Data Links: Managing Files Using DB2
An IBM Redbooks publication
Note: This is publication is now archived. For reference only.
Abstract
The amount of data that is stored digitally is growing rapidly. The file paradigm is very common for such data types as video, image, text, graphics, and engineering drawings because capture, edit, and delivery tools use the file paradigm for these data types. A large number of applications store, retrieve, and manipulate data in files.
Data Links -- new feature of DB2 Universal Database -- extends the management umbrella of the relational database management system (RDBMS), to data stored in external operating system files as if the data was stored directly in the database. Data Links provides several levels of control over external data such as referential integrity, access control, coordinated backup and recovery, and transaction consistency.
This IBM Redbooks publication explains how to effectively deploy Data Links in a complex environment. First it describes the technical architecture of Data Links, developing applications in a Data Links environment, and planning a deployment of Data Links. Then, it covers administering a Data Links environment, setting up Tivoli Storage Manager as a backup server with Data Links, and implementing high-availability cluster multiprocessing (HACMP) with Data Links. It includes a full chapter on data replication and the replication of Data Linked files. It then describes the Reconcile utility and how the DB2 backup and recovery mechanism supports Data Links. This book concludes by providing some hints and tips for problem determination in a Data Links environment.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Technical architecture
Chapter 3. Application development
Chapter 4. Planning Data Links deployment
Chapter 5. Data Links Manager administration
Chapter 6. Using Tivoli Storage Manager
Chapter 7. High Availability support on AIX
Chapter 8. Creating a new database
Chapter 9. Data replication
Chapter 10. The Reconcile utility
Chapter 11. Recovery
Chapter 12. Garbage collection
Chapter 13. Migrating to DB2 UDB Version 7
Chapter 14. Moving a Data Links file system to a new disk
Chapter 15. Replacing or upgrading a machine
Chapter 16. Problem determination
Appendix A. BNF specifications for DATALINK
Appendix B. Overview of DCE-DFS on AIX
Appendix C. VPM and Data Links
Appendix D. Logging priorities for DLFF and DLFSCM