In this book you use the default instance that was created when DB2 was installed. It is called DB2. At some point, however, you might want to create another instance. For example, you can isolate a development environment from a production environment by defining a different instance for each. To create additional instances, use the instance creation tool (DB2ICRT). See the Quick Beginnings book for your platform.
The instance must be started on the server before you can perform operations on it or its databases. The DB2 Control Center automatically starts the local instance you select if it is not already started. However, you might want to use the Control Center to stop or start a different instance; for example, if you want to start a remote instance as a test, or if you have changed configuration parameters at the instance level. (Instance-level configuration parameters take effect when you start the instance.) The steps are provided below.
Note that at installation time you can select an option to indicate that you want the default DB2 instance started each time the system is started. As well, from the Tools Settings window in the Control Center (select the Tools Settings icon from the Control Center toolbar), you can select to automatically start the local DB2 instance whenever one of the administration tools is started.
To start an instance:
To shut down all activity on an instance:
If any applications are running that affect database integrity, these applications will complete before the instance stops.
At this point, you can shut down the operating system if you need to.