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OpenMetadata doesn’t ship DB2 connector in the ingestion contain by default. Please make sure you install the below Python package in the ingestion container if you are planning on running DB2 Connector. If you are running this as part of docker
Using python pip, Please make sure you provide appropriate version of ingestion in below command
In this section, we provide guides and references to use the DB2 connector. Configure and schedule DB2 metadata and profiler workflows from the OpenMetadata UI:

Requirements

To create a new DB2 user, follow IBM’s guide to creating users manually. The user must have the following permissions to ingest the metadata.

DB2 for LUW (Linux, UNIX, Windows)

  • SELECT privilege on SYSCAT.SCHEMATA to fetch the metadata of schemas.

DB2 for z/OS

DB2 for z/OS uses SYSIBM.* catalog tables instead of SYSCAT.*. The connector auto-detects the platform and uses the appropriate catalog tables. The following permissions are required:
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSTABLES to fetch schemas, table names, and table comments.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSCOLUMNS to fetch column metadata for tables.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSVIEWS to fetch view names and definitions.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSINDEXES to fetch index and primary key information.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSTABCONST to fetch table constraints (primary keys, unique constraints).
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSKEYCOLUSE to fetch key column usage for constraints.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSFOREIGNKEYS to fetch foreign key column details.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSRELS to fetch foreign key relationships between tables.
  • SELECT privilege on SYSIBM.SYSSEQUENCES to fetch sequence metadata.

Profiler and Data Quality

Executing the profiler workflow or data quality tests requires the user to have SELECT permission on the tables and schemas where the profiler or tests run. For more information, see the profiler workflow guide and the data quality guide.

Metadata Ingestion

To ingest metadata from DB2, you need to create a service connection. The service connects DB2 with OpenMetadata. Once you create a service, OpenMetadata automatically starts ingesting metadata.

Step 1: Add New Service

  1. Navigate to Settings > Services. Navigate to Settings and Services
  2. Click Add New Service. Add New Service

Step 2: Select a Service and Connector

From the service type dropdown, select Database Services, then click the DB2 connector tile. Select Service

Step 3: Add Service Name and Description

  • Enter a unique, descriptive Service Name. OpenMetadata identifies services by their service name. Enter a name that distinguishes this deployment from other DB2 services you are ingesting metadata from.
  • Optional: Enter a Description for the service.
Configure Service
Note: The service name cannot be changed after it is set.

Step 4: Configure Connection Options

Specify your source credentials and verify the connection.

Enter Connection Details

Enter the connection details for DB2. The right-hand panel in the UI displays inline help for each field. Configure Service Connection
  • Username: Specify the user to connect to DB2. It should have enough privileges to read all the metadata.
  • Password: Password to connect to DB2.
  • database: Database of the data source.
  • Host and Port: Enter the fully qualified hostname and port number for your DB2 deployment in the Host and Port field.
  • License File Name: License file name in case the license is required for connection.
  • License: Contents of your license file if applicable, make sure to replace new lines with \n before pasting it here.
If you are using DB2 for IBM i:
  • From advanced config, choose the ibmi scheme.
  • In Host and Port, don’t add the port number.
If you have a db2jcc_license_cisuz.jar file, it will not work with ibm_db. This file is a Db2 Connect license for the Java Driver. For non-Java drivers, such as the Python Client used in OpenMetadata ingestion, a Db2 Connect client-side license is required, typically named db2con.lic*. The db2jcc_license_cisuz.jar is specifically for Java-based clients, whereas OpenMetadata ingestion operates with a Python Client, making the .jar file incompatible.To activate a non-Java license for Db2 Connect Application Server Edition, Advanced Application Server Edition, Enterprise Edition, or Trial, follow these steps:
  • Download the license activation kit from IBM Passport Advantage: IBM PPA.
  • Unzip the package and locate the non-Java license file (for example, db2consv_ee.lic).
  • Apply the .lic file to activate the license. For more information, see Everything About Db2 Connect Licensing.
Advanced Config (driver-level options; most connections don’t need these)
  • Connection Options (Optional): Enter any additional connection options that can be sent to the database during the connection. These details must be added as key-value pairs.
  • Connection Arguments (Optional): Enter any additional connection arguments such as security or protocol configs that can be sent during the connection. These details must be added as key-value pairs.

Test Connection

Once the credentials have been added, click on Test Connection and Save the changes. Test Connection

Step 5: Configure Ingestion Options

In the What to Ingest step, use filter patterns to control which assets OpenMetadata ingests from your database service. Filter patterns use regular expressions applied to asset names.

