IDUG EMEA 2026: Full Schedule

9:00am BST

C201 From Db2 First Responder to Emergency Technician - The problem determination master workshop

Sunday September 27, 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm BST

Db2 delivers a wide range of tools for problem determination. Those tools range from the new Log Analysis Capability in IBM Db2 Genius Hub to classical tools that can and should be used for deeper analysis.
As the Db2 community constantly welcomes new database administrators and application developers, an effecient tooling and its use is required for those new community mambers.
The session will share tools and best practices for the first occurrence data capture (FODC) tools available for DBAs and developers. This session will cover the first steps in the process of problem determination and problem source identification (PD/PSI). It provides hands-on and practical examples for the strategy and process to encircle and find problems by asking the right questions.

Speakers

Olaf Depper

Customer Success Engineer, IBM

With over two decades of experience in the IT industry, I specialise in database technologies. Currently serving as a Customer Success Engineer at IBM, I focus on technical pre-sales for IBM Db2, IBM Netezza, IBM Informix, and OEM partners, leveraging my deep technical knowledge and... Read More →

Thomas Rech

Architect Db2 SAP Dev. & Client Adoption Engineering, IBM

Thomas has been working in the Db2 area since 1996. Starting as a Db2 course instructor, he soon moved to the SAP on Db2 environment in 1997. He joined the SAP/IBM Db2 Development Team, followed by a role as technical sales consultant. He led several lighthouse projects like the first... Read More →

Sunday September 27, 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm BST
Maria

Track C, Workshop

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Performance and Monitoring
Audience All
Platform LUW

3:20pm BST

D4 What's New in V12.1 Security

Monday September 28, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm BST

Maria

This session will cover the new features in Db2 12.1 security, covering 12.1.3, 12.1.4 and 12.1.5. Attend to hear about new auditing capabilities, including audit to cloud object storage, and directly to CSV files. You will also learn about new JWT authentication enhancements features online key retrieval. 12.1.5 sees the completion of the reduce file permission feature started in 12.1.2 that really locks down a Db2 instance. You will also hear about new Quantum Safe Crypto support in TLS.

Speakers

Greg Stager

Senior Software Engineer, IBM

Greg Stager is the security architect for Db2 LUW at the IBM Toronto Lab. Greg has been a member of the Db2 security development team since 2000, where he has worked on all aspects of security within Db2, including authentication, authorization, auditing and encryption.

Monday September 28, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm BST
Maria

Track D, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Latest and Features LUW, Modernization in Operations, Security and Compliance
Audience All
Platform LUW

10:20am BST

C6 Zero Downtime Dreams: A Newcomer’s Guide to Db2 Resilience

Tuesday September 29, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST

Porto

High availability and disaster recovery capabilities are essential for safeguarding mission-critical Db2 environments. Yet for many beginners, the variety of available technologies including backup and recovery strategies, clustering solutions, replication tools, and multi-cloud architecture can feel overwhelming. This session provides a clear, approachable introduction to the full Db2 High availability and disaster recovery landscape, based on real-world experiences. We will walk through the fundamentals of Db2 backup and recovery, explain how Db2 HADR works and when it’s the right choice, and demystify clustering frameworks such as Pacemaker and PowerHA. You will also learn where pureScale fits into HA planning, how Q Replication and CDC support active-active or near real-time availability, and how modern cloud and multi-cloud deployment models are reshaping resiliency design. Whether you’re new to Db2 or looking to strengthen your foundational knowledge, this session will give you t

Speakers

Iqbal Goralwalla

Principal Sales Engineer, Triton Consulting Ltd

An IBM Gold Consultant and an IBM Champion for Data Management, Iqbal Goralwalla has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of relational databases on the LUW platform. Iqbal is also a member of IBM’s Technical Advisory Board. Iqbal is a highly experienced Data Management specialist... Read More →

Damir Wilder

Db2 SME and Data Architect, Triton Consulting Ltd

I am a Senior Consultant at Triton Consulting, a UK based company that specializes in Hybrid Data Management, Digital Transformation and DB2 database and Information Management services for the z/OS and Midrange.
My area of expertise is the Midrange platform (predominantly Linux and AIX, both on-prem and Cloud).I have started working as a DB2 DBA in year 2000 on the DB2 version 5.0 and have working experience from that version up to the latest v12.1.I am a certified DB2 v10/v11.1/v11.5 LUW... Read More →

Tuesday September 29, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST
Porto

Track C, Technical Session

Topic Automation, Back to Basics, Database Resiliency
Audience Beginner
Platform LUW

