we just did a number of restores to v9.5 of databases backuped in v8.2. This is our way of migrating to v9.5

I don't understand why everybody creates a DB before restoring it. I found that in a lot of cases if we do it this way we have to do redirected restore.

Another bad thing abt creating DB before restoring is that db cfg parameters are not getting restored from backup.

Please share your thoughts on this. Thanks

May be many arn't aware of directly create new DB from image...

It is totally based upon preference and/or need. You prefer it one way, someone else prefers it another. Maybe their naming conventions require a redirect to implement. What's the difference? -- DB2 allows you to choose the way you want it, so take your pick.

can you restore a V7 backup into a V8 instance?