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
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
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Document Information
Modified date:
25 September 2022
UID
swg22015393