How to Configure Informix Connect and ODBC

Transcription

1 Platform: Informix How to Configure Informix Connect and ODBC James Edmiston Informix DBA Consultant Quest Information Systems, Inc. Session: L7 /3:30

2 Purpose Identify Informix connectivity products and explain how to configure the related components for Microsoft Windows clients to enable client applications to access Informix databases through ODBC There are 2 different product installs that you can download from the Informix area of the IBM web site: 1. Informix CSDK 2. Informix Connect run time version containing all components for setting up ODBC client connection, but no software development tools, APIs, etc. There is also an equivalent toolset for various flavors of UNIX also, but our discussion will focus on Microsoft Windows installation and configuration. What version of Windows do you run?

3 Outline Overview of the latest IBM Informix Client SDK List available Operating System platforms Describe Client configuration Identify Informix client connectivity components Describe and Demonstrate configuration/testing Identify potential problems List Documentation My objective: Present simple, concise and practical advice and examples of how to employ the Informix connectivity products to allow ODBC enabled client applications to access Informix databases. We ll follow this outline: -Overview of CSDK latest version and components -List available Operating System platforms -Describe the client application environment and client/server architecture -Identify the Informix connectivity components -Talk about and demonstrate how to configure the different pieces -Show and demo how to test and verify the connection works -wrap up with potential problems, lessons learned and helpful resources.

4 Client SDK 2.9 Overview Informix Client SDK V2.9 contains a collection of APIs that can speed development of applications that work with Informix database servers. Using Client SDK, developers can: Write applications in a number of languages including Java, C++, C, and ESQL Write applications using tools that work with ODBC and/or OLE/DB. This flexibility allows more choice in programming environments, promotes easier and faster application development, and can reduce the cost of training developers in new skills Build one application to access multiple Informix databases. This can save maintenance and support expenses, minimize downtime, and speed application development IBM Informix Client SDK (CSDK) V2.9 and its runtime product IBM Informix Connect RT V2.9, IBM Informix Server Administrator (ISA) V1.6, and IBM Informix Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) V3.0 are client connectivity and system management tools for all Informix brand server products. CSDK contains a collection of APIs that can speed development of applications that work with IBM Informix database servers. Developers can write applications in the language they prefer and build one application to access multiple IBM Informix databases. CSDK V2.9 contains a more robust and feature-rich ESQL/C module that adds flexibility and reliability for Informix OnLine Extended customers with ESQL/C application development needs and benefits Informix 4GL customers who write applications connecting to IDS servers. Starting from IBM Informix ESQL/C V2.9, the esql command can be used to compile ESQL/C applications to access DB2 V8.2, or later servers and databases running on Linux, UNIX, and Windows operating systems. The JDBC driver allows Java programs to access database management systems. These latest versions support XPS V.8.5. Informix Connect RT V2.9 is a runtime connectivity product that is required by applications running on client machines when accessing Informix servers. JDBC V3.0 is a platform-independent, industry-standard Type 4 JDBC driver that provides enhanced support for distributed transactions and is optimized to work with IBM WebSphere Application Server. JDBC V3.0 promotes accessibility to IBM Informix database servers from Java client applications, provides openness through XML support, fosters scalability through its connection pool management feature, and supports extensibility with a user-defined data type (UDT) routine manager that simplifies the creation and use of UDTs. New features added to ISA V1.6 allow for simplified enterprise replication administration and single user mode. CSDK V2.9 and Connect RT V2.9 include a robust and enhanced native. NET provider that is integrated with Visual Studio.NET 2003 to support Rapid Application Development for.net applications written against Informix databases.

