Comprehensive Guide: Migrating from DB2 to Oracle
Introduction
Migrating a database from IBM DB2 to Oracle is a significant undertaking that requires careful plan‑
ning, execution, and validation. This guide provides a comprehensive, step‑by‑step approach to help
you navigate this complex process. It covers various methodologies, including the use of Oracle SQL
Developer, native DB2 and Oracle commands, and third‑party tools, along with essential prerequisites,
best practices, and troubleshooting considerations.
The migration process typically involves several key phases: planning and assessment, schema con‑
version, data migration, testing, and post‑migration activities. Each phase is critical for a successful
transition and minimizing downtime.
This document aims to equip database administrators, developers, and IT managers with the knowl‑
edge and detailed instructions needed to perform a DB2 to Oracle migration effectively. We will delve
into specific commands, tool configurations, and potential challenges you might encounter.
Phase 1: Planning and Assessment
Thorough planning and a comprehensive assessment are the cornerstones of a successful database
migration. This phase involves understanding the scope of the migration, identifying potential chal‑
lenges, and defining a clear roadmap.
1.1. Define Scope and Objectives
・ Identify Databases and Schemas: Clearly list all DB2 databases and specific schemas within
those databases that need to be migrated to Oracle. Determine if a full database migration or a
partial (schema‑level) migration is required.
・ Business Requirements: Understand the business drivers for the migration (e.g., application
compatibility, standardization, performance improvements, cloud adoption). These require‑
ments will influence migration strategy and priorities.
・ Success Criteria: Define clear, measurable success criteria for the migration. This could include
data integrity, performance benchmarks, application functionality, and acceptable downtime.
1.2. Pre‑Migration Assessment
・ Compatibility Analysis:
– DB2 and Oracle Versions: Document the source DB2 version (e.g., DB2 LUW, DB2 for z/OS)
and the target Oracle Database version (e.g., Oracle 19c, Oracle Autonomous Data Ware‑
house). Ensure compatibility between the versions and any migration tools you plan to use.
– Application Compatibility: Assess how applications currently interacting with the DB2
database will be affected. Identify any necessary code changes or reconfigurations for
Oracle compatibility.
– Feature Mapping: Compare DB2 features (e.g., specific data types, stored procedures, trig‑
gers, sequences, security models) with their Oracle equivalents. Identify features that may
not have a direct equivalent or require significant rework.
・ Sizing and Capacity Planning:
– Source Database Size: Determine the size of the DB2 database(s) to be migrated (data, in‑
dexes, LOBs).
– Target Oracle Sizing: Estimate the required storage, memory, and CPU resources for the
target Oracle environment. Consider data growth projections.
・ Effort Estimation and Resource Planning:
– Timeline: Develop a realistic timeline for each phase of the migration.
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– Team and Skills: Identify the team members involved and ensure they have the necessary
skills in DB2, Oracle, and migration tools. Plan for any required training.
– Budget: Estimate the costs associated with the migration, including software licenses, hard‑
ware, consulting services (if any), and potential downtime.
1.3. Choose a Migration Strategy
Several strategies can be employed for DB2 to Oracle migration. The choice depends on factors like
database size, complexity, downtime tolerance, and available resources.
・ Big Bang Migration: Migrate the entire database in a single, scheduled downtime window. Suit‑
able for smaller databases or when a longer downtime is acceptable.
・ Phased Migration: Migrate the database in stages, perhaps by application, schema, or function‑
ality. Reduces risk and allows for iterative testing.
・ Parallel Migration (Zero/Minimal Downtime): Set up the Oracle database in parallel with the
DB2 database and use data synchronization tools (e.g., Oracle GoldenGate) to keep them in sync.
Allows for a gradual cutover with minimal downtime. This is often the most complex and costly
approach.
1.4. Select Migration Tools
・ Oracle SQL Developer: A free graphical tool from Oracle that provides a comprehensive mi‑
gration workbench. It supports connecting to DB2, capturing schema information, converting
schemas to Oracle format, and migrating data. This is often a primary tool for DB2 to Oracle mi‑
grations.
