IDUG NA 2026

In the world of Db2 for z/OS, SQL performance tuning is one of the most critical and often most complex of DBA tasks. While static SQL has long been the standing order for traditional mainframe applications, the growing use of dynamic SQL - driven by modern applications, APIs, and distributed workloads - has changed the tuning game.Dynamic SQL’s agility and flexibility introduces a new layer of complexity that can hinder performance if not well managed and cause inconsistent performance and even be unpredictable. Dynamic SQL is becoming more prevalent as agile development and hybrid workloads become the norm. But with the flexibility of dynamic SQL comes responsibility - DBAs must adapt and develop new ways of monitoring and tuning dynamic workloads in real-time and across the application lifecycle. Colin Oakhill will share a proven approach to bring order to chaos by giving DBAs the visibility, control, and insight they need to ensure that dynamic SQL performs efficiently and predictably. Just like long-time DBAs are used to with static SQL.

As BLU workloads scale, maintaining optimal insert performance, log efficiency, and data organization becomes increasingly important. This session addresses these challenges through defragmentation, data clustering, and reduced logging. We will examine internal storage behavior and share proven techniques to reclaim space, reduce log overhead, and sustain high-throughput workloads.

This session is a deep dive into 3 new Db2 12.1 security features, Reduce file permissions, RCAC mask at read enhancements, and defining a Trusted Context using the new trust procedure and client callbacks. This will be a face paced session offering practical details on how to make use of these new features in more depth than a what's new session can cover. Reduced file permissions address the common concern of everyone having access to the db2diag.log (and others). Mask at read offers an alternative masking behaviour with fundamental changes to SQL behaviour. And Trust Procedures allow custom definitions of trust for determining a trusted connection.

As enterprise security threats evolve, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become essential for safeguarding access to mission-critical systems like Db2 for z/OS. This session provides an inside look at a day in the life of a Db2 for z/OS administrator navigating an MFA-enabled environment. From securely logging in and managing authentication challenges to executing routine database tasks with enhanced security controls, we’ll examine how MFA impacts daily workflows, troubleshooting, and compliance requirements. Attendees will gain practical insights into best practices, potential challenges, and strategies for balancing security with productivity. Additionally, we’ll explore a range of access methods, from traditional TSO to modern tools like Db2 for z/OS Administration Foundation, SQL Tuning Services, and the Db2 for z/OS Developer Extension for VS Code.

Db2 13 for z/OS became available in 2022, and via the continuous delivery model, IBM has continued to deliver a wealth of new capabilities and enhancements. The latest features offer numerous benefits, including resource savings, enhanced security, and simplified administration. In this session we will walk through my personal “top 5”, favourite features delivered in Db2 13. Join me to hear about these new features, including utility enhancements, monitoring connections and more, and learn how you can exploit them to get the most out of this version of Db2 for z/OS.

Managing complex Db2 LUW environments requires moving past standard practices to achieve zero-downtime availability and extreme performance. This session offers a technical blueprint for executing high-stakes cross-platform migrations from legacy AIX systems to modern Linux on Power10 and AWS/RDS cloud infrastructures. We will analyze the tuning parameters required to stabilize environments by handling 180,000 SQL statements per second, 3 TB of daily log changes, and 10,000 concurrent connections. Attendees will learn to optimize OS, storage, and network layers under strict HADR, Audits and encryption requirements. Finally, we will demonstrate how to automate database fleets using Python and leverage Db2 12.1’s native AI and Genius Hub for agentic self-healing.

This presentation will examine several key methods to configure Db2 HADR for optimal performance. We will look at the most important configuration / registry settings and discuss how they impact performance. We will also examine how to determine where the performance bottlenecks exists.