Moving data from another IBM system
There are a number of methods you can use to move data from another IBM® system to the i5/OS® operating system.
You can use the methods listed here to move data:
- A high-level language program can be written to extract data from another system. A corresponding program for the system can be used to load data.
- For systems supporting other Distributed Relational Database Architecture™ (DRDA®) implementations, you can use SQL functions to move data. For example, with distributed unit of work, you can open a query against the source of the data and, in the same unit of work,
insert the data into a table on the system. For best performance, blocking should be used in the query and a multirow insert should be done at the system.
- Data can be extracted from tables and files on the other system and sent to the i5/OS operating system on tape or over communications lines.
- From a DB2
Universal Database™ for z/OS® database, a sample program called DSNTIAUL, supplied with the database manager, can be used to extract data from files or tables.
- From a DB2
Universal Database Server for VM (SQL/DS™) database, the Database Services Utility portion of the database manager can be used to extract data.
- From both DB2 Universal Database for z/OS and DB2
Universal Database Server for VM databases, Data Extract (DXT™) can be used to extract data. However, DXT handling of null data is not compatible with the Copy File handling of null data described below. Therefore, DXT is not suggested for use in unloading relational data for migration to i5/OS.
- From IMS/DB hierarchical databases, DXT can be used to extract data.
- From a DB2
Universal Database™ for z/OS® database, a sample program called DSNTIAUL, supplied with the database manager, can be used to extract data from files or tables.
- You can use standard tape management techniques to copy data to tape from DB2 Universal Database for z/OS or DB2
Universal Database Server for VM databases. The i5/OS operating system uses the Copy from Tape (CPYFRMTAP) command to load data from tape. The Copy File (CPYF) command, however,
provides special support for migrating data from IBM mainframe computers. CPYF can be used with tape data by the use of the Override with Tape File (OVRTAPF) command. The OVRTAPF command lets you specify special tape-specific parameters which might be necessary when you import data from a system other than i5/OS.
The special CPYF support lets you import nullable data and floating point data. Nullable data can be unloaded from mainframes in such a way that a single-byte flag can be associated with each nullable field. With the *NULLFLAGS option specified for the FMTOPT parameter, the Copy File (CPYF) command can recognize the null flags and ignore the data in the adjacent field on the tape and make the field null in DB2 Universal Database for iSeries™. The other useful FMTOPT parameter value for importing data from IBM mainframes is the *CVTFLOAT value. It allows floating point data stored on tape in S/390® format to be converted to the IEEE format used by DB2® UDB for iSeries.
For more information about using tape devices with the i5/OS operating system, see the Storage solutions topic.
- Data sent over communications lines can be handled through SNADS support on the i5/OS operating system. SNADS support transfers network files for BSCEL and SNUF protocols in addition to the Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (APPC) or Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking® (APPN) protocols used for distributed relational database processing.
- From an MVS™ system, data can be sent to the i5/OS operating system using TSO XMIT functions. The system uses the Work with Network Files (WRKNETF) or Receive Network File (RCVNETF) command to receive a network file.
- From a VM system, data can be sent to the i5/OS operating system using SENDFILE functions. The system uses the Work with Network Files (WRKNETF) or Receive Network File (RCVNETF) command to receive a network file.
- From an MVS™ system, data can be sent to the i5/OS operating system using TSO XMIT functions. The system uses the Work with Network Files (WRKNETF) or Receive Network File (RCVNETF) command to receive a network file.
- From Microsoft® Windows®, client data can be sent to i5/OS using iSeries Access, a separately orderable IBM product.
- From a variety of workstation clients, you can use the DB2 for Linux®, UNIX®,
and Windows IMPORT and EXPORT utilities to copy data to and from i5/OS.
The IMPORT can import data only into existing tables. See the Advanced Functions and Administration on DB2
Universal Database for iSeries, SG24-4249-03
redbook for examples of the IMPORT and EXPORT utilities.
This redbook also provides information about what file types and data formats can be used with the IMPORT and EXPORT utilities.
- Data can also be sent over communications lines that do not support SNADS,
such as asynchronous communications. File transfer support (FTS), a utility that is part of the i5/OS licensed program, can be used to send and receive data. For more information about working with communications and communications files, see ICF Programming
.
Parent topic:
Moving a database to i5/OS from a system other than i5/OS
Related concepts
Distributed data management
Storage solutions
Related reference
Copy From Tape (CPYFRMTAP) command
Copy File (CPYF) command
Override with Database File (OVRDBF) command
Receive Network File (RCVNETF) command
Tips: Designing distributed relational database applications
Work with Network File (WRKNETF) command