・ Oracle GoldenGate: A comprehensive software package for real‑time data integration and repli‑
cation. Ideal for minimal downtime migrations and heterogeneous environments.
・ Native DB2 and Oracle Utilities:
– DB2 EXPORT command: Used to extract data from DB2 tables into flat files (e.g., CSV, IXF).
– **Oracle SQL*Loader (sqlldr):** A bulk loader utility used to load data from flat files into Ora‑
cle tables.
– Oracle Data Pump (expdp, impdp): While primarily for Oracle‑to‑Oracle migrations, Data
Pump can be used if data is first staged in an intermediary Oracle database.
・ Third‑Party ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) Tools: Tools like Informatica PowerCenter, Talend,
or AWS Glue can be used for complex data transformations during migration.
・ Third‑Party Migration Suites: Specialized tools like Ispirer MnMTK or ESF Database Migration
Toolkit offer automated schema and data migration capabilities.
1.5. Develop a Migration Plan Document
Compile all the information gathered into a detailed migration plan. This document should include:
‑ Scope and objectives ‑ Assessment findings (compatibility, sizing) ‑ Chosen migration strategy and
tools ‑ Detailed step‑by‑step procedures for each phase ‑ Resource allocation and responsibilities ‑ Com‑
munication plan ‑ Testing plan ‑ Rollback plan ‑ Post‑migration validation plan
1.6. Prerequisites Checklist
Before starting the actual migration, ensure the following prerequisites are met:
・ Target Oracle Environment:
– Oracle Database software installed and configured.
– Sufficient storage, memory, and CPU resources allocated.
– Necessary tablespaces created in Oracle.
– Network connectivity established between the DB2 source, Oracle target, and any migration
tool servers.
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・ Source DB2 Environment:
– Appropriate user accounts with necessary privileges (e.g., DATAACCESS, SELECT) on DB2 for
schema and data extraction.
– DB2 client libraries installed on the machine where migration tools (like SQL Developer or
export scripts) will run, if connecting remotely.
– Sufficient disk space for exporting data from DB2.
– A full backup of the DB2 database taken before starting the migration.
・ Migration Tools:
– Oracle SQL Developer installed and configured with the necessary DB2 JDBC drivers (e.g.,
, ). These drivers are typically obtained from the DB2 in‑
stallation or IBM website.
– Other chosen migration tools (ETL, GoldenGate) installed and configured.
・ Permissions and Access:
– DBA privileges or equivalent on the target Oracle database for schema creation and data load‑
ing.
– Access to logs and monitoring tools for both DB2 and Oracle.
・ System Requirements:
– Verify that both source DB2 and target Oracle database versions are supported by the chosen
migration tools and methodologies (as per IBM and Oracle documentation).
– Ensure adequate free space in the database (e.g., IBM documentation suggests at least 30%
free space before migration for some scenarios).
– Ensure a directory (or equivalent) exists if using specific IBM migration scripts.
Phase 2: Schema Migration
Schema migration involves converting the DB2 database schema (tables, views, indexes, stored pro‑
cedures, triggers, sequences, etc.) to an Oracle‑compatible format and creating these objects in the
target Oracle database.
2.1. Schema Extraction from DB2
・ Using Oracle SQL Developer: This is the recommended approach for many scenarios.
1. Create a Connection to DB2: In SQL Developer, configure a third‑party database connec‑
tion to your DB2 database. You will need the DB2 JDBC drivers.
2. Capture Schema: Use the Migration Wizard in SQL Developer to capture the DDL for the DB2
schemas you intend to migrate. SQL Developer will analyze the DB2 objects.
・ Manual DDL Extraction (using DB2 tools):
– utility: This DB2 command‑line utility can generate DDL scripts for database objects.
(Adjust
parameters as needed for specific objects, user, etc.)
2.2. Schema Conversion
This is often the most complex part of the migration due to differences in data types, SQL syntax, and
procedural language constructs.
