your specific migration scenario. For cross-platform migrations, the Oracle-to-DB2 Conversion Guide Redbook is essential.

For Version-to-Version Migration

Start with the IBM migration documentation for your specific version pair (e.g., "Migrating from Db2 11 to Db2 12 for z/OS"). Then read the Redbook "Db2 12 for z/OS Technical Overview" for context on what the new version offers and why migration is worthwhile. Supplement with IDUG conference presentations from organizations that have completed the same migration.

For Zero-Downtime Patterns

Start with the IBM Redbook on data sharing (z/OS) or the HADR documentation (LUW). Then search IDUG presentation archives for "zero downtime migration" or "rolling migration." Real-world case studies from IDUG conferences provide the most practical guidance on these advanced topics.

A Note on Version-Specific Documentation

DB2 documentation is version-specific, and migration procedures change between versions. Always verify that you are reading documentation for your exact source and target versions. IBM's documentation portal (ibm.com/docs) allows you to select the specific product version.

For z/OS, the critical documents are version-specific migration guides (e.g., "Migrating to Db2 12 for z/OS"). For LUW, the upgrade documentation is part of the installation guide for the target version.

When this book references "DB2 12 for z/OS" or "DB2 11.5 for LUW," those were the current versions at the time of writing. Newer versions will have updated migration procedures, new ALTER TABLE capabilities, and potentially new pending state behaviors. Always check the current documentation for your specific versions.

Return to Chapter 16 | Continue to Part IV