Installing and Configuring DB2 Clients

Chapter 12. Working with DB2 Instances

The information in this chapter describes DB2 server instances and how to work with them.

A DB2 instance is a logical database manager environment where you catalog databases and set configuration parameters. On UNIX systems, a user ID is used as a DB2 instance. Depending on your needs, you can create more than one instance. On UNIX systems, a separate user ID is needed for every DB2 instance. You can use multiple DB2 instances to do the following:

• Use one instance for a development environment and another instance for a production environment.

• Tune a database instance for a particular environment.

• Restrict access to sensitive information.

• Control the assignment of SYSADM, SYSCTRL, and SYSMAINT authority for each instance.

• Optimize the database manager configuration for each database instance.

• Limit the impact of an instance crash. In the unlikely event of an instance crash, only one instance is impacted. The other instance may continue to function normally.

However, multiple instances have some minor disadvantages:

• Additional system resources (virtual memory and disk space) are required for each instance.
• More administration is required because you have additional instances to manage.

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