Binding database utilities on DB2 Connect

You must bind the database utilities (import, export, reorg, the Command Line Processor) and DB2^® CLI bind files to each database before they can be used with that database. In a network environment, if you are using multiple clients that run on different operating systems or are at different versions or service levels of DB2, bind the utilities once for each operating system and DB2-version combination.

Binding a utility creates a package, which is an object that includes all of the information that is needed to process specific SQL statements from a single source file.

The bind files are grouped together in different .lst files in the bnd directory, under the installation directory (typically sqllib for Windows^®). Each file is specific to a server.

To bind the utilities and applications to the host or System i™ database server, connect to the host or System i server and use the following example as a template:
```
   connect to dbalias user userid using password    bind path/bnd/@ddcsmvs.lst blocking all sqlerror continue            messages mvs.msg grant public    connect reset
```
where path corresponds to the DB2PATH registry value.
To bind database utilities to a DB2 database, use one of the following methods, depending on your workstation's operating system:
- The Configuration Assistant (CA):
  1. Start the CA.
  2. Select the database to which you want to bind the utilities.
  3. Right click and select Bind.
  4. Select the utility or files to bind.
  5. Add any desired bind options.
  6. Enter a user ID and password to connect to the database. The user ID must have the authority to bind new packages against the database. Click Bind.
- The command line processor:
  1. Change to the bnd directory, which is x:\sqllib\bnd, where x: represents the drive where you installed DB2.
  2. To connect to the database, enter the following commands in the Command Center or the Command Line Processor:
```
   connect to database_alias
```
    where database_alias represents the alias of the database to which you want to connect.
  3. Enter the following commands in the Command Center or the Command Line Processor:
```
   "bind @db2ubind.lst messages bind.msg grant public"
   "bind @db2cli.lst messages clibind.msg grant public"
```
    In this example, bind.msg and clibind.msg are the output message files, and EXECUTE and BINDADD privileges are granted to public.
  4. Reset the connection to the database by entering the following command:
```
   connect reset
```
Note:
1. The db2ubind.lst file contains the list of bind (.bnd) files required to create the packages for the database utilities. The db2cli.lst file contains the list of bind (.bnd) files required to create packages for the DB2 CLI and the DB2 ODBC driver.
2. Binding might take a few minutes to complete.
3. If you have BINDADD authority, the first time you use the DB2 CLI or ODBC driver, the DB2 CLI packages will be bound automatically. If the applications that you are using require binding to the database, you can use the Configuration Assistant's Bind facility, or the command line processor, to perform the bind action.

Parent topic: DB2 Connect

Related reference
BIND command DB2 CLI bind files and package names