Preferred method to read DB2 tables on Mainframes

[gomez]

Hi:
We have DB2 tables on mainframe as source. We are working on different ways of reading the data.
(1) We get a flat file report from QMF tool on mainframe. This is not fixed width or delimited. Hence metadata definition is a manual effort.
(2) We are working on reading using a DB2 stage. For this we came to know DB2 mainframe database needs to be catalogued.

What is the preferred method to read DB2 table from mainframes? Please suggest.

Thanks!

[ray.wurlod]

You can use DB2 Connect or Federation Server to access the DB2 tables as if they were local.