IBM Support

Running db2support on Db2 V 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 can remove critical database files with potential result of corruption / database outage - updated

Flashes (Alerts)


Abstract

If you are using Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 or a special build based on Db2 Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 then running the db2support tool (a problem analysis and environment collection utility) in certain circumstances can erroneously remove critical database files, resulting in a database corruption or an instance-wide outage.

As of April 16, 2018, Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 images available for download have been updated to correct this issue.

Content

The problem can affect customers running Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 on all platforms, or a special build based on Db2 Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 on all platforms.

The db2support tool, a problem analysis and environment collection utility, can in certain circumstances erroneously remove critical database files, resulting in a database corruption or an instance-wide outage.

This problem happens when the length of the output path specified for db2support is not sufficiently longer than the length of the instance name.
 
Workaround:

To safely workaround this issue, specify a fully-qualified db2support output path when you run db2support:

    db2support <output-path>

With the length of output-path longer than instance-name + 9, where "instance-name" is the short instance name (e.g. "db2inst1").

As of April 16, 2018, Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 images available for download have been updated to correct this issue.

On Linux / UNIX you can verify whether your installation of Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows Version 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 has the fix by following these steps:

Go to ~<instance>/sqllib/bin

and run:

strings -a db2support_internal | grep "Apr 10"

If this yields a line with:

Apr 10 2018

Then you have the updated version.

Remediation/Fix


As of April 16, IBM updated Db2 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 in Fix Central to prevent corruption introduced by db2support.

Only the following products downloaded from Fix Central before April 10 are affected:
  • IBM Data Server Client
  • IBM Data Server Runtime Client
  • Db2 Runtime Client Merge Modules for Windows
  • Db2 Server
  • Db2 Universal Fixpack
In addition, a hotffix package has been provided for each affected platform to correct installed Db2 copy on the system prior to April 10.

Resolving the problem
If you downloaded and installed Db2 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 prior to April 10, 2018 you have the following options:

Linux and Unix:
You have two choices:

1- Download the latest update of Db2 11.1 Mod 3 Fix Pack 3 from Fix Central (http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24044630) and apply the update on top of the existing installation via installFixPack tool with "-f level" option.

2- Download the hotfix package according to the platform list below and follow the instructions in the README to apply the fix.

Windows:
Download the hotfix package according to the Windows platform below and follow the instructions in the README to apply the fix.


Hotfix Packages:
AIX 64
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-aix64-db2support-11.1.3.3-FP003%3A331363450751590784&includeSupersedes=0

Linux zSeries
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-linux390x64-db2support-11.1.3.3-FP003%3A813405866832182400&includeSupersedes=0

Linux x86
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-linuxx64-db2support-11.1.3.3-FP003%3A944553956149331328&includeSupersedes=0

Linux 32bit
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-linuxia32-db2support-11.1.3.3-FP003%3A380658719376834240&includeSupersedes=0

Linux ppcle
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-linuxppc64le-db2support-11.1.3.3-FP003%3A474229244064740736&includeSupersedes=0

Solaris SPARC
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-sun64-db2support-11.1.3.3-FP003%3A999257411440160384&includeSupersedes=0

Windows 32bit
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-nt32-db2support-11.1.3030.239-FP003%3A782641455864144512&includeSupersedes=0

Windows 64bit
http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/selectFixes?parent=ibm~Information%2BManagement&product=ibm/Information+Management/IBM+Data+Server+Client+Packages&release=All&platform=All&function=fixId&fixids=DSClients-ntx64-db2support-11.1.3030.239-FP003%3A212874752157737312&includeSupersedes=0

[{"Product":{"code":"SSEPGG","label":"Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Component":"DB2 Tools - db2support","Platform":[{"code":"PF002","label":"AIX"},{"code":"PF016","label":"Linux"},{"code":"PF027","label":"Solaris"},{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"11.1","Edition":"Advanced Enterprise Server;Advanced Workgroup Server;Enterprise Server;Express;Express-C;Personal;Workgroup Server","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB10","label":"Data and AI"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
25 September 2022

UID

swg22015393