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.
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SAP Business Data Cloud
Score 8.4 out of 10
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SAP Business Data Cloud is a fully managed SaaS solution that unifies and governs all SAP data and seamlessly connects with third-party data—giving line-of-business leaders context to make even more impactful decisions.
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.
1. Data extraction from Non-SAP environment 2.Seamless integration with SAP Analytics Cloud for reporting purposes, avoiding the need to create complex reporting dashboards 3. Dataproducts across different modules are available for use in the SAP environment 4 . Snowflakes and Databricks offer more flexibility to address complex use cases, including even application of AI.
I think there is room for improvement in SAP Business Data Cloud because, in my opinion, SAP Business Data Cloud has a Need for more customized solutions
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.
In the new analytics world, BDC has been a game changer for SAP Analytics. Extending the SAP data for the usage in Databricks, snow flake, GCP has opened new doors for Analytics . Shift from traditional data warehousing to Business Data fabric adapting to the change in the analytics world is the need of the hour and Sap has managed to pulled it off with BDC
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.
It has business friendly options, governance features and as expected, integration with SAP products. However it feels complex for somebody who is non SAP background and for building lighter reports. There is lot of scope for improvement as compared to in general options available in the market. Otherwise it is best for business cases
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.
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.
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.
support team is generally responsive and knowledgeable, and most issues are addressed within acceptable timelines. Documentation and standard guidance are helpful for common scenarios.
I have done implementation of models in traditional bw and Using BDC. The integration of BDC with S4 hana for creating sap data products is seamless and reduces lot of implementation effort. The intelligent app feature is BDC also eases the implementation effort. If i have to compare the previous world with new BDC, implementation effort is largely saved
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.
BDC is a significant development over Datasphere in the sense that it unifies not only the transaction and olap systems but also other olap systems which may have existed in the landscape. Pce migration and availability of data from and 7.5 or B4 HANA system as a data product is also an exemplary feature.
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 withsmall 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 insmall bursts many times a day!!