・ Using Oracle SQL Developer:
1. Convert to Oracle Model: After capturing the DB2 schema, SQL Developer will attempt to
automatically convert it to an Oracle model. It provides a comparison view and highlights
any issues or items needing manual intervention.
2. Data Type Mapping: Review and adjust the automatic data type mappings. Common map‑
pings include: | DB2 Data Type | Oracle Data Type | Notes | |⸻⸻—‑|⸻⸻—–|⸺
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻–| | CHAR(n) | CHAR(n) | | | VARCHAR(n) | VARCHAR2(n)
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| If n > 4000, consider CLOB or NCLOB. | | CLOB | CLOB | | | BLOB | BLOB | | | SMALLINT | NUM‑
BER(5) | | | INTEGER | NUMBER(10) | | | BIGINT | NUMBER(19) | | | DECIMAL(p,s) | NUMBER(p,s) |
| | NUMERIC(p,s) | NUMBER(p,s) | | | REAL | BINARY_FLOAT or FLOAT | Oracle FLOAT is NUMBER
based. BINARY_FLOAT is IEEE. | | DOUBLE PRECISION | BINARY_DOUBLE or FLOAT| | | DATE
| DATE | DB2 DATE is date only. Oracle DATE includes time. Consider TIMESTAMP. | | TIME |
DATE or VARCHAR2(8) | Oracle has no TIME type. Store as DATE (with a dummy date part) or
string. | | TIMESTAMP | TIMESTAMP | Check precision differences. | | XML | XMLTYPE | | | IDEN‑
TITY Columns | IDENTITY Columns (12c+) or Sequence + Trigger (pre‑12c) | SQL Developer
can handle this conversion. | (This table is illustrative; refer to Oracle documentation for the
most current and comprehensive mappings provided by their tools like the DB2‑to‑Oracle
Convertor.)
3. Stored Procedures, Functions, and Triggers: DB2 SQL PL is different from Oracle PL/SQL.
SQL Developer attempts conversion, but significant manual review and rewrite are often nec‑
essary.
– Pay attention to differences in cursors, error handling, transaction control, and built‑in
functions.
4. Sequences: DB2 sequences are generally mapped to Oracle sequences.
5. Views: SQL syntax differences might require manual adjustments.
6. Indexes and Constraints: Review primary keys, foreign keys, unique constraints, and check
constraints. Ensure indexes are appropriately created in Oracle for performance.
・ Manual Conversion: If not using SQL Developer or if it requires significant manual overrides:
– Create DDL scripts for Oracle based on the extracted DB2 DDL.
– Manually translate data types, SQL syntax, and procedural code.
– This requires deep knowledge of both DB2 and Oracle.
2.3. Schema Creation in Oracle
・ Using Oracle SQL Developer:
1. Generate DDL: Once the Oracle model is satisfactory in SQL Developer, generate the DDL
scripts for creating the objects in Oracle.
2. Execute DDL: Run the generated DDL scripts against the target Oracle database. SQL Devel‑
oper can do this directly or you can run the scripts via SQL*Plus or another SQL tool.
・ Manual Execution: If you have manually created Oracle DDL scripts, execute them using
SQL*Plus or your preferred Oracle SQL interface.
2.4. Validation of Schema Migration
・ Object Counts: Compare the number of tables, views, indexes, procedures, etc., in DB2 and Or‑
acle.
・ Object Definitions: Spot‑check definitions of key objects in Oracle against their DB2 counter‑
parts.
・ Error Logs: Review logs from SQL Developer or script execution for any errors during schema
creation.
Phase 3: Data Migration
Once the schema is created in Oracle, the next step is to migrate the actual data from DB2 tables to the
corresponding Oracle tables.
3.1. Data Extraction from DB2
・ Using Oracle SQL Developer (Online Data Move):
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– SQL Developer can perform an online data move directly from DB2 to Oracle after the schema
is set up. This is suitable for smaller to medium‑sized datasets where a direct connection is
feasible.
