Db2 vs. IBM Z

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Db2
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
DB2 is a family of relational database software solutions offered by IBM. It includes standard Db2 and Db2 Warehouse editions, either deployable on-cloud, or on-premise.
$0
IBM Z
Score 9.3 out of 10
N/A
IBM Z is the company's mainframe enterprise server solution product line.N/A
Pricing
Db2IBM Z
Editions & Modules
Db2 on Cloud Lite
$0
Db2 on Cloud Standard
$99
per month
Db2 Warehouse on Cloud Flex One
$898
per month
Db2 on Cloud Enterprise
$946
per month
Db2 Warehouse on Cloud Flex for AWS
2,957
per month
Db2 Warehouse on Cloud Flex
$3,451
per month
Db2 Warehouse on Cloud Flex Performance
13,651
per month
Db2 Warehouse on Cloud Flex Performance for AWS
13,651
per month
Db2 Standard Edition
Contact Sales
Db2 Advanced Edition
Contact Sales
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Db2IBM Z
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalOptional
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Db2IBM Z
Considered Both Products
Db2

No answer on this topic

IBM Z
Chose IBM Z
These are not that effective when there is a lot of data, and the outage is more in other products as compared to the IBM Z. The processing Capabilities of the Z OS are much better than these products since, in my organization, the processing data is huge, and the IBM Z is best …
Chose IBM Z
IBM/IMS Tools compare favorably in use and performance against other vendors such as BMC. We support both within all our mainframe/zOS products so our users have the flexibility to choose the tools that work best for them and their users and budgets.
Chose IBM Z
IBM Z is the winner when dealing with enormous transactions In terms of security as well IBM Z is a better option compared to other alternatives Excellent is dealing with large batch processing in multiple environments.
Chose IBM Z
ICP from IBM is one product that excels on System Z. The technology called secured LPAR we are able to encrypt not only the data but the whole machine so that it can not be broken into. Also, ICP product is the same as it is for any other platform so developers are able to pick …
Chose IBM Z
I have been working with Z Enterprise Servers for 30 years and they have been called many different things over those years: mainframe being the name I am still most comfortable with. I choose to work with them because of their high availability, transaction processing …
Best Alternatives
Db2IBM Z
Small Businesses
InterSystems IRIS
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Score 7.9 out of 10
Dell PowerEdge
Dell PowerEdge
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
InterSystems IRIS
InterSystems IRIS
Score 7.9 out of 10
HPE ProLiant DL
HPE ProLiant DL
Score 6.1 out of 10
Enterprises
SAP IQ
SAP IQ
Score 10.0 out of 10
IBM Power servers
IBM Power servers
Score 9.0 out of 10
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User Ratings
Db2IBM Z
Likelihood to Recommend
8.6
(93 ratings)
9.6
(42 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
7.9
(12 ratings)
10.0
(3 ratings)
Usability
9.5
(7 ratings)
4.0
(2 ratings)
Availability
8.8
(64 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Performance
9.1
(12 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
8.6
(6 ratings)
9.9
(3 ratings)
In-Person Training
8.2
(1 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.3
(3 ratings)
8.0
(2 ratings)
Configurability
9.1
(2 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Ease of integration
8.7
(2 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.7
(64 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Professional Services
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
8.7
(2 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
8.7
(2 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Db2IBM Z
Likelihood to Recommend
IBM
I have primarily used it as the basis for a SIS - but I have migrated more than a few systems from there database systems to DB2 (Filemaker, MySQL, etc.). DB2 does have a better structural approach, as opposed to Filemaker, which allows for more data consistency, but this can also lead to an inflexibility that can sometimes be counterintuitive when attempting to compensate for the flexibility of the work environment as Schools tend to have an all in one approach.
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IBM
Most of the time, server utilization is reliable and stable during peak times. Truly amazing, this product offers a lot and gets it done in no time without any confusion.It is reliable, too accurate and the performance is top-notch. It seems to be competitive in all virtual energy systems and its connectivity is also good. It's available at a low cost, but it's enough to have as many low-cost, more efficient systems as possible. It's a minor thing, but very rarely, it can cause work interruptions while it can get stuck due to more frequent use such as restless work. These power servers are very efficient and really help when things go wrong. I am using this product to retrieve data much faster.
Read full review
Pros
IBM
  • While we query a large set of data, the results are generally available within a minute or so.
  • Always reliable - I have never experienced an application going down.
  • It is easy to write queries and find tables and columns.
  • We can log in smoothly without any headaches.
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IBM
  • Virtualization for Scale-Out and Scale-Up in the same footprint
  • Security for different workloads: Large Confidential Computing and lightweight Secure Execution
  • Performance is a true game changer: extreme throughput powered by amazingly huge caches.
  • The one and only FIPS 140-2 Level 4 HSM on this planet
  • Quantum Safe Encryption NOW!
  • AI infusion to every transaction
Read full review
Cons
IBM
  • Learning curve for DB resources - Improvements to UI or native command line built-ins can help with increasing efficiencies for DB resources
  • Better resource utilization monitoring and recommendations
  • Continue to adopt support for modern frameworks and languages making it easier for organizations to see making Db2 the easy first choice
Read full review
IBM
  • It would be good if IBM could demonstrate more use cases for Z to potential clients
  • A migration strategy from Open Systems to Z would be helpful
  • Any additional marketing to could explain the benefits of Z/Linux, especially now that RedHat is in the mix.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
IBM
The DB2 database is a solid option for our school. We have been on this journey now for 3-4 years so we are still adapting to what it can do. We will renew our use of DB2 because we don’t see. Major need to change. Also, changing a main database in a school environment is a major project, so we’ll avoid that if possible.
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IBM
The IBM Z mainframe capabilities are unmatched for cloud readiness and optimization the learning capabilities are matched perfectly with Watson and the expandability of the cloud makes it a perfect choice.
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Usability
IBM
You have to be well versed in using the technology, not only from a GUI interface but from a command line interface to successfully use this software to its fullest.
Read full review
IBM
Once you learn how, it easy. It's different than most other systems
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Reliability and Availability
IBM
I have never had DB2 go down unexpectedly. It just works solidly every day. When I look at the logs, sometimes DB2 has figured out there was a need to build an index. Instead of waiting for me to do it, the database automatically created the index for me. At my current company, we have had zero issues for the past 8 years. We have upgrade the server 3 times and upgraded the OS each time and the only thing we saw was that DB2 got better and faster. It is simply amazing.
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IBM
The Z in IBM Z is for zero down time. If you configure your system according to IBM's best practices, you can achieve zero downtime
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Performance
IBM
The performances are exceptional if you take care to maintain the database. It is a very powerful tool and at the same time very easy to use. In our installation, we expect a DB machine on the mainframe with access to the database through ODBC connectors directly from branch servers, with fabulous end users experience.
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IBM
Performance is a major part when you configure your system. IBM has many tools to study your system and suggest the appropriate configuration. With the right contract, you can add processing power dynamically and remove it when no longer needed
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Support Rating
IBM
Easily the best product support team. :) Whenever we have questions, they have answered those in a timely manner and we like how they go above and beyond to help.
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IBM
Support is usually superb, only occasionally dropping to very good. We participate in some of the CD (Continuous Delivery) aspects of z/OS, IMS, MQ, and DB2.
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In-Person Training
IBM
the material was very clear and all subjects have been handled
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IBM
Over my 33 years on this platform, I attended many in person courses, conferences, and other training opportunities.
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Online Training
IBM
No answers on this topic
IBM
There are many online courses from both IBM and other vendors. Most are great. All of the documentation is available online.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
IBM
db2 work well with the application, also the replication tool can keep it up
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IBM
I do not personally have any key insights regarding implementation of IBM Z Enterprise Servers as that is what our mainframe architects do.
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Alternatives Considered
IBM
DB2 was more scalable and easily configurable than other products we evaluated and short listed in terms of functionality and pricing. IBM also had a good demo on premise and provided us a sandbox experience to test out and play with the product and DB2 at that time came out better than other similar products.
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IBM
IBM Z is the best storage solution as it provides the best in class data protection with the cryptographic hardware keys, no loss in data while migration, and a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for develops to understand and has less of a learning curve. This makes it well above the competition.
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Scalability
IBM
By
using DB2 only to support my IzPCA activities, my knowledge here
is somewhat limited.

