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Specifying a database

Specifying a database

Specify a database to use for model evaluation. You need a database to store payload, feedback, and measurement data.

Connecting to your database

In addition to setting up a database, you can also select a schema for your database. A schema is a named collection of tables in the database. First, choose a database. You have two options: the free database, or an existing or new database. If you have a paid IBM Cloud account, you can provision a Databases for PostgreSQL or Db2 Warehouse service to take full advantage of integration with Watson Studio and continuous learning services. If you choose not to provision a paid service, you can use the free internal PostgreSQL storage with Watson OpenScale, but you are not able to configure continuous learning for your model.

The select your database screen displays with two options to use the free plan or to use an existing database

Free plan database

The free database has some important limitations:

  • The free database is hosted, and is not directly accessible to you.
  • The free database allocates limited resources.
  • IBM Watson OpenScale has full access to your database, and thus has full access to your data.
  • If you reconfigure the database, IBM Watson OpenScale loses your data.
  • The free database is not GDPR-compliant. If your model processes personally identifiable information (PII), you cannot use the free database. You must purchase a new database, or use an existing database that conforms to GDPR rules. See Information security to learn more.

Recommended: If you are using a v2 Standard plan, use your existing database or purchase a new database.

To proceed with using the free database, click Use the free Lite plan database tile, and then click Save.

You can upgrade to another database from the free database. It's not possible to reconfigure a Compose for Postgres, database for Postgres, or Db2 instance to the free database. After you upgrade, it is impossible to return to using the free database. All the current data, such as the configuration, the scoring results, and explanations cannot be reused. By selecting another schema or database, the Watson OpenScale environment is reset.

Existing or new database

If you want to use an existing or new database, select the Use existing or purchase new database tile. After you select the Use existing or purchase new database tile, Watson OpenScale checks your IBM Cloud account to locate any existing databases.

Next, select your existing database type (Compose for Postgres, database for Postgres, or Db2), then a database from the database list, and then a schema.

Watson OpenScale uses a Db2 database to store model-related data, such as scoring payload and feedback data, and calculated metrics. Lite Db2 plans are not currently supported. For more information, see Formatting and uploading training data in Watson OpenScale. You can also click Select a different location to specify a database location outside of your IBM Cloud account. Select the Database Type (Compose for PostgreSQL, Database for PostgreSQL, or Db2), then provide connection information:

  • For a Compose for PostgreSQL database, complete the following fields:

    • Hostname or IP address
    • Port
    • Database (name)
    • Username
    • Password
  • For a Database for PostgreSQL database, complete the following fields:

    • Hostname or IP address
    • SSL Port
    • Base-64 encoded certificate
    • Database (name)
    • Username
    • Password
  • For a Db2 database, complete the following fields:

    • Hostname or IP address
    • SSL Port
    • Database (name)
    • Username
    • Password

After you successfully connect, you can select a schema and save your work. The schema name needs to be provided explicitly if you provide a Db2 instance with limited access, which does not allow the schema name to be automatically generated. This requirement applies to the Entry Db2 Warehouse plan.

Supported Db2 databases for Data Mart

If you're using Data Mart, you can specify one of the following database options. Watson OpenScale is tested and verified with these databases and the specified settings:

  • Db2 on Cloud with default settings
  • Db2 Warehouse on Cloud with default settings
  • Db2 with the following settings:
    • Product name: “DB2 Enterprise Server Edition”
    • Product identifier: “db2ese”
    • Version information: "11.5 or later"

Next steps

Select deployments to monitor

Parent topic: Preparing to evaluate a model

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