・ Using DB2 EXPORT Command (Offline/File‑based):
– This is a common method for larger datasets or when a direct online move is not practical.
– The command extracts data from a DB2 table into a file, typically in DEL (delimited
ASCII) or IXF (Integrated Exchange Format).
– Syntax Example (DEL format ‑ CSV like):
* : Output data file.
* : Specifies delimited ASCII format.
* : Specifies character string delimiter (e.g., single
quote) and column delimiter (e.g., comma). Adjust as needed.
* : Log file for the export process.
* : The query to select data for export.
– Handling LOBs: For tables with LOB data, you might need specific options:
* : Specifies the directory for LOB files.
* : Specifies the base name for LOB files (one file per LOB column per
row, or consolidated).
– Considerations for EXPORT:
* Export data for each table separately.
* Ensure sufficient disk space for exported files.
* Character set considerations: Ensure the exported data encoding is compatible with
what Oracle SQL*Loader expects (often UTF‑8).
3.2. Data Loading into Oracle
・ Using Oracle SQL Developer (Online Data Move): As mentioned, SQL Developer can handle
this directly.
・ **Using Oracle SQL*Loader (sqlldr) (Offline/File‑based):**
– SQL*Loader is a powerful bulk loading utility for loading data from external files into Oracle
tables.
– You will need a control file () for each table to describe the format of the input data file
and how it maps to the Oracle table columns.
– Control File Example ():
* : Path to the data file.
* : Loading mode. adds data, deletes existing rows then
loads, truncates the table then loads.
* : Must match the delimiters used
in the DB2 command.
* : Allows trailing columns in the data file to be null if not present.
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* Column list: Maps fields in the data file to table columns, specifying their data types in
the file. For LOBs, special handling might be needed if they were exported to separate
files.
– **Running SQL*Loader:**
* : Oracle username/password and SID/Service Name.
* : Path to the control file.
* : Path to the SQL*Loader log file.
* : Enables direct path load (faster, but with some restrictions, e.g., triggers
might not fire). Conventional path () is slower but more flexible.
* : Number of errors to allow before stopping.
– **SQL*Loader Considerations:**
* Performance: Direct path load is generally faster. Tune (commit frequency) and
parameters.
* Constraints and Triggers: During bulk loads, it’s often recommended to disable trig‑
gers and non‑essential constraints (especially foreign keys if data is loaded out of order)
and re‑enable them after the load. Rebuild indexes after large data loads.
* Character Sets: Ensure the environment variable is set correctly on the client
running SQL*Loader to match the data file encoding.
* LOB Data: Loading LOBs can be complex. SQL*Loader can load LOBs inline (if small
enough and part of the main data file) or from secondary data files referenced in the
primary data file.
・ Using Oracle Data Pump (impdp): If data was first exported from DB2 and then loaded into
an intermediary Oracle staging database (perhaps using SQL*Loader), Data Pump could then be
used to move data from the Oracle staging to the final Oracle target. This is less direct for DB2 to
Oracle.
・ Using ETL Tools: ETL tools can read from DB2 (or exported files) and write to Oracle, offering
transformation capabilities in between.
3.3. Data Validation
Crucial to ensure data integrity after migration.
・ Row Counts: Compare row counts for each table between DB2 and Oracle.
・ Data Sampling: Select a subset of data from key tables and compare values between DB2 and
Oracle.
・ Checksums/Aggregations: Calculate checksums or aggregate functions (SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX)
on numeric columns in both databases and compare the results.
・ Business Logic Tests: Run application‑specific tests or queries that exercise critical business
logic to ensure data behaves as expected.
・ Referential Integrity: Verify that foreign key relationships are intact in Oracle (if they were re‑
enabled).
Phase 4: Testing
Comprehensive testing is essential to ensure the migrated database and applications function correctly
and perform adequately.
4.1. Unit Testing
・ Test individual components, such as specific tables, views, stored procedures, and functions mi‑
grated to Oracle.