5 Client SDK 2.9 Components Informix ESQL/C V2.9 Informix ODBC driver V2.9 Informix OLEDB Provider V2.9 (Win32 only) Informix Object Interface for C++ V2.9 Informix JDBC driver V3.0 (Type 4) and Informix Embedded SQLJ V1.01 Informix Connect V2.9 Informix.NET Provider V2.9 (Windows only) Informix Client SDK V2.9 includes the following components: Informix ESQL/C V2.9 Informix ODBC driver V2.9 Informix OLEDB Provider V2.9 (Win32 only) Informix Object Interface for C++ V2.9 Informix JDBC driver V3.0 (Type 4) and Informix Embedded SQLJ V1.01 Informix Connect V2.9 Informix.NET Provider V2.9 (Windows only)

6 Client SDK 2.9 (cont) High performance OLE DB Supports Microsoft Visual Basic Supports Visual C++ UniCode Enabled ODBC Driver Robust, Feature rich ESQL/C module ESQL/C interoperability with DB2 V8.2 Supports.NET applications via Visual Studio.NET bridge Server support for IDS V10 Informix Client SDK provides a number of business benefits. As a high-performance OLEDB provider, it brings solid data access improvement and unicode support to Microsoft Visual Basic or Visual C++ applications that require data access in a variety of locations and formats. A unicode-enabled, industry-standard compliant ODBC driver enables developers to dynamically access a broad range of Informix database servers including IDS, XPS, OnLine, and Standard Engine. A more robust and feature-rich ESQL/C module adds flexibility and reliability for Informix OnLine Extended customers with ESQL/C application development needs, and benefits Informix 4GL customers who write applications connecting to IDS servers. Starting with Informix ESQL/C V2.9, the esql command can be used to compile ESQL/C applications to access DB2 servers and databases. Such applications can access DB2 V8.2, or later, running on Linux, UNIX, and Windows operating systems. To use this new functionality, in addition to Informix CSDK V2.9, you must install one of the following on the client machine: DB2 Application Development Client V8.2, or later DB2 Runtime Client V8.2, or later Continued support for.net applications to access an IDS server via Visual Studio.NET bridge for ODBC/OLEDB. It provides server support for those customers developing applications that exploit new IDS V9.5 features. JDBC V3.0 is a platform-independent, industry-standard Type 4 JDBC driver that provides enhanced support for distributed transactions and is optimized to work with the IBM WebSphere Application Server.

7 Client SDK for Windows Pentium 3, or higher microprocessor Windows NT V4.0 (Service Pack 5, or later), Windows 98/ME/XP, or Windows MB RAM 70 MB of available hard disk space TCP/IP protocol that is Windows Sockets 1.1 compliant Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler V6.0 Install MTS 2.0 (to enable use of the MTS feature for ODBC and OLEDB) on Windows NT and earlier versions of Windows In a Microsoft Windows environment: Pentium 3, or higher microprocessor Windows NT V4.0 (Service Pack 5, or later), Windows 98/ME/XP, or Windows MB RAM 70 MB of available hard disk space TCP/IP protocol that is Windows Sockets 1.1 compliant Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler V6.0 Install MTS 2.0 (to enable use of the MTS feature for ODBC and OLEDB) on Windows NT and earlier versions of Windows

8 Client SDK Unix In a UNIX workstation environment: 75 MB of available hard disk space Native TCP/IP protocol Native C/C++ compiler and Java 32 and 64 bit Reference IBM/Informix web site See IBM/Informix web site for specific platform support

9 Client Server Architecture ODBC DSN INFORMIXSERVER IBM Informix Client SDK/Connect ODBC Enabled Client Application Network Connection Client Server Simple client/server example. Third-party application resides on the client (Microsoft Windows environment) with the Informix connectivity tools and ODBC administration installed. The Informix Server can be anywhere and in my demo, will be on my laptop. The 2 are linked via TCP/IP network connection. The client application references the ODBC data source configured to know how to point to Informix server on the Informix Server.

10 Client Applications Examples of Client Applications Application development tools PowerBuilder, Visual Basic Query and reporting tools BrioQuery Other Microsoft Access Custom Applications Different needs for configuring client When talking about a Windows client, there is ODBC

11 Using ODBC What is ODBC? Microsoft Open Database Connectivity Enforces standards that allow an application to access different database vendors Portable across platforms - may not be seamless because of individual features of the database products What Informix products need to be installed? Open Database Connectivity standard developed by Microsoft Enables Application Programming Interface Enables applications to access DBMS s using SQL, independent of DBMS vendor. Establishes an open standard for apps to program to in order to access different databases. Permits interoperability and portability of an application to be independent of database vendor. In order to take advantage of the ODBC standard to connect to Informix databases, need to install the Informix connectivity tools.

