Section 17.8. Searching for Known Problems

17.8. Searching for Known Problems

Once you have collected some information about your problem, you can research if similar cases have been previously reported by other customers and learn about workarounds and fixes. These are the steps you can follow to resolve your problem.

1.	First confirm if the product is working as designed by reviewing the DB2 documentation using the Information Center (http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/db2help).
2.	Search the Internet for problems reported by other DB2 users.
3.	If your environment allows it, apply the latest FixPak, which you can download for free from the DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows Technical Support site (www.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/support). The FixPaks are cumulative, and they also come with an aparlist.txt file describing the authorized program analysis reports (APARs) that were fixed with the FixPak. (An APAR is simply the official method that IBM uses to acknowledge a defect in the product.)
4.	If you cannot apply the FixPak in your environment at the moment, besides reviewing the aparlist.txt file, you can also research for related problems in the DB2 Technical Support site. This site includes FAQs, technical notes, flashes, and you can also search for specific APARs.
5.	Ask in DB2 forums or newsgroups like comp.databases.ibm-db2 for problems similar to the one you are encountering. On CompuServe try Go ibmdb2.
6.	If your research doesn't lead to any hits, and you suspect this is a defect issue, contact DB2 Technical support at 1-800-IBM-SERV.