11:30am BST

F7 The Anatomy of Universal Tablespaces

Tuesday September 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

Miragaia

Universal Tablespaces (UTS) have been the strategic tablespace types for Db2 for z/OS since Version 9, effectively rendering legacy tablespaces obsolete. But what truly lies beneath the surface? Why has IBM designated UTS as the future of data storage?
In this session, we will place the Universal Tablespace on the operating table for a surgical comparison against legacy objects. We will examine the internal anatomy of Partition-by-Growth (PBG) and Partition-by-Range (PBR) tablespaces. By dissecting the underlying page structures, space map management, and segmentation logic, we will reveal exactly what makes UTS special.
Join us for a deep dive into the bits and bytes of Db2 storage to understand why the transition to UTS is not just a recommendation, but a necessity for modern database performance and management.

Speakers

Emil Kotrc

Principal Software Architect, Broadcom

Emil is a software architect at Broadcom Mainframe Software, he holds a Ph.D. in Mathematical Engineering, is a member of the IDUG Content Committee, and an IBM Champion since 2015.

Tuesday September 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Database Resiliency
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

2:00pm BST

E8 "No pain - no gain - story of optimizing DELETE purge processing"

Tuesday September 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST

Luis

A critical Db2 for z/OS purge batch is repeatedly abending after hitting CPU limits—without deleting a single row. What followed was a six-month troubleshooting marathon. With the batch spending over 80% of its time in I/O wait and racking up 500 million GETPAGEs on a 2-million-row table, standard tuning simply wasn't enough.This session dives into the gritty reality of complex performance tuning: the dead ends, the false starts, and the eventual breakthroughs. We will walk through the entire investigation—from utilizing monitoring tools to experimenting with UTS conversions and dedicated buffer pools. Finally, we’ll reveal how rethinking our DELETE index strategy, host variables, and leveraging ON DELETE CASCADE NOT ENFORCED transformed a CPU-crushing failure into a consistent, 20-minute purge process. Attendees will leave with a practical, battle-tested methodology for rescuing failing batch processes.

Speakers

Tereza Binarova

Technical Lead zProducts, Kyndryl

Tereza Binarova is a Db2 for z/OS Database Administrator at Kyndryl, where she has worked since 2021. She specializes in performance optimization, concurrency tuning, and complex production problem resolution in enterprise mainframe environments. Her responsibilities include maintenance... Read More →

Tuesday September 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST
Luis

Track E, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, User Stories
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

11:30am BST

C11 DB2 Backup and Recovery - back to the basics

Wednesday September 30, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

Porto

In this presentation we will examine in detail the backup and recovery options available to DBAs for their Db2 environments. How to tune these utilities will be discussed and results will be reviewed from numerous tests. We will see what is the “art of the possible” from using local files, COS, Storage based copies, etc. … We will take a close look at the new version enhancements and how they can improve your backup and recovery experience.

Speakers

Dale McInnis

STSM, Db2 Client Adoption Engineering, IBM

Dale McInnis is an STSM in Db2 development from the IBM Toronto Canada Lab. He has a B.Sc.(CS) from the University of New Brunswick and a Masters ofEngineering(M.Eng) from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing his PhD in computer science. Dale joined IBM in 1988 and... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Porto

Track C, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Utilities
Audience All
Platform LUW

11:30am BST

E11 Exploring Db2 explain facility for the next Gen of Db2 DBAs and using AI to bridge the skills gap.

Wednesday September 30, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

Luis

Poorly written or optimized Db2 SQL queries can use huge amounts of CPU and render applications unusable causing business impact.
This session will cover the different types of access paths the Db2 Optimizes uses to return data for queries and discuss their merits and use cases. We will look at the data written by the DB2 optimizer in the EXPLAIN tables and how we can interpret the data using AI to determine if an SQL is going to be cheap or expensive to run.
The session will cover filter factors and the role of RUNSTATS on access path selection and cover how one can influence the access path.

