DB-IQ

Software Quality Assurance for Db2 on z/OS

DB/IQ tool is designed for DBAs and DevOps to ensure high quality and maintainability of Db2 applications. DB/IQ helps to assess the health of your existing applications, ensures full compliance of code deployed to production and suggests ways to optimize application performance.

Features of DB/IQ

DB/IQ tool verifies if the SQL DB2 applications respect your quality rules

DB/IQ tool analyses and performs checks on all SQL codes. Whether in source form, in a DBRM resulting from the Db2 pre-processor, catalog-based SQL (plans, packages, views, MQTs, triggers etc) or as dynamically executed SQL. According to organisation-defined standards verify the quality of SQL code. More than 350 quality rules are instantly available and can be tailored to match your requirement needs and SLAs. DB/IQ provide developers interactive quality control – the tool can instantly analyse the syntax, semantics, and potential performance issues. It can also identify errors, inconsistencies, and suboptimal query patterns, providing clear explanations and recommended improvements.

Enhances Db2 Application Performance

DB/IQ helps DBAs quickly identify where database and application performance can be improved. It measures the performance of SQL statements. It considers factors like cost, joins, sorting, and access paths. It also measures time taken and CPU usage. It suggests the best indexes for your SQL queries. It can predict how well your application will perform with larger datasets, even without having the actual data.

Index Optimisation

DB/IQ analyses the entire SQL activity to evaluate if existing indexes on Db2 tables are relevant and if other columns would make more efficient indexes.

DB/IQ examines all SQL related to a table, identify whether it is static SQL found in the Db2 catalog or dynamic SQL – queries generated during execution, extracted from traces or the Db2 cache.

Build better DB2 Applications

To reduce the performance problems associated with bad SQL, many organizations adopt best-practice coding rules for all programmers. These rules had to be systematically applied and monitored continuously. DB/IQ applies quality rules for SQL and checks code compliance before it’s put into production.

Features of DB/IQ

DB/IQ tool verifies if the SQL DB2 applications respect your quality rules

DB/IQ tool analyses and performs checks on all SQL codes. Whether in source form, in a DBRM resulting from the Db2 pre-processor, catalog-based SQL (plans, packages, views, MQTs, triggers etc) or as dynamically executed SQL. According to organisation-defined standards verify the quality of SQL code. More than 350 quality rules are instantly available and can be tailored to match your requirement needs and SLAs. DB/IQ provide developers interactive quality control – the tool can instantly analyse the syntax, semantics, and potential performance issues. It can also identify errors, inconsistencies, and suboptimal query patterns, providing clear explanations and recommended improvements.

Enhances Db2 Application Performance

DB/IQ helps DBAs quickly identify where database and application performance can be improved. It measures the performance of SQL statements. It considers factors like cost, joins, sorting, and access paths. It also measures time taken and CPU usage. It suggests the best indexes for your SQL queries. It can predict how well your application will perform with larger datasets, even without having the actual data.

Index Optimisation

DB/IQ analyses the entire SQL activity to evaluate if existing indexes on Db2 tables are relevant and if other columns would make more efficient indexes.

DB/IQ examines all SQL related to a table, identify whether it is static SQL found in the Db2 catalog or dynamic SQL – queries generated during execution, extracted from traces or the Db2 cache.

Build better DB2 Applications

To reduce the performance problems associated with bad SQL, many organizations adopt best-practice coding rules for all programmers. These rules had to be systematically applied and monitored continuously. DB/IQ applies quality rules for SQL and checks code compliance before it’s put into production.

Aspect

Traditional Database Management

DB/IQ

Purpose

General administration, maintenance, and management of databases.

Specialized tool for optimizing SQL performance and indexes for Db2 databases.

Primary Focus

Ensuring database availability, backup, recovery, and data integrity.

Assessing the quality of SQL code, optimizing indexes, and enhancing performance in Db2.

Tasks Involved

Backups, security management, data storage, and user access control.     

Analyzing SQL, identifying efficient index candidates, and applying quality rules.

Tools Used

General tools like SQL Server Management Studio, Oracle Enterprise Manager, or custom scripts.

Specifically designed for Db2 optimization, with over 350 built-in quality rules.

Purpose:

  • Traditional: General administration, maintenance, and management of databases.
  • DB/IQ:Specialized tool for optimizing SQL performance and indexes for Db2 databases.

Primary Focus:

  • Traditional:Ensuring database availability, backup, recovery, and data integrity.
  • DB/IQ: Assessing the quality of SQL code, optimizing indexes, and enhancing performance in Db2.

Tasks Involved:

  • Traditional: Backups, security management, data storage, and user access control.
  • DB/IQ:Analyzing SQL, identifying efficient index candidates, and applying quality rules.

Tools Used:

  • Traditional: General tools like SQL Server Management Studio, Oracle Enterprise Manager, or custom scripts.
  • DB/IQ: Specifically designed for Db2 optimization, with over 350 built-in quality rules.

Industries

DB/IQ is widely used in industries where fast, reliable, and optimized data access is critical. By enhancing SQL performance, managing indexes, and ensuring data reliability, DB/IQ supports high-quality service delivery, efficient operations, and compliance with regulatory requirements across these sectors. 

Banking and financial sectors
Insurance
Healthcare
Retail and eCommerce
Telecommunications
Automotive and Manufacturing
Government and Public Sector

Industries

DB/IQ is widely used in industries where fast, reliable, and optimized data access is critical. By enhancing SQL performance, managing indexes, and ensuring data reliability, DB/IQ supports high-quality service delivery, efficient operations, and compliance with regulatory requirements across these sectors.

Banking, Insurance, and Investment
Healthcare
Retail
Telecommunications
Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Government and Public Sector

Why organisations need DB/IQ tool?

