7 DB2 Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

While working as Vice President of Professional Services at Database-GUYS, Inc., Philip K. Gunning noticed a gap in comprehensive resources for DB2 Version 8 users. This book captures his deep expertise, offering hundreds of tested techniques to enhance DB2's availability, manageability, and performance across Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. You’ll find detailed explanations of DB2’s new Wizards, Advisors, and XML support, with practical insights into maximizing scalability and ROI. If you’re responsible for DB2 administration or development, this guide provides a grounded, thorough reference to elevate your mastery of the platform's key enhancements.

Gabrielle Wiorkowski's decades of hands-on experience with DB2 since 1984 shaped this detailed guide focused on performance optimization in DB2 for z/OS and OS/390 environments. You’ll find clear explanations on designing high-performing SQL queries, building effective indexes, and managing concurrency—all crucial to minimizing CPU and I/O costs. The book follows an application system’s lifecycle, from object creation to utility use, with real examples including timing comparisons to illustrate practical gains. Whether you’re an experienced DB2 professional looking to deepen your tuning skills or newer to DB2 seeking structured knowledge, this resource balances depth with accessibility without unnecessary jargon.

This tailored book explores the intricate world of DB2 management and optimization with a focus that matches your unique background and goals. It delves into essential DB2 concepts, performance tuning, and advanced administration techniques, presenting them through a personalized lens that addresses your specific needs. The content reveals how to optimize database environments, manage resources efficiently, and troubleshoot complex issues, all aligned with your skill level and interests. By concentrating on your individual objectives, this book offers a clear path through the complexities of DB2, making expert knowledge accessible and relevant.

Kit Man Cheung’s decades of hands-on experience as an IBM DB2 specialist shapes this guide tailored for both developers and administrators aiming to leverage DB2 Express efficiently. The book breaks down complex database concepts into manageable parts, covering application design, Visual Basic .NET and Java integration, security, deployment, and performance tuning. You gain practical insight into using DB2 Express’ graphical tools and its autonomic capabilities like self-tuning and self-healing, which are emphasized throughout chapters 3 to 8. Whether you’re managing day-to-day operations or optimizing application performance, this resource offers focused expertise that benefits IT professionals working with DB2 platforms.

Drawing from his extensive background in programming education, Steve Eckols crafted this book specifically for COBOL developers venturing into DB2. You won't just find syntax here; the book explains the underlying mechanics of DB2, helping you grasp why certain coding structures behave the way they do. For example, the chapters on embedded SQL (especially chapters 4 and 5) provide detailed walkthroughs that make transitioning from COBOL to DB2 programming more intuitive. If you're aiming to write DB2 programs efficiently with a solid conceptual foundation, this book gives you both the how and the why in a clear, approachable manner.

Drawing from deep technical expertise in database management, Jeff D. Vowell addresses the critical question of how to effectively implement and utilize DB2 in varied environments. This book guides you through practical challenges, from installation to maximizing DB2's capabilities for current and future demands. You’ll gain insight into configuring DB2 and related software, understanding nuanced technical details that impact performance and scalability. While it’s tailored for IT professionals and database administrators, anyone responsible for deploying or managing DB2 systems will find valuable strategies here, particularly those who need a grounded, methodical approach rather than abstract theory.

This tailored DB2 performance book explores targeted tuning actions designed specifically for your DB2 environment and skill level. It covers essential performance concepts, practical optimization techniques, and troubleshooting methods to improve throughput and reduce latency. By focusing on your unique background and goals, the book reveals a clear pathway through complex DB2 performance challenges. It examines key areas such as buffer pool management, SQL tuning, and workload balancing, providing a personalized learning experience that matches your interests and accelerates your expertise. This approach lets you apply powerful improvements confidently and efficiently, turning expert knowledge into actionable DB2 enhancements tailored just for you.

Roger Sanders, with over 35 years in database design and development and a pivotal role in creating 25 Db2 certification exams, offers a focused guide tailored for IBM's DB2 10.1 Fundamentals certification. You’ll navigate through key exam topics like security, data concurrency, SQL querying, and managing database objects, culminating in 150 practice questions that sharpen your understanding by explaining both correct and incorrect choices. This book suits those aiming to pass IBM’s certification with confidence, providing a clear roadmap rather than abstract theory. If your goal is hands-on mastery of Db2 concepts directly aligned with the exam, Sanders delivers an authoritative and structured approach that’s hard to match.

What if everything you knew about preparing for the DB2 C2090-313 exam was incomplete? Robert Wingate, drawing on over 30 years of IBM mainframe and distributed programming experience, offers a focused guide that not only covers exam objectives but immerses you in practical scenarios reflective of the DB2 11 environment. You’ll find detailed instruction paired with examples and Q&A sections that sharpen your readiness, especially for mastering the roles of an IBM Certified Application Developer. This book suits those targeting certification with hands-on exposure, rather than casual learners seeking broad DB2 theory.