Deployment and administration
of IBM Db2 pureScale
on AIX and Linux
Advanced SIXE training for deploying and operating a Db2 pureScale shared-data cluster on IBM Storage Scale (GPFS). Multiple Db2 instances sharing a filesystem, always available. On-site or remote, in English, Spanish and French.
An always-available database with no single point of failure
Db2 pureScale allows multiple Db2 servers (members) to work simultaneously on a single shared filesystem managed by IBM Storage Scale (GPFS). A central Cluster Caching Facility (CF) coordinates locks and cache across all members. If a node goes down, the service continues on the rest.
The approach is conceptually close to Oracle RAC, but with a Db2-specific architecture where the CF centralises coherence rather than using RAC's distributed Cache Fusion model. IBM's original course (CL801G / CL801GES) was discontinued years ago; this SIXE training replaces it with content updated to Db2 12.
This course covers deployment, configuration and day-to-day operation of a pureScale cluster on AIX and Linux, including the cloud deployment options (Azure and AWS) introduced in Db2 12.
This is the advanced course. It assumes your team already has Db2 LUW administration experience (deployment, backup, security, HADR). If not, the Db2 12 LUW administration course is the starting point.
What your team will be able to do
Every module translates into a concrete skill for deploying and operating a pureScale cluster.
What Db2 12 brings to pureScale
Self-managed pureScale deployment on Azure with RoCE and TCP/IP, using your own licence (BYOL).
Elastic Fabric Adapter on AWS cuts latency by 40% and multiplies interconnect throughput by 2.5×.
DR site with a different member count than the primary: cost-optimised without compromising recovery.
Index reorganisation no longer blocks the table, enabling maintenance without affecting availability.
On Linux, Pacemaker manages the cluster with quorum disk tiebreaker and quorum node fencing (12.1.5). On AIX, the platform-native cluster manager is used.
Socket-based interconnect support on Linux on Z, expanding pureScale deployment options.
Three days, from design to a production cluster
Course content
Three intensive days covering the full lifecycle of a pureScale cluster — from design to operations — followed by a hands-on proof-of-concept (PoC) session.
Sizing members and CFs, network and interconnect requirements, and topology design based on availability goals.
The role of the clustered filesystem in pureScale, configuration and shared storage considerations.
Standing up a pureScale cluster on AIX and Linux, and self-managed cloud deployment on Azure and AWS.
Configuring primary and secondary CFs, global locking and the group buffer pool: how coherence is maintained across members.
Adding and removing members, orderly start and stop, and shared database administration.
Behaviour on member or CF failure, automatic recovery and verifying service continuity.
Zero-downtime tasks such as online index reorg, rolling updates and strategies that preserve cluster availability.
Combining pureScale with HADR, including mixed topologies for a cost-optimised DR site.
Cluster health monitoring, status interpretation and diagnosing performance and interconnect issues.
What the course includes
Labs on real environments
Guided PoC exercises on real AIX and Linux clusters: deploy, scale, trigger failures and recover.
Reference documentation
Key DBA reference guides for use after the course.
Certificate and digital badge
SIXE certificate of completion and a verifiable Credly badge for your LinkedIn profile.
Direct access to the instructor
Questions answered during the course by consultants who run Db2 in real projects.
Who this course is for
DBAs with Db2 LUW experience
DBAs already managing Db2 LUW who need to move to shared-data environments with pureScale.
Infrastructure teams
Systems and infrastructure administrators who will deploy or support a pureScale cluster with Storage Scale.
High-availability architects
Professionals designing high-availability data architectures who are evaluating pureScale against alternatives.
Prerequisite: Db2 LUW administration experience (deployment, backup, security, HADR). If your team doesn't have it, the Db2 12 LUW administration course is the starting point.
Training delivered by consultants who work with Db2
Our instructors are IBM Champions
The IBM Champion designation recognises deep technical expertise and sustained contribution to the IBM community. Your team learns from professionals who run Db2 day in, day out on real projects.
Does your team also need LUW administration fundamentals?
If the team hasn't mastered Db2 12 LUW administration yet, it's best to start there before tackling pureScale. Both can also be combined into a tailored learning track.
IBM Db2 12 Administration for AIX and Linux
Deployment, backup, security, performance and high availability with HADR. The foundation your team needs before pureScale.
View the Db2 12 LUW courseLUW + pureScale in a single course
If your team needs both, we design a tailored combined track — Db2 12 administration plus pureScale — optimising schedule and budget.
Request the combined trackBefore enrolling your team
Does this replace the CL801G / CL801GES course?
CL801G and CL801GES courses were discontinued years ago. This SIXE training replaces them with content updated to Db2 12, focused on AIX and Linux.Does it cover pureScale changes in Db2 12?
Is the course remote or on-site?
What prior knowledge does the team need?
How does it differ from Oracle RAC?
Can I combine this course with the LUW one?
Get your team ready for pureScale
We put together a proposal with syllabus, format and dates for deploying and managing Db2 pureScale in your environment.
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