Quick Beginnings for DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition

Chapter 1. About DB2 Connect

DB2 is a relational database management system that is web-enabled with Java support; scalable from single processors to clusters of symmetric multiprocessors; and multimedia capable with image, audio, video, and text support.

IBM's DB2 for OS/390, DB2 for AS/400, and DB2 for VSE & VM databases continue to be the systems of choice for managing most critical data for the world's largest organizations. While these host and AS/400 databases manage the data, there is a great demand to integrate this data with applications running on PCs, UNIX workstations, and Apple Macintosh workstations.

The DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition product is a host data access server that provides managed connectivity from desktop and web applications to databases stored on the following systems:

• DRDA servers: DB2 for MVS/ESA, DB2 for AS/400, DB2 for OS/390, DB2 for VSE & VM systems
• DB2 Universal Database servers, which are available for OS/2, Windows NT, and several UNIX systems.

DB2 Connect provides access to those databases in a cost-effective way by using a standard architecture for managing distributed data, known as Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA). Use of DRDA allows your applications to establish a fast connection to host and AS/400 databases without expensive host components or proprietary gateways. DB2 Connect products provide a DRDA Application Requester that can access DRDA Application Servers running on MVS, AS/400, OS/390, VM, and VSE systems.

DB2 Connect products provide a run-time environment for database applications that are written in C, C++, Java, COBOL, FORTRAN, SmallTalk, REXX, and other programming languages. Programmers can use the latest tools, such as Microsoft Visual Studio, Borland Delphi, and many others, to develop database applications using the following Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):

• Microsoft ODBC
• DB2 Embedded SQL (both static and dynamic)
• DB2 Call Level Interface
• Java Support(JDBC)
• Embedded SQL for Java (SQLJ)

This allows you to use a wide range of off-the-shelf or custom-developed database applications, and provides application programmers with a broad selection of tools and functions. For example, you can use DB2 Connect products with:

• Spreadsheets, such as Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel, to analyze real-time data without having the cost and complexity of data extract and import procedures.

• Decision support tools, such as Business Objects, Intersolv Q+E Database Editor, and Crystal Reports, to provide real-time information.

• Database products, such as Lotus Approach and Microsoft Access.

• Development tools, such as PowerSoft PowerBuilder, Microsoft VisualBasic, and Borland Delphi, to create client/server solutions.

In addition, you get the DB2 Client Application Enablers CD-ROM, which contains all the latest DB2 Client Application Enablers. With DB2 Client Application Enabler, clients from a variety of platforms can connect to host databases through the DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition server.

DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition is a member of the DB2 family of products, which includes relational database systems, middleware, and application development tools. The following is a list of other DB2 family products that are available separately:

DB2 Universal Database Workgroup Edition

A relational database management system that enables local and remote client applications to create, update, control, and manage relational databases using Structured Query Language (SQL), ODBC, JDBC, or CLI.

This product is available for OS/2, Windows NT, and SCO UnixWare 7 only.

DB2 Universal Database Enterprise Edition

A relational database management system that enables local and remote client applications to create, update, control, and manage relational databases using Structured Query Language (SQL), ODBC, JDBC, or CLI. This product also includes support for host and AS/400 connectivity. This product provides its users with access to DB2 databases that reside on host systems such as MVS/ESA, OS/390, AS/400, VM, and VSE. This product is available for AIX, HP-UX, OS/2, SCO UnixWare 7, Solaris and Windows NT.

DB2 Application Developer's Kit

Contains a collection of DB2 Universal Database products, clients, DB2 Connect products, DB2 Software Developer's Kits, and application development tools for all supported operating systems.

The Application Developer's Kit gives you all the tools that you need to create multimedia database applications that can run on a variety of platforms and can connect to any DB2 server, including mainframe and AS/400 databases.

DB2 Universal Database Personal Edition

Allows you to create and use local databases. DB2 Personal Edition can also act as client to access remote DB2 servers. This product is available for the OS/2 and Windows 32-bit operating systems only.

DB2 Connect Personal Edition

Provides access from a single workstation to DB2 databases residing on host systems such as MVS/ESA, OS/390, OS/400, VM, and VSE, as well as access to DB2 databases. DB2 Connect Personal Edition is available for the OS/2, Windows 3.x, and Windows 32-bit operating systems. This product was formerly known as DDCS Single-User.

Figure 1. DB2 Connect Enterprise Edition

DB2 Connect servers and DB2 Universal Database servers are commonly referred to as DB2 servers throughout this book.

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