In an earlier blog post, I wrote about Db2 11 for z/OS End of Support Coming This Year (2020)... but that was before the global COVID-19 pandemic swooped in and changed everything!
If you check out that earlier post, you'll even see that I made the comment that the "date appears to be a firm one... don't bet on IBM extending it." Well, that would have been a bad bet! And that is another reason why it is not a good idea to predict the future (even when you hear the prediction from a credible source).
Yes, IBM has extended the end of service (EOS) for Db2 11 for z/OS by 6 months... from September 30, 2020, to next year, March 31, 2021. They furthermore state that they expect it to be a one-time adjustment (but I'm not going to predict the future this time).
You can find the revised EOS terms here.
Regardless of the extension, it still makes sense to start planning your migration to Db2 12 for z/OS now. Actually, with the slowdown in many corporations due to the pandemic, your DBAs and systems programmers might have some time to do this now.
Keep in mind that Db2 11 was made generally available way back on October 25, 2013, 7 years ago. This is an eternity in the world of enterprise software. So it is nice to have more wiggle room, but don't use it to delay further... start your planning now (if you haven't already).
News, views, and items of interest on IBM's Db2 database management system and mainframes.
4 comments:
Can this DB2 V11 still be ordered for clients who may need it? Their is a client who uses DB2 on the Main Frame for Tivoli Output Manager and specifially ITOMS which goes to another server (or Servers). Our team wants to go to z/OS 2.5 and we are currently at z/OS 2.3 and DB2 V10 is functioning fine with this z/OS.
If we need to go to DB2 V11, is there a migration that can be paired down to support this product or do we have to follow the complete DB2 V11 Migration Guiide?
Last question is, I know we cannot skip V11 and go directly to V12 from our current DB2 V10, but knowing that V11 has been extended, is it possible to order a DB2 V12 with a migration plan that can skip DB2 V10?
End of marketing (EOM) means that you can no longer order Db2 V11. EOM happened back in 2018.
End of support (EOS) happened last year. IBM wants to move everybody to Db2 V12. If you still need/want older software, you can try to get with your IBM sales rep and see what, if anything, you can negotiate with them.
My general advice is to avoid having software that is no longer supported. Moving to the next version before EOS of your current version is a best practice. Upgrade planning should start as soon as EOM is announced for your current version. These deadlines have long passed for you, so working with your IBM rep is the best approach to follow. Consider negotiating with them based on your desire to get up to current and remain that way and they will probably work with you.
Best if luck!
Craig
I did make a mistake in my previous comment. I wanted to know if we can skip V11 and go to V12 with all the appropriate V11 catalog updates and other needs from V11 to be incorporated in a V12 DB2.
You cannot skip V11 and go to V12. If you are on V10 and want V12 you can either follow the IBM recommended route of V10-V11-V12... or you might be able to possibly install a new Db2 12 and configure it for ITOM (as well as migrate any objects that have needed data in them from the existing V10 to the new V12). But this is not a generally recommended process. At one point, some of the ISVs (BMC, CA) had tools that could help with something like this, but you'd have to do some digging to find out what they are and if those tools are still supported.
Also, I do not know the specifics of ITOM and what it needs from Db2 in order to function. I've used ITOM, but never supported it.
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