DB2 Version 9.7 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

IBM data server clients and drivers overview

This topic outlines information available about clients and drivers, and provides links to further details. This topic will help you to perform the following tasks:
  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 connecting to the remote database is:
  • An application located 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 need to also 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 recommended 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.

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™.

In addition, a separate product, DB2 Connect Personal Edition, includes all the functionality of IBM Data Server Client plus the capability to connect to midrange and mainframe databases.

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 a product DVD.

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.

In DB2® Version 9.7 Fix Pack 7, deployment of the IBM Data Server Provider for .NET on Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 platforms might result in errors due to .NET Framework 3.5. These errors might occur during the installation of the following clients or driver:
  • IBM Data Server Client
  • IBM Data Server Runtime Client
  • IBM Data Server Driver Package
To successfully setup and configure install .NET Framework 3.5 on these platforms, you must complete some additional steps. For details, see setup recommendations for running applications on Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

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 already exists, consider whether to upgrade the existing client to a Version 9.7 Data Server Client, or, keep the pre-Version 9.7 client and install the Version 9.7 Data Server Client as an additional client. Upgrading to a Version 9.7 client is strongly recommended. 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.