Welcome
Migrating and upgrading
You can upgrade to the 15.0 release of HCL Informix® or migrate from other database servers to Informix. Upgrading is an in-place migration method that uses your existing hardware and operating system software. Some changes to the Informix database server can affect upgrading from a previous release.
Migrating Informix® database systems
These topics describe how to migrate to a new version of HCL Informix® and how to revert to the database server that you migrated from. These topics also describe how to move data manually between databases, servers, and computers.
Overview of migration
Overview of Informix® migration
Before you upgrade to the new version of Informix®, ensure that you understand the migration process, prerequisites, and reversion options.
Fix pack naming conventions
Informix® releases and fix packs contain version names that appear in the format V.R.M.F.

HCL Informix® V15.0 documentation
Welcome to the documentation for HCL Informix® 15.0 and related client tools and products.
Product overview
HCL Informix® is a fast and scalable database server that manages traditional relational, object-relational, and dimensional databases. Its small footprint and self-managing capabilities are suited to embedded data-management solutions.
Installing
These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® database servers, client products, and DataBlade® modules.
Administering
In addition to administering the database server, you can tune performance, replicate data, and archive data.
Migrating and upgrading
You can upgrade to the 15.0 release of HCL Informix® or migrate from other database servers to Informix. Upgrading is an in-place migration method that uses your existing hardware and operating system software. Some changes to the Informix database server can affect upgrading from a previous release.
- Migrating Informix® database systems
  These topics describe how to migrate to a new version of HCL Informix® and how to revert to the database server that you migrated from. These topics also describe how to move data manually between databases, servers, and computers.
  - Overview of migration
    - Overview of Informix® migration
      Before you upgrade to the new version of Informix®, ensure that you understand the migration process, prerequisites, and reversion options.
      - The migration process
        This overview of the migration process describes what you need to know to plan your migration and the resources that you can use to assist you.
      - Upgrading Informix® (in-place migration)
        In-place migration upgrades Informix® directly to the current version by installing the product in a new directory on the same computer, copying a few configuration files, and starting the new server to automatically convert your database data.
      - Migrating Informix® (non-in-place migration)
        Depending on your existing database server setup, you might need to move to a new architecture or a different server. This type of migration is more complicated than in-place migration. It requires more planning and it is more time consuming.
      - Hardware and operating system requirements
        Ensure that you meet the operating system and hardware requirements for Informix® 15.0.0.
      - Fix pack naming conventions
        Informix® releases and fix packs contain version names that appear in the format V.R.M.F.
      - Paths for migration to the new version
        Direct migration to Informix® 15.0 is supported for specific earlier versions of the database server.
    - Overview of moving data
      If you are installing the new version of the database server on another computer or operating system (non-in-place migration), you can use one of several tools and utilities to move data from your current database server.
  - Migration to and reversion from 15.0
  - Migration of data between database servers
  - Data migration utilities
Client APIs and tools
You can use the HCL Informix® implementation of client APIs to develop applications for Informix database servers.
Embedding Informix®
When you embed HCL Informix®, you can use enterprise-class high-availability and high performance with embeddability features such as easy programmability, a small disk and memory footprint, and silent deployment.
Extending Informix®
Beyond standard relational database objects, HCL Informix® can be extended to handle specialized data types, access methods, routines, and other objects. Informix includes many built-in extensions that are fully integrated in the database server. Informix also provides DataBlade® modules, which are packages of extended database objects for a particular purpose and that are installed separately from the database server. Alternatively, you can create your own user-defined objects for Informix.
Data warehousing
In addition to designing and implementing Informix® dimensional databases, you can use tools to create data warehouse applications and optimize your data warehouse queries.
Designing databases
The first step in creating a relational database is to construct a data model, which is a precise, complete definition of the data you want to store. After you prepare your data model, you must implement it as a database and tables. To implement your data model, you first select a data type for each column and then you create a database and tables and populate the tables with data. You can also implement fragmentation strategies and control access to your data.
JSON compatibility
You can use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB to interact with data stored in HCL Informix®.
Security
You can secure your Informix® database server and the data that is stored in your Informix databases. You can encrypt data, secure connections, control user privileges and access, and audit data security.
SQL programming
You can use the HCL Informix® implementation of the SQL language to develop applications for Informix database servers.
Troubleshooting HCL Informix®
Several troubleshooting techniques, tools, and resources are available for resolving problems that you encounter in your HCL Informix® database server environment.

Fix pack naming conventions

Informix® releases and fix packs contain version names that appear in the format V.R.M.F.

Version Components	Description
V - Version (15.0.0.0) R - Release (15.0.0.0)	V Identifies/indicates a significant architectural change, significant new code, new function or separate HCL Informix® licensed program. V or V.R. Marks the start of a new lifecycle.
M - Modification (15.0.0.0)	A refresh also referred to as a Mod Pack or Refresh Pack. Can include significant new functionality and/or new license file Maintenance roll-up of Fixes. Does NOT start a new lifecycle.
F – Fix Packs (15.0.0.0)	Includes fixes to defects and security vulnerabilities Are cumulative. Includes all prior fixes earlier in 'F' versions for specific Version, Release or Mod. For example: 15.0.0.2 contains 15.0.0.1 plus new fixes. Does not contain significant new function Does NOT start a new lifecycle.
Special Builds (15.0.0.0-X<1..n>	A special build is a temporary, emergency fix designed to bridge the environment until the next Mod Pack or Fix Pack is released. Informix special builds are intended to be used for a limited time and are typically supported for a maximum of 90 days after the Mod Pack or Fix Pack containing the special build fix is officially released. Special builds are not provided for defects that are already fixed in a released Mod Pack or Fix Pack. As new Mod or Fix Packs are released, special builds are built on the latest two Mod Pack code streams.