Data sources and connections

A data source defines the physical connection to a database. IBM® Cognos® Analytics supports multiple relational, OLAP, and DMR data sources.

The data source connection specifies the parameters needed to connect to the database, such as the location of the database and the timeout duration. A data source connection can include credentials information and a signon. One data source can have multiple connections.

You can make one or more data sources available by combining them, along with other elements, in packages created and published using Framework Manager. For instructions on creating packages, see the IBM Cognos Framework Manager User Guide. You can also create and edit packages in IBM Cognos software for some data sources. For more information, see Packages.

You can secure data sources using IBM Cognos security. IBM Cognos software also respects any security that is defined within the data source. For more information, see Securing data sources

You move data sources from one environment to another environment by deploying the entire content store. For more information, see Deployment.

Compatible query mode

This type of query processing is used in IBM Cognos Analytics version 10.2.2 and earlier. To run reports that use the compatible query mode, you must use 32-bit data source client libraries and configure the report server to be 32-bit. The compatible query mode uses native client and ODBC connections to communicate with data sources.

If the data source is 64-bit, ensure that you use the 32-bit client libraries to connect to the data source to use the compatibility query mode.

Dynamic query mode

Dynamic query mode provides communication to data sources using Java or XMLA connections.

For supported relational databases, a type 4 JDBC connection is required. A type 4 JDBC driver converts JDBC calls directly into the vendor-specific database protocol. It is written in pure Java and is platform-independent. For relational databases, the JDBC drivers must be copied to the IBM Cognos Analytics install_location\drivers directory. For more information, see the topic about setting database connectivity for reporting databases in the IBM Cognos Analytics Installation and Configuration Guide.

For supported OLAP data sources, XMLA connectivity optimizes access by providing customized and enhanced MDX for the specific source and version of your OLAP technology and it harnesses the smarts of the OLAP data source.

For more information, see Using JDBC connections for data sources.