Release Notes (FixPak 3)

Back-level DB2 Universal Database server support

If you migrate your DB2 Universal Database client systems to version 8 before you have migrated all of your DB2 Universal Database servers to version 8, several restrictions and limitations apply.

For version 8 clients to work with version 7 servers, you need to configure and enable the use of DRDA^(R) application server capability on the version 7 server. For information on how to do this, refer to the version 7 Installation and Configuration Supplement. You cannot access a DB2 Connect^(TM) Version 7 server from a DB2 Universal Database Version 8 client.

When accessing version 7 servers from version 8 clients, there is no support available for the following:

• The following data types:
  • Large object (LOB) data types
  • User-defined distinct types
  • DATALINK data types

    The DATALINK data type allows for the management of external data found in nonrelational storage. The DATALINK data type references files that physically reside on file systems external to DB2 Universal Database.

• The following security capabilities:
  • Authentication type SERVER_ENCRYPT

    SERVER_ENCRYPT is a method to encrypt a password. The encrypted password is used with the user ID to authenticate the user.

  • Changing passwords

    You are not able to change passwords on the version 7 server from a version 8 client.

• The following connections and communication protocols:
  • Instance requests that require an ATTACH instead of a connection

    ATTACH is not supported from a version 8 client to a version 7 server.

  • Network protocols other than TCP/IP.

    (SNA, NetBIOS, IPX/SPX, and others)

• The following application features and tasks:
  • The DESCRIBE INPUT statement for all applications except ODBC/JDBC

    In order to support version 8 clients running ODBC/JDBC applications that access version 7 servers, a fix for DESCRIBE INPUT support must be applied to all version 7 servers where this type of access is required. This fix is associated with APAR IY30655. Use the "Contacting IBM" information in any DB2 Universal Database documentation set (PDF or HTML) to find out how to get the fix associated with APAR IY30655.

    The DESCRIBE INPUT statement is a performance and usability enhancement that allows an application requestor to obtain a description of input parameter markers in a prepared statement. For a CALL statement, this includes the parameter markers associated with the IN and INOUT parameters for the stored procedure.

  • Two-phase commit

    A version 7 server cannot be used as a transaction manager database when using coordinated transactions that involve version 8 clients, nor can a version 7 server participate in a coordinated transaction where a version 8 server may be the transaction manager database.

  • XA-compliant transaction managers

    An application using a version 8 client cannot use a version 7 server as an XA resource. This includes WebSphere^(R), Microsoft^(R) COM+/MTS, BEA WebLogic, and others that are part of a transaction management arrangement.

  • Monitoring
  • Utilities that can be initiated by a client to a server
  • SQL statements greater than 32 KB in size

There are similar limitations and restrictions for version 8 tools working with version 7 servers.

The following version 8 GUI tools, products, and Centers support only version 8 servers:

• Control Center
• 1Development Center
• Health Center (including the Web version of this center)
• Indoubt Transaction Manager
• Information Catalog Center (including the Web version of this center)
• Journal
• License Center
• Satellite Administration Center
• Spatial Extender
• Task Center
• Tools Settings

The following version 8 tools support version 7 servers (with some restrictions):

• Command Center (including the Web version of this center)

  Saving, importing, and scheduling of scripts are not supported by the Command Center.

• Data Warehouse Center
• Replication Center
• The import/export configuration file function of the Configuration Assistant
• SQL Assist
• Visual Explain

In general, any version 8 tool that is only launched from within the navigation tree of the Control Center, or any details view based on such a tool, will not be available or accessible to version 7 and earlier servers. You should consider using the version 7 tools when working with version 7 or earlier servers.