IBM Data Virtualization connection

To access your data in Data Virtualization, create a connection asset for it. A Data Virtualization connection is created automatically in a catalog or project when you publish a virtual object to a catalog or assign it to a project. The IBM Data Virtualization connection was formerly know as the Watson Query connection.

Data Virtualization integrates data sources across multiple types and locations and turns all this data into one logical data view. This virtual data view makes the job of getting value out of your data easy.

Create a Data Virtualization connection

To create the connection asset, you need these connection details:

Credentials

Use one of these methods to authenticate to a Data Virtualization instance:

Connecting to a Data Virtualization instance in Cloud Pak for Data

  • User credentials: Enter your Cloud Pak for Data username and password.
  • API key: Enter an API key value with your Cloud Pak for Data username and a Cloud Pak for Data API key. Use this syntax: user_name:api_key
  • Use my platform login credentials. This option is available If you select Personal credentials and the User credentials authentication method. The Data Virtualization service must be deployed on the same instance of Cloud Pak for Data where you are creating the connection. With platform credentials, the connection to Data Virtualization is established by using your current session JSON Web Token (JWT).

Connecting to a Data Virtualization instance in IBM Cloud

  • API key: Enter an IAM API key. Prerequisites:
    1. Add the user ID as an IAM user or as a service ID to your IBM Cloud account. For instructions, see the Console user experience section of the Identity and access management (IAM) on IBM Cloud topic.
    2. The Data Virtualization Manager of the Data Virtualization instance must add IAM users by selecting Data > Data Virtualization > Administration > User management from the Cloud Pak for Data as a Service navigation menu.

For Credentials and Certificates, you can use secrets if a vault is configured for the platform and the service supports vaults. For information, see Using secrets from vaults in connections.

Choose the method for creating a connection based on where you are in the platform

In a project
Click Assets > New asset > Prepare data > Connect to a data source. See Adding a connection to a project.
In a catalog
Click Add to catalog > Connection. See Adding a connection asset to a catalog.
In a deployment space
Click Import assets > Data access > Connection. See Adding data assets to a deployment space.
In the Platform assets catalog
Click New connection. See Adding platform connections.

Next step: Add data assets from the connection

Where you can use this connection

You can use Data Virtualization connections in the following workspaces and tools:

Projects

This list provides examples of how a Data Virtualization connection can be used.

Catalogs

  • Platform assets catalog

  • Other catalogs (IBM Knowledge Catalog)

Connected assets in governed catalogs can be used for the enforcement of data protection rules in Data Virtualization.

Data Product Hub
You can connect to this data source from Data Product Hub. For instructions, see Connectors for Data Product Hub.

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) compliance

This connection can be used on a FIPS-enabled cluster (FIPS tolerant); however, it is not FIPS-compliant.

Important: In a FIPS-compliant environment, if you specify a port that is not secured by TLS (The Port is SSL-enabled checkbox is not selected), the username and password values will not be encrypted.

Setup

Installing Data Virtualization

Restriction

You can use this connection only for source data. You cannot write to data with this connection.

Learn more

Parent topic: Supported connections