DB2 express 12 or 11 on Windows Server 2016: connection issues

For a quick test, I need a DB2 instance on an older server that runs WS2016. Previously, I only ever installed DB2 express up to v. 10, on desktop windows (7, 8, or 10), and they never gave me any attitude: installed, connected, and voila. But this time, first with v. 12 and once it did not work then with v. 11, it is different. Port 50000 was taken, so the installer put 50001 into the services file. When I try to connect locally with absolutely any user, I get this error: CLPPlus: Version 1.6 Copyright (c) 2009, 2011, IBM CORPORATION. All rights reserved. SQL> connect Enter DATABASE NAME [SAMPLE]: Enter HOSTNAME [localhost]: Enter PORT : 50001 Enter ID: db2admin Enter password: *********************** DB2 SQL Error: SQLCODE=-1031, SQLSTATE=58031, SQLERRMC=null, DRIVER=4.28.11 I added Administrator and myself to DB2ADMINS group, and it throws the same error for all of these accounts: db2admin, Administrator, and myself. The db2dec.lic license is applied: C:\Program Files\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN>db2licm.exe -l Product name: "DB2 Community Edition" License type: "Community" Expiry date: "Permanent" Product identifier: "db2dec" Version information: "11.5" Max amount of memory (GB): "16" Max number of cores: "4" TCP communication seems to be enabled: C:\Program Files\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN>db2set.exe -all [e] DB2PATH=C:\Program Files\IBM\SQLLIB [i] DB2INSTOWNER=DB212 [i] DB2PORTRANGE=60000:60005 [i] DB2INSTPROF=C:\PROGRAMDATA\IBM\DB2\DB2COPY0115 [i] DB2COMM=TCPIP [g] DB2_EXTSECURITY=YES [g] DB2_COMMON_APP_DATA_PATH=C:\ProgramData [g] DB2SYSTEM=DB212 [g] DB2PATH=C:\Program Files\IBM\SQLLIB [g] DB2INSTDEF=DB2 [g] DB2ADMINSERVER=DB2DAS00 DB2 is listening on 50001: TCP 0.0.0.0:50001 DB212:0 LISTENING 3280 [db2syscs.exe] Holes were drilled in the firewall, to allow unrestricted inbound access on ports 50001 and 60000-60005 that DB2 took in services. I can telnet into this server on port 50001 but not connect a DB2 client. **EDIT:** This morning, I freed port 50000, uninstalled 11.5, and further downgraded to 10.5 but that did not change anything. I then ran this in Administrator CLP: > db2 list db directory SQL1031N The database directory cannot be found on the indicated file system. SQLSTATE=58031 C:\Program Files\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN>db2 create db sample DB20000I The CREATE DATABASE command completed successfully. C:\Program Files\IBM\SQLLIB\BIN>db2 list db directory System Database Directory Number of entries in the directory = 1 Database 1 entry: Database alias = SAMPLE Database name = SAMPLE Local database directory = C: Database release level = 10.00 Comment = Directory entry type = Indirect Catalog database partition number = 0 Alternate server hostname = Alternate server port number Then in CLPP: db2 => connect to sample Database Connection Information Database server = DB2/NT64 10.5.1 SQL authorization ID = ADMINIST... Local database alias = SAMPLE db2 => select * from sysibm.sysdummy1 IBMREQD ------- Y So, the gist is that on Windows Server, neither of 12, 11.5, or 10.5 creates the SAMPLE DB. Why?