Upgrading the DB2 database (BigFix scenario)

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The DB2 database stores information crucial for the operation of the License Metric Tool server. Ensure that you always use a supported version of the database, upgrade it regularly, and create backups for the purpose of disaster recovery.

Changes in supported versions of DB2

Upgrading the database might be a process that you need to plan ahead. Thus, it is important that you become familiar with the plan of changes in versions of the database that are supported by the License Metric Tool server. For more information, see: Changes in versions of DB2 supported by the License Metric Tool server.

Downloading the installer for upgrading DB2

To upgrade the DB2 database, download the installer for the latest patch of DB2 11.5 from Fix Central. If you need a different version of DB2, download the installation packages from the DB2 download page.

Upgrading procedure

Before you start the upgrade, ensure that the computer on which DB2 is installed meets all the requirements. For example, runs on a supported operating system. For information about requirements and a step-by-step procedures of upgrading the database or applying a fix pack, refer to the following pages in the DB2 documentation:

In some cases, error SRVE0296E can be written in the tema.log file after upgrading the database. For information how to solve the problem, see: Database problems.

Separate databases for License Metric Tool and BigFix

If you use separate databases for License Metric Tool and BigFix®, you can upgrade the databases independently.

Figure 1. Sample infrastructure with separate databases for the License Metric Tool server and the BigFix server.

License Metric Tool database

Before you upgrade the database of the License Metric Tool server, verify whether the new version of the database is supported by your current version of the License Metric Tool server and the version of the server to which you are upgrading. Otherwise, the License Metric Tool server might not work. Refer to the following table for information about versions of DB2 that are supported by particular versions of the License Metric Tool server.

Table 1. DB2 versions supported by the License Metric Tool server
	License Metric Tool
	9.0.0.1 - 9.2.11.0	9.2.12.0 - 9.2.18.0	9.2.19.0 - 9.2.24.0	9.2.25.0 - 9.2.35.0
DB2 10.1 FP5 -10.5 FP4	Supported	Supported	Not supported	Not supported
DB2 10.5 FP5 - 10.5 FP11	Supported	Supported	Supported²	Not supported
DB2 11.1	Not supported	Supported	Supported	Supported
DB2 11.5	Not supported	Not supported¹	Supported	Supported

¹ Do not upgrade DB2 database to version 11.5 if you are using License Metric Tool server in versions between 9.2.15.0 and 9.2.18.0. The upgrade will fail and corrupt your database due to an APAR in the DB2 database migrator. You can work around this problem by applying a fix from the following technote Upgrading DB2 to version 11.5 is not possible for License Metric Tool application updates 9.2.15.0 - 9.2.18.0. After you apply the fix, you can upgrade DB2 to version 11.5, and then upgrade the License Metric Tool server to version 9.2.35.0.

² Except for version 9.2.19.0 and 9.2.20.0 which do not support DB2 10.5 FP5.

BigFix database

Before you upgrade the BigFix database, verify whether the new version of the database is supported by your current version of the BigFix server and the version of the server to which you are upgrading. Otherwise, the BigFix server might not work. Refer to the following table for general information about versions of DB2 that are supported by particular versions of the BigFix server. For more details, see the following links:

Table 2. DB2 versions supported by the BigFix server
	BigFix
	9.5.0 - 9.5.13	9.5.14 or higher 9.5 versions	10.0	11.0
DB2 10.1	Supported	Supported	Not supported	Not supported
DB2 10.5	Supported	Supported	Not supported	Not supported
DB2 11.1	Not supported	Not supported	Not supported	Not supported
DB2 11.5	Not supported	Supported¹	Supported²	Supported

¹ DB2 11.5 is supported starting from BigFix 9.5.14. DB2 11.5.4 is supported starting from BigFix 9.5.17. For more information about which exact version of BigFix supports a particular version of DB2, see: BigFix 9.5 - Detailed System Requirements.

² DB2 11.5.4 is supported starting from BigFix 10.0.2. For more information about which exact version of BigFix supports a particular version of DB2, see: BigFix 10 - Detailed System Requirements.

Database shared between License Metric Tool and BigFix

If you share the database between License Metric Tool and BigFix, you must ensure that the version of the database to which you want to upgrade is supported by the current versions of the License Metric Tool server and the BigFix server as well as the versions to which you are upgrading.

To ensure that you upgrade the database and other components in the right order, especially in case of old versions of components, see: Upgrading from old versions on Linux.