Speakers

Phill Baker

Software Consultant, BMC

A passionate technologist specializing in BMC mainframe solutions. Twenty plus years experience working as a Database engineer across Db2, SQL Server, MySQL and Oracle. Working on mainframe z/OS, AIX, Linux, UNIX and Windows, supporting large scale data warehouse applications to... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Luis

Track E, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics
Audience Beginner
Platform z/OS

2:00pm BST

F12 Hidden in Plain Sight: Unlocking Db2 for z/OS Recovery Capabilities at NatWest

Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST

Miragaia

In 2025, NatWest undertook a comprehensive reassessment of its Db2 recovery strategy to align with evolving banking regulations and to take advantage of modern platform capabilities. This review aimed to uncover limitations in existing processes, improve operational performance, and strengthen compliance.
As part of this effort, the bank evaluated Db2 utility features and automation tools that could streamline recovery activities, enforce consistent best‑practice standards, and reduce the need for continual manual tuning of utility options. Future resilience was also a priority, with the strategy designed to support NatWest’s planned adoption of Cyber Vault technology.
This session explores the challenges encountered throughout the transformation, the solutions implemented to overcome them, and the best practices that emerged—highlighting how NatWest is modernising its Db2 recovery landscape while preparing for the future.

Speakers

Dhiren Chaudhary

VP of Development and IBM Fellow, IBM Software, NatWest Group

I am a Technical Lead for Db2 at NatWest Group responsible for Db2 strategy and direction at the Bank. I oversee design for Db2 related new applications or changes to existing implementations. I also maintain the various standards related to Design, Performance, Utilities, Naming... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Database Resiliency, User Stories, Utilities
Audience All
Platform z/OS

4:30pm BST

C13 A brief history of a query: from the PreparedStatement to the ResultSet - how queries gets executed in Db2 database?

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST

Porto

To the average application, a database is often treated as a "black box": SQL goes in, and data comes out. But for those tasked with maintaining high-performance systems, "it just works" isn't enough. When a query hangs or a system spikes in CPU, understanding the mechanics "under the hood" is the difference between a quick fix and hours of guesswork.

This presentation takes you on a chronological journey of a query’s lifecycle. We will trace the path of a single PreparedStatement from the moment it leaves a remote application, through the DRDA protocol, and deep into the Db2 engine layers. We will explore:
- The Handshake: How client-server interactions and the SQLDA manage data exchange.
- The Brain: Inside the Query Compiler and Optimizer—how your SQL is transformed into an executable "Plan."
- The Engine Room: How the Runtime components interact with the Buffer Pools, Prefetchers, and Logger to retrieve your data.
- The Return: The mechanics of the ResultSet and how data is effic

Speakers

Kamil Kuduk

Solution Consultant, IBM Poland

Working for IBM Db2 in support role for over 10 years. Last few years in the Advanced Problem Determination team, specializing in performance problems and operating system troubleshooting.

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST
Porto

Track C, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Database Resiliency, Data Movement and Analytics, Performance and Monitoring
Audience Intermediate
Platform LUW

4:30pm BST

F13 Do you think you know pureScale? Come test your knowledge

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST

Miragaia

Db2 pureScale environments are designed for high availability and scalability, but their behavior under load, failure, and recovery is often more nuanced than expected.
In this interactive session, we’ll challenge your understanding of pureScale through a series of real-world scenarios covering cluster services behavior and failure handling, locking, caching, and recovery. You’ll be asked to predict outcomes, diagnose issues, and uncover what really happens under the covers.
Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or relatively new to pureScale, this session will expose common misconceptions, highlight subtle behaviors, and deepen your intuition about how the system operates in production.
Come ready to participate, question what you think you know—and leave with insights you can apply immediately.

Speakers

Christian Garcia-Arellano

STSM, Db2 Senior Architect and Master Inventor, IBM

Christian Garcia-Arellano is STSM and Db2 OLTP Architect at the IBM Toronto Lab, and has a MSc in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. Christian has been working in various DB2 Kernel development areas since 2001. Initially Christian worked on the development of the self... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Database Resiliency
Audience All
Platform LUW

9:00am BST

C15 A Modern Approach to Db2 Backup & Recovery: Snapshot Technology with Cloud Integration

Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am BST

Porto

This session presents a comprehensive approach to database backup and recovery using Snapshot Backup technology integrated with Cloud infrastructure. The solution leverages the Db2 ACS Scripted interface to automate backup operations on Linux systems, enabling efficient data protection strategies for enterprise databases.
The implementation utilizes Linux LVM (Logical Volume Manager) to create consistent point-in-time snapshots of database volumes, ensuring data integrity during backup operations.
By combining snapshot-based backup techniques with cloud object storage capabilities, this approach delivers a robust disaster recovery solution that minimizes backup windows, reduces storage costs, and enhances data availability. The scripted automation through Db2 ACS interface ensures consistent, repeatable backup procedures while maintaining operational efficiency in Linux environments.
This methodology addresses critical requirements for modern database management, including rapid recov

