Why move to QMF New Function Mode?

If you are currently using QMF Version 8 Compatibility Mode or QMF Version 9 Compatibility Mode, you can stage your migration to QMF Version 10 or higher by first migrating to QMF New Function Mode before upgrading to Version 10 or higher. A migration staged in this way requires less overall time to roll out Version 10 or higher across the network, allowing to you be more efficient during precious operational downtime.

Migrating to QMF New Function Mode before upgrading to QMF Version 10 or higher can help you:

• Reduce the operational impact of the upgrade

The structure of the QMF Version 10 and higher catalog is incompatible with the catalog of releases running in QMF Compatibility Mode, which prevents their coexistence. As a result, migrating straight to QMF Version 10 or higher from a QMF Compatibility Mode installation requires some backups and image copies that significantly contribute to the overall migration time required. Having the catalog upgrade already completed when you move to Version 10 or higher can thus considerably reduce the time required for the upgrade. This time savings can be important when you have a requirement to quickly implement QMF Version 10 or higher connectivity across your network, because the QMF CONNECT command requires that both requester and server have the same QMF release installed.

• Work at your own pace while maintaining QMF connectivity across the network

QMF Version 8 and Version 9 support mixed installation modes, meaning that a QMF installation running in Compatibility Mode can connect to the same release running in New Function Mode in a remote database and vice-versa. With this support, you can upgrade to New Function Mode across the network at your own pace while maintaining connectivity, reducing operational interruptions that could impact your business.


QMF Version 8 New Function Mode, QMF Version 9 New Function Mode, and QMF Version 10 or higher can all coexist in the database at the same time.

To determine the mode of an existing QMF installation, run the query below. You can run this query from QMF, SPUFI, or any other SQL tool available to you:

SELECT LENGTH
FROM SYSIBM.SYSCOLUMNS
WHERE NAME = 'USERID'
AND TBNAME = 'ERROR_LOG'
AND TBCREATOR = 'Q'

If the query returns a value of 8, the existing QMF installation is in Compatibility Mode. If the query returns a value of 128, the existing QMF installation is in New Function Mode. If the query returns no value, QMF is not installed on the server that you are checking.

See the following topics for more information about migrating from Compatibility Mode to New Function Mode:

• Migrating QMF V8 Compatibility Mode to QMF V8 New Function Mode in a server that stands alone, functions as a requester only, or functions as both a requester and a server for other QMF installations in remote databases:

  http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.qmf.doc.iandm/installpathb.htm

• Migrating a QMF installation in a database that functions only as a server to other QMF installations:

  http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.qmf.doc.iandm/installpathf.htm

• Migrating QMF V9 Compatibility Mode to QMF V9 New Function Mode:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.qmf9.doc.iandm/cmtonfmv9.htm

When you are ready to upgrade from QMF Version 8 NFM or QMF Version 9 NFM to QMF Version 10, see the following topics:

• Migrating a QMF installation that stands alone, functions as a requester only, or functions as both a requester and a server for other QMF installations in remote databases:
  
  http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.qmf10.doc.iandm/installpathb.htm#installpathb
  

• Migrating a QMF installation in a database that functions only as a server to other QMF installations:
  
  http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.qmf10.doc.iandm/installpathe.htm#installpathe

This item will be updated for QMF Version 11 documentation links at QMF Version 11 general availability time.