Using Db2 to store data in uploaded files and data sets

Data in uploaded files and data sets can now be stored as relational tables in a supported Db2 instance. A Data sets store connection to Db2 must be defined in Cognos® Analytics to enable this functionality.

In previous versions of Cognos Analytics, data in uploaded files and data sets was always stored as Parquet files in a Content Manager database or an external Content Manager store. This storage option is still available, and is the default option when there is no Data sets store connection that can be used.

For more information, see Data storage options for uploaded files and data sets.

Supported Db2 versions and products

The Db2 instance that can be used with the Data sets store connections must be configured for analytic workloads. For more information, see Creating and setting up your database configuration for analytic workloads .

The Db2 versions that can be used with the Data sets store connections are the same as the Db2 versions supported by Cognos Analytics for query databases. For more information, see supported software environments (www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6966712).

Db2 Z, Db2 I, or other products that are based on the Db2 common engine, such as Big SQL, are not supported.

For more information, see Storing data from uploaded files and data sets in Db2.

Creating a data sets store connection

To use the new storage option, create a Data sets store connection to a supported version of a Db2 instance.

Create a data sets server

In the following example, My data connection is a Data sets store connection that was created in Manage > Data server connections.

Data location - connection

For more information, see Creating a data sets store connection.

Upgrading from previous versions of Cognos Analytics

The storage location of uploaded files and data sets depends on whether they are created before or after a Db2 Data sets store connection is defined.

Before the Db2 Data sets store connection is defined

Existing uploaded files and data sets continue to be stored as Parquet files, even after the Db2 Data sets store connection is defined. No automatic conversion to Db2 tables is provided. Append, refresh and deployment imports continue to use Parquet, and queries performed by the dynamic query mode are sent to the Compute Service.

After the Db2 Data sets store connection is defined

After a Data sets store connection is defined to use Db2, any new file upload or new dataset you define and execute uses Db2, and is not stored as a Parquet file. Queries performed by the dynamic query mode are sent to Db2.

To copy data from Parquet to Db2, you can create a new data set in Cognos Analytics, using the Parquet data as the input. The new data set will automatically be stored in Db2. Be aware that you may have more columns, data types, or data type precision that exceeds the Db2 limits. For more information, see Data types used to store data from uploaded files and data sets in Db2.

Cognos Analytics on Cloud offerings

If you are a Cognos Analytics on Cloud customer who wants to use the new storage option for uploaded files and data sets, you must purchase the corresponding part to have this feature enabled.

The database will be managed and configured by the IBM SRE team.

If you do not purchase the corresponding part, you can continue to store your uploaded files and data sets in Parquet files and use the Compute service.