How does DB2 for i equate to DB2 LUW, specific to the DB2 9 enhancements?
DB2 9 offers a capability to store XML documents in DB2, and access them via XML-like interfaces (an emerging standard called xQuery) that are similar to SQL. DB2 for i is taking a phased approach to XML integration. DB2 XML Extender, part of the DB2 Extenders product for IBM i, has been available for many releases and provides interfaces to store, parse, shred and generated XML documents to/from data stored in DB2. Recent performance enhancements to the DB2 XML Extenders support have been delivered in V5R3 and V5R4 and make the XML Extenders a viable solution for many customers and ISVs. In addition, XML integration into existing RPG and COBOL applications has been simplified with new built in support for XML into these languages (RPG in V5R4, COBOL in V5R3). Native XML storage and xQuery syntax support are future directions being considered for DB2 for i. For more information on XML integration with DB2 for i, refer to the following redbook. Data Compression was available in DB2 for
