An IBM DB2 Architecture Using GCP

Target audience: Mid to Highly skilled Linux, DB2 and GCP admins.

Currently IBM DB2 is not one of the choices for an RDBS in GCP. This article describes how to stand up a simple HA DB2 instance using GCP components. This configuration is intended to be used as a POC or POT demonstration of DB2.

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Again high-level design and the details will need to be worked out with a specific client and IBM Best practices. Internet domains, SSL/TLS and certs are not cover, these items will also need to be incorporated to the client’s specifications.

Create the DB2 environment on GCP – Active Passive:

Other references for this design are listed below. Again, this article focuses on using just the IBM software and the tools available in GCP.

• Create a VPC for DB2 that has a public subnet, Firewall rules and Routing Table. These GCP components will be created and configure to a client’s specifications. The firewall rules should include DB2 ports and should limit who can get to the DB2 from the internet.
• Create an instance of one of the GCP public images that meets the client’s virtual machine specification. Make sure that delete boot drive is unchecked.
• Create cloud storage shares for DB2.
• Mount the shares using FUSE.
• Put the remount commands in /etc/fstab
• Upload the DB2 software to it.
• Install DB2.
• Configure DB2 on the Compute Engine instance. Follow the IBM info center for these steps. Put all DB2 installation files on the GCP Storage FUSE mounted file system.
• Now write a script.
  1. The script will execute at bootup. Call it DB2_startup.
  2. It will reconfigure DB2 to use the IP address of the current EC2 instance.
  3. It will start the DB2.
  4. Put DB2_startup script in /etc/init.d
  5. chmod 755 /etc/init.d/Db2_startup
  6. chkconfig –add DB2_startup
  7. chkconfig DB2_startup on
  8. Check it: chkconfig –list DB2_startup
• Now stop the instance.
• Now reboot the Instance to see your script work. If DB2 startup, then continue. Otherwise go back to step 9 and debug your script.
• Now delete the current instance.
• Now create and image from the boot disk of the instance.
• Now create a template and use the image you just created.
• Now create an instance group from the template. The auto scaling group will be a scaling group of 1. Setup a health check for port 50000. Default DB2 port.
• Now create a load balancer and use the instance group.
• Test your configuration by shutting down the DB2. You should see the Auto Scaling destroy the current instance and spin up a new instance of DB2.

References:

DB2 change host instructions:  http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21258834