Speakers

Thomas Rech

Architect Db2 SAP Dev. & Client Adoption Engineering, IBM

Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am BST
Porto

Track C, Technical Session

Topic Automation, Back to Basics, Best Practices, Db2 Cloud and Warehouse, Modernization in Operations, Utilities
Audience Intermediate
Platform LUW

9:00am BST

D15 Db2 Upgrade Lessons the Manuals Don’t Teach You

Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am BST

Maria

Db2 upgrades can look straightforward in your favourite manual, but real-world environments often tell a different story. In this session, we share practical user experiences and lessons learned from two recent Db2 upgrade projects that we undertook – moving from Db2 v11.1 to v11.5 on Windows, and from Db2 v11.5 to v12.1.3 on Linux. These upgrades involved very different setups, including single versus multiple instances, standalone databases versus HADR clusters, and the contrasting challenges between Windows and Linux platforms. We will walk through the expected and unexpected issues we encountered, highlight pitfalls not clearly documented in the manuals, and explain the workarounds and strategies that allowed us to complete the upgrades successfully.

Speakers

Iqbal Goralwalla

Principal Sales Engineer, Triton Consulting Ltd

Damir Wilder

Db2 SME and Data Architect, Triton Consulting Ltd

Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am BST
Maria

Track D, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, User Stories
Audience Beginner
Platform LUW

10:20am BST

B16 From Lilliput to Brobdingnag. Compression flavors in Db2 for z/OS

Thursday October 1, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST

Arrabida

There are several flavors of compression in Db2 for z/OS.
You can reduce the space required for a table by using data compression. Compressing the data in a table space can significantly reduce the amount of disk space that is needed to store data and can help improve buffer pool performance.
You can also compress your indexes to significantly reduce the physical space requirements for most indexes.
You can also reduce the size of data in a LOB table space to ensure that the LOB table space and its associated base table space remain available for inserting data.
In this presentation you will learn the different algorithms used for compression in Db2, comparing the cost and benefit of each of them. You will learn how to measure the effect of compression, the space savings but also the effect on applications and utility processing and of course the recent changes in the latest versions and function levels of Db2 for z/OS.

Speakers

Ramon Menendez

Senior Technical Staff Member, BMC Software

Ramon Menendez is a Principal Solution Engineer from BMC Software in Spain, specialized in the DB2 family of products. Started in IT as a QUEL developer and INGRES administrator. Worked for several years for IBM with DB2, mainly in competitive analysis, implementation and performance... Read More →

Thursday October 1, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST
Arrabida

Track B, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Latest and Features z/OS, Performance and Monitoring, Utilities
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

10:20am BST

E16 Getting Started with OpenTelemetry for Db2: Metrics, Traces, and What They Really Mean

Thursday October 1, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST

Luis

OpenTelemetry is becoming a standard for observability,but what does it mean for Db2? This introductory session shows how metrics and traces help you understand what’s really happening in your Db2 workloads. Learn how SQL activity can be exposed as meaningful metrics, and how distributed traces can follow transactions end-to-end into Db2.We focus on practical outcomes: where time is spent, where bottlenecks occur, and whether issues originate in Db2 or upstream systems. Designed for DBAs and performance specialists, this session gives you a clear starting point to understand what these signals really mean, and how to begin using them in your day-to-day work.

Speakers

Rabah Beggar

Software Developer, Broadcom

Product Manager at Broadcom, part of the team shaping the strategy and roadmap for mainframe database and infrastructure tools (IMS & Db2). I focus on simplifying complex operations and enhancing the experience for enterprise customers running critical workloads on the mainframe... Read More →

Thursday October 1, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST
Luis

Track E, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Data Movement and Analytics, Performance and Monitoring, Working with SQL
Audience All
Platform z/OS

11:30am BST

F17 Architecting the Perfect Restore: Mastering Db2 Copies, and Compliance

Thursday October 1, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

Miragaia

Recovery is only as good as the backup that fuels it. While "taking an Image Copy" is a daily routine for every DBA, understanding the internal mechanics of that process is critical for modern data resilience. In this session, we go beyond the syntax to explore the physics of Db2 data protection.We will dissect the copy process showing how the choice of backup type directly dictates recovery performance.

Speakers

Ahmed Hamed

Software Engineer, Broadcom

Ahmed Hamed is a Software Engineer at Broadcom, specializing in the development and mission-critical support of Db2 Backup and Recovery solutions for z/OS. With nine years of experience in the software industry, the last seven are dedicated to the mainframe ecosystem. Ahmed focuses... Read More →