BCV5
Fast and Efficient Db2 Data Migrations

BCV5 optimizes Db2 data migrations by providing a faster, more efficient, and more manageable way to copy Db2 data and related structures. It not only copies the physical Db2 data quickly, but also takes care of databases, tablespaces, tables, indexes, and DDL features such as views, triggers, aliases, synonyms, constraints, and more.

BCV5 in action

Watch BCV5 simplify Db2 data migrations and see how the automated copy workflow works in practice.

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Why BCV5

Save time and resources

BCV5 reduces elapsed copy time and resource consumption dramatically. Compared with conventional UNLOAD/LOAD-based processes, the difference can be around 90%.

Automate the complete workflow

BCV5 generates and executes the jobs that extract definitions, transfer them to the target system, rename objects according to rules, and start the target objects when the process is finished.

Keep control over every copy

Once a copy task is defined, it can be run manually or through a job scheduler. Compatibility checks help you reuse or recreate target objects safely.

What BCV5 handles

Object and DDL coverage

BCV5 handles the core Db2 objects of a migration:

databases.

tablespaces.

tables.

indexes.

views, triggers, aliases, synonyms, and constraints.

Automated migration flow

BCV5 uses a consistent sequence for each copy process:

extract object definitions from the source catalog.

transfer the definitions to the target system.

compare source and target objects for compatibility.

copy page sets from source to target Db2.

apply CREATE or DROP and CREATE where required.

start the target objects for end-user access.

The advantage of integrated parallel processing

BCV5 Benefits

Automates Db2 Copying, Migrating, and Refreshing.

Saves 90% CPU resources and run time.

Dramatically reduces labor costs and frees up staff.

BCV5 Features

Flexible rule-based object selection and renaming.

Automatic space allocation.

Copy some, but not all, partitions of a tablespace.

More BCV5 features

Super fast built-in copy engine.

Keep track of where data is copied.

Makes consistent copies without stopping the source.

JCL, DDL, and utilities

Checks and/or generates JCL, DDL, and all required copy commands and utility statements.

Offers data reduction, data masking, network copies, backup, and restore.

Comparison BCV5 with DSN1Copy

BCV5 uses the same basic mechanism as DSN1COPY in that it copies the VSAM clusters Db2 uses to store tablespace and indexspace data. For a single cluster, the speed is comparable.

For entire databases or multiple databases, BCV5 has the advantage of integrated parallel processing with a user-definable number of threads. DSN1COPY would require elaborate job chains and scheduler control to achieve the same effect.

BCV5 also adds a much higher level of automation. It reduces manual comparison work, helps retrieve the required attributes from the catalog, and can define missing target clusters when needed.

BCV5 components

Masking Tool

Masks personally identifiable information during the copy process, or directly in an existing table, with ready-to-use masking algorithms.

In-flight Option

Uses Db2 log information to create consistent copies of tablespaces and indexes while keeping the source available for updates.

Icebox

Restores snapshots into any environment and can either recreate the target structures or drop and recreate them to match the backup.

Remote Copy

Transfers structures and data between isolated systems over TCP/IP, making remote migrations as easy as local copies.

Batch Interface

Defines, modifies, and deletes BCV5 copy tasks entirely through batch jobs and makes it easy to integrate BCV5 with other processes.

Usage Tracker

Stores execution details so you can track copied objects, runtime, and operational history for reporting and governance.

What customers experience

"We didn’t really refresh the entire environment or do a so called boutique refresh for a few tables before getting the products. We had no way to really do it efficiently before. It was all a manual process. We basically used UNLOAD/LOAD to refresh tables and always had to deal with RI issues and do repairs."
- Dale Froriep, Project Manager – Database Administration, Wakefern

"BCV5 is the best Mainframe tool I’ve ever used."
- Lead DBA with over 40 years of experience in private industry and state government

"For the main production environment (8 terabytes) and Peoplesoft (600 gigabytes) using imagecopies, the time required has dropped from usually two plus days to about half a day without all the problems we used to have with RI, catalog renames, repairs and index rebuilds. If we use VSAM sources the time is reduced even more."
- Bob Filo, Db2 DBA, Wakefern

Need a faster Db2 migration workflow?

Discover how BCV5 can simplify and accelerate your copy, refresh, and migration processes.

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BCV5Fast and Efficient Db2 Data Migrations