12 IBM Informix CSDK/Connect Components Connectivity components of the IBM Informix (CSDK) and Informix Connect ODBC driver Setnet32 Configuration Utility Testing tools Informix Client SDK v2.81 is free download from the IBM web site, -Latest ODBC Driver for Informix -Configuration and testing tools Connectivity tools are now bundled together with other developer libraries and interfaces in INFORMIX Client Software Developer s Kit (CSDK) v2.81, or connectivity alone in IBM Informix Connect.

13 Informix Connect Consists of the runtime connection libraries Bundled with IBM Informix Client SDK Informix Connect allows distribution of runtime versions with completed applications Once Installed, know what to configure Informix Connect is runtime version Needs to be distributed with client software Or, could configure on a file server and access in central location

14 Configure (3 Step Plan) Client Components Setnet32 Network service in services file ODBC data source (Data Source Name = DSN) Client application referencing DSN After install of either product (CSDK or Connect) configure items: 1. Setnet32 - Informix utility provided in connectivity products. Use Setnet32 utility to explicitly identify the database server, host machine, connection protocol and user account information. 1.5 Service name and port number in the services file on the client 2. ODBC Data Source is configured and referenced by name by the third party app. It is configured using the ODBC data source manager (Windows control panel) 3. Client application references ODBC DSN Lets look at each one more closely...

15 Setnet32 Configuration tool included in Informix products Sets INFORMIX environment variables on the client machine Creates a server entry with server identification and network parameters Setnet32 configures on the Windows client what the UNIX SQLHOSTS file and environment variables are to the Informix server Setnet32 is a GUI utility provided by Informix connectivity products to define and identify server, host and network information. The Server Information tab contains the controls to identify the database server, the host machine on which the database server resides, and the network protocol and service used by the database server. These values directly correspond to entries in the SQLHOSTS file. These become entries in the Windows registry under SQLHOSTS. GUI to the registry. Saves information in the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Informix\SQLHOSTS.

16 Setnet32 (cont) Records entries in the Windows registry Allows save/load of entries to/from a file Test Client/Server connection Using DBPing and ILogin Demo Tool ILogin Demo returns select * from customer of stores database Provides ability save configuration to a file and load settings from a file for loading identical configuration on multiple machines. Other Client products from Informix use the host and server entries generated by Setnet32. Environment tab is where all environment variable and settings for the Client machine are configured. This is primarily used for GLS settings. For our purposes, we will only set 2 variables, INFORMIXDIR and INFORMIXSERVER. INFORMIXDIR is automatically set when Informix Client products are loaded. INFORMIXSERVER can be manually set or automatically set as a result of defining Informix servers in the Server Information tab. Server Information, Host tab After entering values, click on Apply to define the server. After server is defined, click on Make Default Server to populate the INFORMIXSERVER variable from the Environment tab. The Host tab is used to specify default logon to specific host machines. Enter the host name and user name/password validation method and clickon Apply to add the server to the list. Ilogin32 provides a quick test to see if the connection works based on the server definition and environment variables. Requires that the stores7 database is loaded on the server. Performs a connection and query of the stores7 customer table.

17 Network Services file Network services file 9x - c:\windows\services NT/2K/XP - c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\services ASCII text Service name Port number Protocol Service name corresponds to Service value from the Setnet32 entry Example services file entry Demonstration of Setnet32 and Test Connection Service file used for tcp/ip network. The entries in the services file contain service name - correspond to the service name value supplied in the server definition in Setnet32 configuration. Port number - listening port on the network. This must correspond to the services entry port number for the Informix Server. Network protocol - tcp. REVIEW: Setnet32 ODBC Data Source Services file

18 ODBC Data Source Name (DSN) Consists of: Database name ODBC driver specification Database server Host name Network protocol Configured using the ODBC administrator Test database connection Demonstration of ODBC DSN ODBC data source is the definition on the client machine of what database to connect to, where, and how. Database name and ODBC driver Database server, hostname and protocol Incorporates server information defined in Setnet32. DEMO: General tab - Name of the data source and name of the database are required. Start ODBC Administrator by Start, Settings, Control Panel. Click on Add in the Data Source dialog box. Choose the ODBC driver. Connection tab - Information filled in from the default server defined in the Setnet32 utility.

