Number 8 in our Top 10 DB2 Support Nightmares series. This month we take a look at what happens when organisations are not able to keep up to date with the latest DB2 technology.

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2. Part 8 – Keeping Up To Date
Image of a junior DBA
It’s too large to send
Can we access the DB2 diagnostic log file
(db2diag.log) ?
It’s taking to long to open

3. Hhhhmmm, this is a common response. This is
because the DB2 diagnostic files have been append
only since time immemorial, their growth only
restricted by the maximum space available in the
file system they reside in.
The only way to curb this growth if you were using
pre-DB2 9.7 versions would be to rename the files
which would then force the creation of new ones.
Scripts had to be written to automate this process
and to delete old files after a certain period.

4. Image of a junior DBA
You have two options:
1 – The DIAGSIZE database manager parameter
2 - DB2DIAG tool with the –A or –archive option

5. DIAGSIZE database manager parameter
• From DB2 9.7 onwards
• Allows a DBA to control the maximum sizes of the DB2 diagnostic log and
• administration notification log files.
• When this parameter is set to a non-zero value, a series 10 rotating diagnostic log
files and a series of rotating administration notification log files (only on UNIX and
Linux) are used.
• Smart enough to clean up the diagnostic log directory of old log files.
• When the size of 10th file is full, the oldest file is deleted, and a new file is created.
• DIAGSIZE is the value (in MB) of the total size of all the DB2 diagnostic log and
administration notification log files on UNIX and Linux.
• 90% of the total size is allocated for the 10 diagnostic log files and 10% of the total
size is allocated for the 10 administration notification log files.
• On Windows, DIAGSIZE is the value (in MB) of the total size of all the 10 DB2
diagnostic log files on Windows.

6. DB2DIAG tool
• DB2DIAG tool with the –A or –archive option.
• This archives both single and rotating diagnostic log files.
• A timestamp, in the format YYYY-MM-DD-hh.mm.ss, is
appended to the file name.
• You can specify the name of the file and directory where it
is to be archived. If the directory is not specified, the file is
archived in the directory where the file is located and the
directory name is extracted from the file name.
• files on Windows.

7. Keeping Up To Date
It can be difficult for many organisations to keep
fully up to date with new features and indeed it is
often the case that organisations are forced to
stay on out-of-support versions of DB2.
This can be a real issue when problems arise and
they find that their DB2 systems are no longer
supported by IBM.
no longer supported by IBM.

8. The Moral
1. Where possible, try to keep up to date via fixpaks – new features are
delivered in DB2 all the time.
2. Have a Remote DBA support arrangement with an expert DB2 organisation
who will automatically keep your systems updated with the latest fixpaks.
3. Arrange regular training for DBAs, or take out a Consultancy on Demand
agreement which allows you to use consultancy hours on training, database
healthchecks or just to answer technical questions no longer supported by IBM.

9. Find out how our RemoteDBA or Consultancy on Demand services can help you to
keep your critical DB2 systems up to date.

10. www.triton.co.uk/