Anyway,
from what I was able to understand, DB2 is extremely scallable.

Maybe the information below could serve as an example of scalability.
Customer have an huge mainframe environment, 13x z15 CECs, around
80 LPARs, and maybe more than 50 Sysplexes (I am not totally sure about this
last figure...)

Today
we have 7 IzPCA
databases, each one in a distinct Syplex.

Plans
are underway to have, at the end, an small LPAR, with only one DB2 sub-system,
and with only one database, then transmit the data from a lot of other LPARs,
and then process all the data in this only one database.



The
IzPCA collect process (read the data received, manipulate it, and insert rows
in the tables) today is a huge process, demanding many elapsed
hours, and lots of CPU.

Almost
100% of the tables are PBR type, insert jobs run in parallel, but in 4 of the 7
database, it is a really a huge and long process.



Combining
the INSERTs loads from the 7 databases in only one will be impossible.......,,,,



But,
IzPCA recently introduced a new feature, called "Continuous
Collector"
.
By
using that feature, small amounts of data will be transmited to the central
LPAR at every 5 minutes (or even less), processed immediately,in
a short period of time, and with small use of CPU,
instead of one or two transmissions by day, of very large amounts of data and
the corresponding collect jobs occurring only once or twice a day, with long
elapsed times, and huge comsumption of CPU



I
suspect the total CPU seconds consumed will be more or less the same in
both cases, but in the new method it will occur in small bursts
many times a day!!
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IBM
If you need more processing power, just add more CPU's or memory. The largest system can have close to 200 CPU's and 40 TB of memory. If that is not enough, you can add more physical computers, and connect them using a sysplex
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Return on Investment
IBM
  • There is great value the solution brings when it comes to building stored procedures and ongoing tasks that allows our team to streamlines processes.
  • The platform has allowed us to see value by providing a solution for data structuring and data hygiene which prevents deduplication of data and lowers costs
  • With the integration capabilities it allows our analytics team to more seamlessly create highly visible dashboards that see directly into the data and pinpoint areas that need attention.
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IBM
  • With IBM Z we really feel a different positive impact on our company. A trustworthy and the most powerful place we have ever.
  • A unique computing platform that helps a lot for the progress of our company.
  • It keeps our data save, encrypted.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Db2 Screenshots

Screenshot of Db2 - Data sharingScreenshot of Db2 - Machine LearningScreenshot of Db2 - Real time insights