Optimize SQL Performance and Response Times

By automating SQL quality checks, DB/IQ helps organizations avoid performance bottlenecks and ensures that applications run smoothly, especially in data-intensive environments.

Automate SQL Quality Assurance

With over 350 customizable quality rules, DB/IQ ensures that all SQL code meets best practices before it goes into production.

Enhance Database Reliability
and Stability

DB/IQ continuously monitors SQL code and indexes, ensuring they remain relevant as workloads change. This improves database stability and reduces the risk of downtime. By maintaining optimized SQL, DB/IQ helps organizations provide consistent, reliable access to their data.

Optimize SQL Performance and Response Times

By automating SQL quality checks, DB/IQ helps organizations avoid performance bottlenecks and ensures that applications run smoothly, especially in data-intensive environments.

Improve DBA Efficiency
and Productivity

DB/IQ automates repetitive tasks, like SQL analysis and index recommendations, freeing up DBAs to focus on higher-value activities.

Reduce Resource Consumption
and Costs

DB/IQ helps organizations avoid unnecessary hardware upgrades and keeps infrastructure costs under control by maximizing the efficiency of existing resources.

Proactively Detect Issues Before They Impact Production

DB/IQ can identify potential performance or reliability issues during the development stage, preventing problems from affecting production.

Support Scalability and
Business Growth

DB/IQ can simulate application performance with varying data volumes, helping organizations plan for growth without compromising performance.

Align Database Performance
with Business Objectives

DB/IQ allows organizations to prioritize SQL queries based on business value, ensuring that mission-critical applications receive the resources they need.

Why organisations need DB/IQ tool?

Optimize SQL Performance and Response Times

By automating SQL quality checks, DB/IQ helps organizations avoid performance bottlenecks and ensures that applications run smoothly, especially in data-intensive environments.

Automate SQL Quality Assurance

With over 350 customizable quality rules, DB/IQ ensures that all SQL code meets best practices before it goes into production.

Enhance Database Reliability and Stability

DB/IQ continuously monitors SQL code and indexes, ensuring they remain relevant as workloads change. This improves database stability and reduces the risk of downtime. By maintaining optimized SQL, DB/IQ helps organizations provide consistent, reliable access to their data.

Optimize SQL Performance and Response Times

By automating SQL quality checks, DB/IQ helps organizations avoid performance bottlenecks and ensures that applications run smoothly, especially in data-intensive environments.

Improve DBA Efficiency and Productivity

DB/IQ automates repetitive tasks, like SQL analysis and index recommendations, freeing up DBAs to focus on higher-value activities.

Reduce Resource Consumption and Costs

DB/IQ helps organizations avoid unnecessary hardware upgrades and keeps infrastructure costs under control by maximizing the efficiency of existing resources.

Proactively Detect Issues Before They Impact Production

DB/IQ can identify potential performance or reliability issues during the development stage, preventing problems from affecting production.

Support Scalability and Business Growth

DB/IQ can simulate application performance with varying data volumes, helping organizations plan for growth without compromising performance.

Align Database Performance with Business Objectives

DB/IQ allows organizations to prioritize SQL queries based on business value, ensuring that mission-critical applications receive the resources they need.

Benefits of DB/IQ

Enhanced Query Performance

DB/IQ analyses SQL activity and suggests optimized indexing strategies, significantly reducing query execution times. 

Automated Index Management

DB/IQ tool automatically evaluates existing indexes and recommends new index candidates, eliminating the need for manual analysis.

Resource Optimization

It minimises the CPU memory, and I/O usage by optimizing SQL queries and indexes, leading to more efficient use of system resources. 

Improved Database Reliability

It detects and notifies potential performance and reliability issues before it has an impact on production ensuring smoother operations.

Customizable Quality Rules

It offers over 350 built-in quality rules that can be tailored to align with organizational standards and SLAs.

Enhanced Query Performance

DB/IQ analyses SQL activity and suggests optimized indexing strategies, significantly reducing query execution times.

Automated Index Management

DB/IQ tool automatically evaluates existing indexes and recommends new index candidates, eliminating the need for manual analysis.

Resource Optimization

It minimises the CPU memory, and I/O usage by optimizing SQL queries and indexes, leading to more efficient use of system resources.

Improved Database Reliability

It detects and notifies potential performance and reliability issues before it has an impact on production ensuring smoother operations.

Customizable Quality Rules

It offers over 350 built-in quality rules that can be tailored to align with organizational standards and SLAs.

Available DB/IQ products & add-ons

DB/IQ QA

Quality Assurance – base product

DB/IQ WL+

Workload Detector

DB/IQ MA

Migration Aid

DB/IQ QE

QA Eclipse Plugin

DB/IQ IA+

Index Administrator

DB/IQ PM

Package Management

DB/IQ QA+

Quality Assurance plus

Available DB/IQ products & add-ons

DB/IQ QA

Quality Assurance – base product

DB/IQ WL+

Workload Detector

DB/IQ MA

Migration Aid

DB/IQ QE

QA Eclipse Plugin

DB/IQ IA+

Index Administrator

DB/IQ PM

Package Management

DB/IQ QA+

Quality Assurance plus

30-50%

improvement in SQL query performance by optimizing indexes and access paths.

Up to 15-25%

Increase in overall database performance.

%

objective weighting of SQL applications based on execution frequency or business value.

%

readiness for growing data demands.

%

reduction in SQL coding errors.

30-50%

improvement in SQL query performance by optimizing indexes and access paths.

Up to 15-25%

Increase in overall database performance.

%

objective weighting of SQL applications based on execution frequency or business value.

%

readiness for growing data demands.

%

reduction in SQL coding errors.

Ensure the quality and performance of SQL Db2 applications