Set up a DB2 instance

A DB2 Instance is an environment in which you store data and run applications. All DB2 products require an instance in order to run.

An instance can contain multiple databases. Depending on your needs, you may want to create more than one instance. For example, you can isolate a development environment from a production environment by defining a different instance for each one. You can create only one instance now. To create another instance later, run the DB2 Setup wizard by issuing the db2isetup command, or use the db2icrt command.

If your operating system supports both 32-bit and 64-bit instances, you can choose to create either a 32-bit or a 64-bit instance. Thirty-two bit platforms have an inherent address space limitation of 4 gigabytes (GB) for the kernel, user text, and data. Sixty-four bit applications do not have this space limitation and they are also able to access files that are greater than 2 GB in size.

For 64-bit applications to work with DB2 family databases, they must have access to 64-bit versions of the DB2 application libraries. Although 32- and 64-bit processes can coexist on 64-bit platforms, 32- and 64-bit executables and libraries cannot intermix within the same process.

Not all DB2 features are compatible with 64-bit instances. If you select a 64-bit instance and you previously installed, or selected for installation features that are incompatible, you will receive a warning message before continuing with the instance creation. For more information on 64-bit instances and the compatibility of DB2 features, see the DB2 Administration Guide.

Click Create a DB2 instance to create an instance. If you are creating an instance on a 64-bit platform, you can choose Create a DB2 instance - 32-bit or Create a DB2 instance - 64-bit.

Click Configure new function for an existing instance if you have an existing instance on your computer and you want to set up the instance. You can set up the user accounts the instance will use, communication protocols and the authentication and startup options of the instance. Select the instance you want to set up from the list.

Click Defer this task until after installation is complete if you do not want to create an instance at this time. You can create or set up instances any time after installation by running the DB2 Setup wizard or using the db2isetup command.