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DB2 - what is NF mode (new functionality)?

I have some customer questions about NF mode for DB2. Google had very little information about this.

I managed to deduce the following, but I do not fully trust him ...

  • NF and CM (compatibility mode) are the settings in DB2 v8 on the mainframe.
  • DB2 v8 on z / OS in CM is designed to use DB2 v8 as a replacement for DB2 v7 replacement.
  • NF makes numerous changes that violate backward compatibility.
  • In particular, the system tables of the "data dictionary" are completely redesigned.

I suspect the following, but I'm even less sure about it ...

  • The redesigned data dictionary and system tables are similar to those used by DB2 v8 for Linux / Unix / Windows.
  • DB2 v8 NF is largely compatible with DB2 v9.
  • DB2 v9 is much more consistent across platforms (Linux / Unix / Windows and mainframe).
  • Code written to work with DB2 v8 NF will usually work correctly with DB2 v8 on LUW and DB2 v9 anywhere.

Can someone tell me if I am right? Or add more details?

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1 answer

These functional modes are basically just ways to make scheduled updates. Both DB2 / z v8 and v9 (and probably everyone else) have three modes:

  • compatibility (CM).
  • enable new function (ENFM).
  • new feature (NFM).

It was used to ensure a smooth transition between versions. For example, all DBMSs in a group must be upgraded to version 8 CM before any of them can be switched to v8 ENFM.

The compatibility mode for vX means that you are using vX , but none of the new features (in other words, is equivalent to v(X-1) ). If you use v7 at the moment, you don’t support it - you really have to run v8 in CM (if you need support and, believe me, if you pay IBM for huge license fees, you should :-).

Enable a new function mode is when the system database tables have been updated to use the new function, but not user tables.

The new function mode means that new functions have been included for both system and user tables.

The actual contents of the new feature are version dependent.

See here v8 What's New . Basically, chapter 2 lists all the new features:

  • Additional advantages of SQL.
  • More security.
  • Better compatibility with DB2 / z younger brothers (LUW), including Unicode.
  • Scalability / performance.
  • Availability (very important in the mainframe world).

By the way, IBM makes all of its documentation available online for review, and the top level of public libraries is here .

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