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・ Verify data type conversions and basic functionality.
4.2. Integration Testing
・ Test how different parts of the database and applications interact.
・ Ensure data flows correctly between migrated components.
4.3. Performance Testing
・ Execute representative workloads against the Oracle database.
・ Compare performance against benchmarks established on the DB2 system.
・ Identify and tune any performance bottlenecks in Oracle (e.g., SQL queries, indexing, database
parameters).
4.4. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
・ Business users test the applications connected to the migrated Oracle database to ensure they
meet business requirements and function as expected.
4.5. Regression Testing
・ Re‑run existing test suites to ensure no existing functionality has been broken by the migration.
Phase 5: Post‑Migration Activities
After successful testing and go‑live, several activities are necessary to ensure the stability and optimal
performance of the new Oracle environment.
5.1. Go‑Live and Cutover
・ Execute the cutover plan defined during the planning phase.
・ This might involve redirecting applications to the new Oracle database, final data synchronization
(if using a phased or parallel approach), and decommissioning the DB2 database.
5.2. Performance Monitoring and Tuning
・ Continuously monitor the performance of the Oracle database using Oracle Enterprise Manager,
AWR reports, ASH analytics, etc.
・ Tune SQL statements, optimize indexes, and adjust Oracle instance parameters as needed.
5.3. Backup and Recovery Strategy
・ Implement and test a robust backup and recovery strategy for the new Oracle database using
RMAN (Recovery Manager) or other Oracle backup solutions.
5.4. Decommission DB2
・ Once confident in the stability and functionality of the Oracle environment, plan for the decom‑
missioning of the source DB2 database. Ensure all data has been securely migrated and validated,
and all dependencies are removed.
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5.5. Documentation Update
・ Update all relevant system documentation to reflect the new Oracle database environment.
Common Challenges and Best Practices
・ Data Type Mismatches: Thoroughly analyze and map data types. Incorrect mapping can lead
to data truncation or errors.
・ SQL Dialect Differences: DB2 SQL and Oracle SQL have differences. Queries, views, and proce‑
dural code will likely need adjustments.
・ Procedural Code Conversion (SQL PL to PL/SQL): This is often the most time‑consuming part.
Automated tools can help, but manual review and testing are critical.
・ Character Set Conversion: Ensure consistent character set handling to avoid data corruption.
・ Performance Degradation: Proactively tune SQL and database parameters in Oracle. What
worked well in DB2 might not perform optimally in Oracle without adjustments.
・ Large Object (LOB) Migration: Migrating LOBs can be challenging due to their size. Plan for
sufficient network bandwidth and disk space.
・ Downtime Management: Choose a migration strategy that aligns with business downtime tol‑
erance.
・ Thorough Testing: Do not underestimate the importance of comprehensive testing at all stages.
・ Rollback Plan: Always have a well‑tested rollback plan in case of critical issues during migration.
・ Iterative Approach: For complex migrations, consider an iterative approach, migrating and test‑
ing in smaller chunks.
・ Engage Experts: If your team lacks experience, consider engaging Oracle consulting services or
third‑party migration experts.
Conclusion
Migrating from DB2 to Oracle is a multifaceted project that demands meticulous planning, careful ex‑
ecution, and rigorous testing. By following a structured approach, leveraging appropriate tools like
Oracle SQL Developer, and understanding the nuances of both database systems, organizations can
achieve a successful migration. This guide provides a foundational roadmap; always refer to the latest
official Oracle and IBM documentation for specific commands, tool versions, and best practices rele‑
vant to your environment.
References
・ Oracle SQL Developer Documentation (for migration workbench)
・ Oracle SQL*Loader Documentation
・ IBM DB2 EXPORT Command Documentation
・ Oracle Database Documentation (relevant version)
・ Various Oracle white papers and community forums on DB2 to Oracle migration.
(Specific URLs for these resources were accessed during the research phase and should be consulted
for the most up‑to‑date information.)
