IBM DB2 is one of the leading and highly accepted Relational Database Management System [RDBMS]. It is known for providing industry's best robust database server that ensures superior availability and scalability with unbreakable security. So, IBM DB2 on Z/OS (i.e. DB2 on mainframes) is definitely a combination of planet's best computing and DBMS platform. In this article, we will go in past to unveil the evolution and journey of IBM DB2 on Z/OS.
It all started in 1970, when E.F.Codd (an IBM scientist) issued his historical paper "A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks". He suggested a relational model which can solve the data dependencies problems of existing hierarchical and network DBMS. So, he is also known as "Father of Relational Database". He also developed Alpha language for querying relational database. Although initially his idea was not considered at IBM until other competitor started implementing it.
In 1973, System R prototype project was established at IBM Research to build a relational database management System. E.F.Codd wasn't involved for this project. During research and development of System R, many papers were published which became foundation for both RDBMS and DB2.
In 1974, IBM's Don Chamberlin and Ray Boyce published paper "SEQUEL: A Structured English Query Language." which became basis for SQL Standard definition. In 1975, IBM's Don Chamberlin and M. M. Astrahan published paper "Implementation of structured Query Language." which describes first implementation of SQL as part of System R work. In 1976, System R team published "A System R: Relation Application Database Management." which describes their relational database prototype. In 1976, IBM's Jan Gray published paper "Granularity of lock and Degree of consistency in a Shared Data Base." which describes the formal definition of database transaction and degrees of consistency. In 1977, System R prototype is installed at three IBM customer locations.
In 1978, a database project named EAGLE started which later evolved as DB2. Bob Jackson led systems services and Don Haderle led database services. Don Haderle is also known as "Father of DB2".In 1979, IBM's Dr.Pat Selinger wrote about industry's first relational query optimizer in her paper "Access path selection in a Relational Database Management System.". Finally in 1980, IBM delivers S/38 with an integrated database server based on System R's prototype. In 1981, IBM's E.F.Codd receives the ACM turing award. In 1982, IBM shipped SQL/DS for VSE and VM as first commercially available Relation database with SQL interface based on System R.
On historical day of 7th June 1983, IBM announced its first IBM Database 2 Version 1 Release 1 through a press release "Relational Data Base Management System Announced for Large Enterprises". So, from here journey of DB2 started.
This journey can be glanced as under:-
- 1983 - DB2 for MVS version 1.1 was announced on June 7, 1983.
- 1985 - DB2 for MVS version 1.1 became generally available on April 2, 1985.
- 1986 - DB2 for MVS version 1.2 was announced on February 4, 1986 and became generally available on March 7, 1986.
- 1987 - DB2 for MVS version 1.3 was announced on May 19, 1987 and became generally available on June 26, 1987.
- 1988 - DB2 version 2.1 was announced in April 1988 and became generally available on September 23, 1988.
- 1989 - DB2 version 2.2 was announced on October 4, 1988 and became generally available on September 22, 1989.
- 1992 - DB2 version 2.3 was announced on September 5, 1990 and became generally available on October 25, 1992.
- 1993 - DB2 version 3 premier enterprise data server was announced in November 1993 and became generally available on December 17, 1993.
- 1995 - DB2 for MVS/ESA version 4 was become generally available on November 30, 1995.
- 1997 - DB2 for MVS/ESA version 5 was become generally available on June 27, 1997.
- 1999 - DB2 UDB for OS/360 version 6 was became generally available on June 25, 1999.
- 2001 - DB2 UDB for OS/360 version 7 was became generally available on March 30, 2001.
- 2004 - DB2 for z/OS version 8 was become generally available on March 26, 2004.
- 2007 - DB2 for z/OS version 9 was become generally available on June 16, 2007.
- 2010 - DB2 X for z/OS is on track to become generally available at the end of 2010.
On June 6, 2008 IBM celebrated the 25th anniversary of DB2.Now DB2 product family is an important part of IBM’s Information Management Software Portfolio, which integrates data and enterprise content to leverage information on demand. So let’s hope for more new versions of DB2 which will redefine future of database industries.
