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)
SELECTprivilege onSYSCAT.SCHEMATAto fetch the metadata of schemas.
SELECTprivilege onSYSCAT.TABLESto fetch the metadata of tables.
SELECTprivilege onSYSCAT.VIEWSto fetch the metadata of views.
DB2 for z/OS
DB2 for z/OS usesSYSIBM.* catalog tables instead of SYSCAT.*. The connector auto-detects the platform and uses the appropriate catalog tables. The following permissions are required:
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSTABLESto fetch schemas, table names, and table comments.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSCOLUMNSto fetch column metadata for tables.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSVIEWSto fetch view names and definitions.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSINDEXESto fetch index and primary key information.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSTABCONSTto fetch table constraints (primary keys, unique constraints).
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSKEYCOLUSEto fetch key column usage for constraints.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSFOREIGNKEYSto fetch foreign key column details.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSRELSto fetch foreign key relationships between tables.
SELECTprivilege onSYSIBM.SYSSEQUENCESto fetch sequence metadata.
Profiler and Data Quality
Executing the profiler workflow or data quality tests requires the user to haveSELECT 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 Collate. Once you create a service, Collate automatically starts ingesting metadata.Step 1: Add New Service
- In the left navigation, click Connections.
- On the Connections page, click Add New Service.

Step 2: Select a Service and Connector
From the service type dropdown, select Database Services, then click the DB2 connector tile.
Step 3: Add Service Name and Description
- Enter a unique, descriptive Service Name. Collate 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.

Note: The service name cannot be changed after it is set.
Step 4: Configure Connection Options
Specify where ingestion runs, provide your source credentials, and verify the connection.Select Ingestion Runner
Select an Ingestion Runner: the runner where the ingestion pipeline will execute.
Enter Connection Details
Enter the connection details for DB2. The right-hand panel in the UI displays inline help for each field.
- 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
\nbefore pasting it here.
Advanced Configuration
Database Services have an Advanced Configuration section, where you can pass extra arguments to the connector and, if needed, change the connection scheme. This is required only for advanced connectivity scenarios or customizations.- Connection Options (Optional): Enter the details for 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 the details for 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
After adding the credentials, click on Test Connection and Save the changes.
Step 5: Configure Ingestion Options
In the What to Ingest step, use filter patterns to control which assets Collate 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. Collate 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. Collate skips any asset whose name matches an expression. Leave blank to exclude nothing.
- contains: matches any name containing the value. For example,
salesmatchesmy_sales_dataandsales_2024. - starts with: matches names beginning with the value. For example,
prod_matchesprod_dbandprod_schema. - ends with: matches names ending with the value. For example,
_rawmatchesevents_rawandlogs_raw. - is exactly: matches the exact name only. For example,
analyticsmatches onlyanalytics. - matches regex: matches names using a regular expression. For example,
^prod_.*_v\d+$matchesprod_events_v1.
- Database: Controls which databases Collate 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.
- Stored Procedure: Controls which stored procedures are included in metadata ingestion.
- Scan Mode: 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. Collate 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 Connections in the left navigation 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 Collate catalog in sync. It powers discovery, lineage, and governance across your data assets. When you click Create & Deploy, Collate 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:- In the left navigation, click Connections and select your service.
- Click the Agents tab.
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Click Add Agent and select Metadata from the dropdown.
For some services, the dropdown is not available and clicking Add Agent takes you directly to the agent configuration page.
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On the Configure Ingestion page, do the following and click Next.
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Name this Ingestion: Enter a unique recognizable name for this ingestion pipeline.

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Agent Setup: Configure core parameters for metadata extraction. The following fields are available:

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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 5: Configure Ingestion Options.

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Scope & Behaviour: Control how the agent handles metadata during ingestion. Toggle each option on or off based on your needs:
Note: Available toggles vary by connector. Stored procedure options only appear for connectors that support stored procedures.

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Advanced Config: Optional connector-specific settings such as Include Views and Extract JSON Schema.

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Name this Ingestion: Enter a unique recognizable name for this ingestion pipeline.
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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.

- Click Add to deploy the agent.
Troubleshooting
DB2 Troubleshooting
Learn more about how to troubleshoot common DB2 connector issues and resolve configuration or ingestion errors.