Upgrading to a new release of DB2® database products might require upgrading your DB2 environment components if you want them to run on the new release.
Your DB2 environment has several components such as DB2 servers, DB2 clients, database applications, and routines. Upgrading these components requires an understanding of DB2 database products and their upgrade concepts. For example, if you have an existing DB2 environment with DB2 Version 9.5, Version 9.7, or DB2 Version 9.8 copies and you want to upgrade them to DB2 Version 10.1, then you must upgrade your DB2 environment.
The upgrade process consists of all the tasks that you must perform to have your DB2 environment running successfully on a new release. The upgrade of each of the components in your DB2 environment requires that you perform different tasks:
DB2 servers upgrade involves upgrading your existing instances and databases so that they can run in the new release.
Clients upgrade involves upgrading your client instances to keep the configuration of your existing clients.
Database applications and routines upgrade involves testing them in the new release and modifying them only when you must support changes in this new release.
Upgrade overviews define upgrade concepts and describe the upgrade process for a component.
Upgrade essentials include the details about upgrade support, restrictions and best practices that you must know to plan your upgrade strategy.
Pre-upgrade tasks describe all the preparation tasks that you must perform before upgrade.
Upgrade tasks describe step by step the basic upgrade process for a component and how to upgrade DB2 environment components with special characteristics.
Post-upgrade tasks describe all the tasks that you must perform after upgrade to have your DB2 server running at the optimum level.
In the upgrade tasks, the term pre-DB2 Version 10.1 releases refers to DB2 Version 9.5, DB2 Version 9.7, or DB2 Version 9.8.