This IBM Redbooks publication documents our experiences in building very large databases (VLDBs) for Business Intelligence (BI) applications through case studies with customers’ real-life data, as well as from our work in the laboratory and the Teraplex Center. This book replaces DB2 for OS/390 V5 Terabyte Database: Design and Build Experience, SG24-2072.

This book describes the general considerations for each area of data warehousing and the approaches for addressing these considerations. Based on the results of case studies, it explains the various methods used and summarizes the pros and cons of each.

This book is written for anyone who is working on very large databases on OS/390 for Business Intelligence applications, including data warehouse architects, database administrators, performance administrators for data warehouses, storage administrators and system programmers who support data warehouses, and DB2 support teams.

Some knowledge of data warehouse concepts, DB2 for OS/390 V5 or later, and OS/390 V2.5 or later is assumed.

Chapter 1. Introduction to VLDB

Chapter 2. Database design for VLDB

Chapter 3. Data warehouse population

Chapter 4. VLDB utility maintenance

Chapter 5. Data mart on S/390

Chapter 6. End-user access methodologies

Chapter 7. Workload management in data warehouse environment

Chapter 8. Scalability

Chapter 9. S/390 strengths for BI applications

Appendix A. System settings

Appendix B. Query information

Appendix C. Case study test scenario

Appendix D. Introduction to piping

Appendix E. Reasons for choosing S/390