19 Client Application Reference ODBC DSN Brio Query demo MS Access demo

20 Potential Problems May need to reboot the client machine after installing CSDK/Connect before creating the ODBC data source Informix error message text may reference the UNIX environment, while the problem really applies to the Windows environment Informix error -908 Verify the listening port number defined on the server matches the client These are some of the problems I ve run into and though I d include them in my talk:

21 Potential Problems (cont) Informix error -931 Verify the service file entry matches the service name in the Setnet32 Server Information tab Informix error -951 or -956 Password? Client machine name or IP in /etc/hosts Informix error -329 Invalid Database Name

22 Potential Problems (cont) System error code 126 client environment problem NT/2K/XP - Using the Control Panel, System properties, set system variables in the Environment tab 95/98 - make entries in the autoexec.bat file Variables to set (example): INFORMIXDIR=c:/informix PATH=c:/informix/bin;...

23 Documentation Embedded SQLJ User's Guide, Version 1.01 (G ) This manual contains information about using IBM Informix Embedded SQLJ. IBM Informix Embedded SQLJ enables you to embed SQL statements in your Java programs. It consists of the SQLJ translator, which translates SQLJ code into Java code, and a set of Java classes that provide runtime support for SQLJ programs. When you run a SQLJ program, it uses IBM Informix JDBC Driver to connect to an IBM Informix database. IBM Informix Client Products Installation Guide for UNIX, Linux, and Windows (G ) This manual explains how to install IBM Informix Client Software Developer's Kit (Client SDK), Version 2.5, and IBM Informix Connect, Version 2.5, on computers that use UNIX, Linux, and Windows. IBM Informix ESQL/C Programmer's Manual, Version 9.53 (G ) This manual describes the features that make up the IBM Informix implementation of embedded SQL for C. IBM Informix GLS User's Guide, Version 9.4/8.4 (G ) This manual describes the Global Language Support (GLS) feature, which allows IBM Informix application-programming interfaces (APIs) and database servers to handle different languages, cultural conventions, and code sets.

24 Documentation (cont) IBM Informix OLE DB Provider Programmer's Guide, Version 2.81 This manual describes the software requirements for using IBM Informix OLE DB Provider, shows how to install and configure the provider for your use, and explains how to use IBM Informix OLE DB Provider to enable client applications, such as ActiveX Data Object (ADO) applications and Web pages, to access data on an IBM Informix server. IBM Informix Object Interface for C++ Programmer's Guide, Version 2.5 This guide describes the architecture of the C++ object interface and provides a complete class reference. JDBC Driver Programmer's Guide, UNIX and Windows Environments, v2.21 This guide describes how to install, load, and use Informix JDBC Driver to connect to an Informix database from within a Java application or applet. You can also use Informix JDBC Driver for writing user-defined routines that are executed in the server. ODBC Driver Programmer's Manual, Version 3.82 This manual is a user guide and reference manual for Informix ODBC Driver, which is the Informix implementation of the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface, Version3.0. This manual explains how to use the Informix ODBC Driver application programming interface (API) to access an Informix database and interact with an Informix database server.

25 Summary Latest IBM Informix CSDK 2.9 and Informix Connect Client connection to Informix databases Install Informix client connectivity products Configure Setnet32, ODBC, service file Test connection Potential problems Documentation For accompanying article: The latest CSDK and Informix Connect Client Server architecture and connection to Informix databases Described ODBC and how it enables client/server database access. Install, configure, test client connection for use by 3rd-party products and applications accessing Informix databases. Components - Setnet32, ODBC data source, service file Reviewed potential problems Documentation resources Q/A

26 How to Configure Informix Connect and ODBC Session: L7 James Edmiston Quest Information Systems, Inc. 26