Installing IBM Data Server drivers and clients

There are several different types of IBM® Data Server clients or drivers. Before installing an IBM Data Server driver or client, you need to first select a driver or client that meets your requirements.

This topic will help you with the following considerations:
  1. Choose the appropriate IBM data server client or driver to enable connections between your system and remote databases.
  2. Choose the most suitable method for installing your client or driver.
  3. Complete the steps and address the considerations needed to set up a client or driver.

Connection options

Options for connecting a system to a remote database include various IBM data server clients and drivers. The options available depend on whether the system that is connecting to the remote database is:
  • An application on a business user's machine or an application server
  • An application development workstation
  • A database administrator workstation

There are additional options to consider if you also need to connect to midrange or mainframe databases.

IBM data server client and driver types

The following lists the IBM data server clients and drivers:
  • IBM Data Server Driver Package
  • IBM Data Server Client
  • IBM Data Server Runtime Client
  • IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ.
  • IBM Data Server Driver for ODBC and CLI

The IBM Data Server Driver is a lightweight solution and the best practice package for end user code deployment. It provides robust runtime support for applications using ODBC, CLI, .NET, OLE DB, PHP, Ruby, JDBC, or SQLJ without the need of installing Data Server Runtime Client or Data Server Client. The IBM Data Server Driver for ODBC and CLI solution is designed mainly for independent software vendor (ISV) deployments. From v11 onwards, this includes Db2® Warehouse and SQLDB. For details about installing the IBM Data Server Driver, see the topic about IBM Data Server Drivers.

It is also recommended that the IBM Data Server Driver Package be installed first. It can then be configured to work in conjunction with Db2 Connect.

Db2 Connect capability can be added to any client or driver.

Installation methods

The common method for installing a client or driver is to run the installation program provided on the installation media.

The IBM Data Server Driver Package on Windows can be installed by following the prompts. There is no installation program for IBM Data Server Driver for ODBC and CLI or for IBM Data Server Driver Package on Linux® and UNIX. You must install the driver manually.

Other installation methods are also available. Some methods are designed to automate the deployment of large numbers of clients. Other methods use various Windows operating system capabilities. For example, on Windows operating systems, you can use merge modules to embed the functionality of Data Server Runtime Client or IBM Data Server Driver Package in your application.

Setting up a client or driver

After you decide which client to use, set up the client by performing the following steps:
  1. Ensure that system prerequisites are satisfied.
  2. Perform the installation.
For systems where a Version 8 client or a Db2 Version 9 client exists, consider whether to upgrade the existing client to a version 11.5 Data Server Client, or keep the current client and install version 11.5 as an additional client. Upgrading to a the client is strongly suggested. Running multiple copies of the client packages is for advanced users only.
Note: The option to upgrade and replace the existing client applies to Data Server Client only.