DB2 for z/OS and Cloud Computing

by Surekha Parekh and Maryela Weihrauch

Highlights

• Highly virtualized server that supports mixed workloads

• Self-serving capabilities in private, membership or hybrid cloud environments

• Divisional support of responsibilities

• Customized implementations to suit your business

• Platform foundation services for cloud use cases

Introduction

What Is Cloud Computing, and What Is Driving This Market Trend?

Cloud computing is a platform that allows on-demand, pay-for-use access to applications or computing resources, as services, from the Internet. The era of cloud computing is a paradigm shift that is occurring as the result of severe market competition and a dramatically changing business environment. Firms are being prompted to adopt various state-of-the-art information solutions to improve their business operations. The drivers for implementing cloud computing services are:

• Improve speed of business

• Reduce costs

• Improve customer communications

• Facilitate mobilization

• Manage the increase in the variety, velocity and type of data

IBM Cloud Computing Is Designed for Business

Many industry-leading companies use IBM cloud computing.

Why? With the IBM cloud, you can unlock more value in your business and in the technology you already have. The cloud can integrate enterprise-grade services and help speed up the way you innovate.

What Is Data as a Service, and What Are the Drivers?

According to the analyst firm Ovum, data as a service (DaaS) is a natural and logical evolution of the as-a-service model. As the volume, variety, and complexity of data continue to increase, the skills that are necessary to master them become proportionally scarcer. Transferring the burden of data sourcing and management, and allowing users to focus on finding value in its use, require little endorsement for many organizations.

DaaS for business empowers businesses to use data as a standalone asset and to connect with partner data to make smarter decisions. IBM® DB2® for z/OS® DaaS is a service in the IBM cloud that is designed to offer variety, scale, and connectivity. It includes cross-channel, cross-device, and known and anonymous data without compromising reliability, availability and security.

DB2 for z/OS

Many of the world's top banks, retailers, and insurance providers store mission-critical operational data in IBM z Systems™ and DB2 for z/OS. DB2 for z/OS and z Systems are designed to handle rapidly changing, diverse, and unpredictable workloads while maximizing resource utilization and investment. Simply put, DB2 for z/OS is among the most scalable, reliable, and cost-effective data servers available.

The mainframe was originally designed to handle a complete range of applications, from small to large, both commercial and scientific. Virtualization of hardware and efficiency of operation have now become significant areas of impact in technology today.

IBM DB2 for z/OS includes a cloud solution that offers organizations the opportunity to remove expensive hardware and move to a responsive, virtual environment (Figure 1).

With DB2 for z/OS on the cloud, you can reduce cost and complexity in your IT infrastructure, simplify compliance, and get the most out of your core asset — your data, without impacting security. By moving to the cloud, you can transform and adapt while limiting risk and cost to achieve agility and efficiency by standardizing best practices.

Many enterprise companies consolidate their IT infrastructure, operating in a service-provider model for their business units. They already implemented methods to automate the delivery of IT solutions, mostly driven by the need to reduce the cost of the IT infrastructure.

IBM z Systems and the IBM products that run on these systems — including DB2 for z/OS — use cloud support. This support provides functionality for dynamic provisioning of IT solutions to potentially replace individual approaches and shift to a self-service mode of operation.

IBM DB2 for z/OS experts have prioritized the seamless transition of the solution to a cloud environment. In response to the growing demand for organizations to move to the cloud, IBM has placed essential focus on the technical support that is required to effect a successful transition.

Although the technical hurdles must be cleared with efficiency and proficiency, a successful transition to the cloud has another essential requirement. That is, use deployment on the cloud as a way to improve the overall consumability of DB2 for z/OS for clients, from usability to functionality to access to performance.

Cloud Configurations

Discussions about cloud often revolve around a public virtual space. Looking closer, other types of cloud configurations are possible:

• The private cloud — IT capabilities are provided as a service, over an intranet, within the enterprise and behind the firewall.

• The hybrid cloud — Internal and external service delivery methods are integrated.

• The public cloud — IT activities and functions are provided as a service over the Internet.

Whether your organization chooses a private, public or hybrid cloud, management and hosting options still remain open.

Selecting a managed private cloud or hosted private cloud depends on your database management strategy and budgetary concerns. Consider both areas when making the best choice for your company.

Enhancements in DB2 for z/OS in support of cloud use cases focus on requirements from enterprises that support private and hybrid cloud configurations.

DB2 for z/OS Cloud Provisioning

DB2 can be provisioned as a software stack, and variations can be accommodated upon installation. The DB2 environment scope can include:

• A DB2 system

• Migration to a new version of a DB2 system

• A database in an existing DB2 system

• Access to an existing database in an existing DB2 system

• A copy of an existing database

Cloud Infrastructure in IBM z Systems

The appropriate cloud infrastructure should be designed to support the division of responsibilities and the ability to customize implementation. The functionality that is needed in support of the public cloud is different from the functionality that is needed in support of a private or hybrid cloud.

Enterprises often...