How Filter Patterns Work

  • Include: Add one or more comma-separated regular expressions. OpenMetadata ingests only assets whose names match at least one expression. Leave blank to include all assets.
  • Exclude: Add one or more comma-separated regular expressions. OpenMetadata skips any asset whose name matches an expression. Leave blank to exclude nothing.
Rules match asset names using one of five expressions:
  • contains: matches any name containing the value. For example, sales matches my_sales_data and sales_2024.
  • starts with: matches names beginning with the value. For example, prod_ matches prod_db and prod_schema.
  • ends with: matches names ending with the value. For example, _raw matches events_raw and logs_raw.
  • is exactly: matches the exact name only. For example, analytics matches only analytics.
  • matches regex: matches names using a regular expression. For example, ^prod_.*_v\d+$ matches prod_events_v1.
When both Include and Exclude are set, Exclude takes priority.
Leave all filter patterns empty to ingest all databases, schemas, and tables available in the source.
Filter Options The Database, Schema, and Table sections each include the following filter options:
  • Database: Controls which databases OpenMetadata ingests from the source.
  • Schema: Controls which schemas within the ingested databases are included.
  • Table: Controls which tables and views within the ingested schemas are included.
Each section provides the following controls:
  • Scan Mode: You can choose between the following scan modes:
    • Scan all: Ingests every asset of that type the connector can access. This is the default.
    • Only specific: Enables include rules so only assets matching at least one rule are ingested.
  • Exclude system toggle: Use this toggle to automatically filter out system-reserved names defined by the connector, for example, Exclude system databases for the Databases section.
  • Always exclude: Add permanent exclusion rules (shown in red). Assets matching these rules are never ingested, regardless of include rules.
  • Preview: Shows a real-time summary of what will be in scope based on your current rules.
  • Include rules (available only in Only specific mode): Click + Add to define a rule. Added rules appear as chips; an asset is included if it matches any rule.

Step 6: Create & Deploy

Click Create & Deploy to deploy the agent and start the first metadata ingestion run. OpenMetadata saves the service configuration and immediately begins pulling metadata from the source. To monitor ingestion progress or view the service you just added, go to Settings > Services and select your service.

Configure Metadata Agent and Schedule Ingestion

The Metadata Agent extracts schemas, tables, columns, and other structural metadata from your source and keeps your OpenMetadata catalog in sync. It powers discovery, lineage, and governance across your data assets. When you click Create & Deploy, OpenMetadata automatically deploys a Metadata Agent for this service and triggers the first ingestion run. View its status and run history from the Agents tab on the service detail page. To configure the additional Metadata Agent and schedule ingestion, follow these steps:
  1. Navigate to Settings > Services and select the service type. Navigate to Settings and Services
  2. Click the service you have added.
  3. Select the Agents tab and click Add Agent > Metadata. Add Metadata Agent For some services, the dropdown is not available and clicking Add Agent takes you directly to the agent configuration page.
  4. On the Configure Ingestion page, do the following and click Next.
    • Name this Ingestion: Enter a unique recognizable name for this ingestion pipeline. Name this Ingestion
    • Agent Setup: Configure core parameters for metadata extraction. The following fields are available: Agent Setup
    • Filter Patterns: Apply include or exclude rules to scope which databases, schemas, tables, and stored procedures this agent ingests. For more information about various filter options, see Step 6: Configure Ingestion Options. Filter Patterns
    • Scope & Behaviour: Control how the agent handles metadata during ingestion. Toggle each option on or off based on your needs:
      Available toggles vary by connector. Stored procedure options only appear for connectors that support stored procedures.
      Scope & Behaviour
    • Advanced Config: Optional connector-specific settings such as Include Views and Extract JSON Schema. Advanced Config
  5. On the Schedule Interval page, set when the agent runs:
    • Schedule: Choose a preset interval (Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly) or enter a custom cron expression.
    • On-Demand: No automatic schedule; trigger the agent manually when needed.
    Schedule Interval
  6. Click Add to deploy the agent.

Usage Workflow

Learn more about how to configure the Usage Workflow to ingest Query information from the UI.

Lineage Workflow

Learn more about how to configure the Lineage from the UI.

Profiler Workflow

Learn more about how to configure the Data Profiler from the UI.

Data Quality Workflow

Learn more about how to configure the Data Quality tests from the UI.

dbt Integration

Learn more about how to ingest dbt models’ definitions and their lineage.