Migration

Upgrading your IBM® Db2® as a Service deployment from the Standard/Enterprise Plan to the Performance plan provides improved scalability, enhanced reliability, and a modern management experience. After you initiate the upgrade, the system automatically provisions a new instance and migrates your data with minimal downtime. The system keeps your two instances in sync until you decide to finalize your upgrade.

The Standard and Enterprise plans are now deprecated. Existing Standard/Enterprise customers are encouraged to migrate to the Performance plan before October 16th, 2026. For more information, see the Announcement. For migration instructions, see Migration. All new deployments will now use the Performance plan.

When migrating to the Performance plan, you can choose to deploy your database at either Db2 version 12 or Db2 version 11.5. Version 11.5 is supported on the Performance plan for customers who require compatibility with existing applications or need additional time before upgrading to version 12.

Supported Db2 versions

The Performance plan supports the following Db2 versions:

  • Db2 version 12 - The latest version with enhanced features and performance improvements. Recommended for new deployments.
  • Db2 version 11.5 - Supported for customers requiring application compatibility or a gradual upgrade path.

During migration, you can select your preferred Db2 version. If you are migrating from a Standard or Enterprise plan instance running version 11.5, you have the option to remain on version 11.5 or upgrade to version 12 as part of the migration process.

Any autoscale settings in Standard/Enterprise Plan will need to be recreated in the Performance plan after the migration is complete.

If you are migrating from a Standard or Enterprise plan instance that is deployed in the EU-Cloud environment, your instance will be migrated directly into the EU-Cloud environment on the Performance plan. No additional configuration is required for the EU-Cloud designation during migration.

Follow these steps to begin the migration:

  1. Provision your IBM Db2 SaaS resource from the IBM Cloud catalog if you haven't already.

  2. In the IBM Cloud console, navigate to your list of resources and click the instance you want to upgrade.

  3. At the top of the instance page, look for the notification banner that says System upgrade available, on the right-hand side of the banner, click Learn More.

    System upgrade notification banner example
    Example of the upgrade notification banner in the console.

  4. You will be redirected to the Upgrade Db2 Systems page. In the upgrade interface, click Create Instance.

    Upgrade Db2 Systems page example
    Example of the Upgrade Db2 Systems page where you create the new instance.

  5. A popup will show with the current and new instance names. Select the location, Db2 version, key management services, and disk encryption key for your new instance. Click Create to start provisioning your new upgraded environment.

    Create Instance Confirm
    Confirm location and create new instance.

    When using Key Protect Dedicated (Single-tenant), you must select Regional as the backup location.

  6. When the new instance has been created, there will be a link to go to the new system to complete the upgrade. Click on Go to new system to complete upgrade

    The system continuously synchronizes data between your Standard/Enterprise instance and the new Performance instance. You can continue using your Standard/Enterprise instance as normal during this time. This synchronization runs automatically in the background until you choose to complete the upgrade. You can start the migration process at any time up to this point without affecting your existing instance.

  7. When the process has completed, click the Complete Upgrade button on the new instance.

    complete upgrade button
    Click complete upgrade button.

  8. There will be a popup to finalize and complete the upgrade.

    • Create a Copy in the Performance Plan for Testing Purposes

      Selecting the Keep the prior system running without synchronization with the new system option will keep the Standard/Enterprise instance running, stop ongoing synchronization with the Performance instance thereby making a copy in the Performance Plan. Both the Standard/Enterprise and Performance instances will be available for connections.

      This option is intended for testing only. The Performance copy created through this option does not complete the migration. After you finish testing, you can choose to delete the Performance copy instance, then repeat the migration process from the beginning and select Disable the prior system to complete the migration to the Performance plan.

    • Complete Migration to the Performance Plan

    Select Disable the prior system to complete the migration to the Performance instance. This will terminate synchronization and pause the Standard/Enterprise instance.

    Confirm upgrade button
    Select what to do with source option and complete upgrade

    Creating a Copy in the Performance Plan for Testing Purposes will result in billing for both the Performance and Standard/Enterprise instances, until the Performance instance is deleted

    When you complete the migration and disable the Standard/Enterprise instance, IBM does not charge for that instance for 14 days. After 14 days, storage charges will begin automatically unless the instance is deleted.

  9. When the migration is complete, your deployment is now available in the Performance plan.