Cannot create a data source (WebSphere Application Server)

On WebSphere Application Server, you cannot create a data source to connect to your database. The test database connection attempt fails.

Symptoms

The test database connection fails when you do any of the following steps on the Create a Data Source for Your Database task:
  • Click Test Database Connection.
  • Click Next to continue in the wizard.
  • Click Run in advanced configuration and deployment mode.

Causes

The database connection can fail for any of the following reasons:
  • The provided values for one or more of the following properties are incorrect or invalid:
    • Database host name
    • Database port
    • Database user name
    • Database user password
  • The database server is not running.
  • The IBM Content Navigator server is unable to reach the database server.
  • The JDBC drivers are not installed on the IBM Content Navigator server.
  • The IBM Content Navigator JDBC driver configuration is incorrect.

Resolving the problem

Take the following actions to resolve the problem:
  • Address any data input errors
  • Ensure that the database server is running
  • Ensure that you can connect to your database server from the IBM Content Navigator server.

    Use the method recommended by your database server documentation. For example, for Db2®, you can use the Command Line Processor to connect to your database server.

  • Ensure that you installed your JDBC drivers on the IBM Content Navigator server. In addition, ensure that the following statements are true:
    • The JDBC drivers are the correct type of driver for your database server
    • The JDBC drivers are the correct version for your database
If you have taken all of the corrective actions above, the IBM Content Navigator JDBC driver configuration is incorrect, which causes problems when you try to create a data source. Open the Configure the JDBC Driver for Your Database task and take the following actions:
  • If you are deploying IBM Content Navigatorin a WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment environment, ensure that you selected the correct deployment type for your environment.
    • If you are deploying to WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment without a cluster, you must select Network Deployment.
    • If you are deploying to a highly available cluster environment in WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment, you must select Cluster.
  • Ensure that you specified the correct type of JDBC drivers for your database server.
  • Ensure that you specified the correct directory for the JDBC drivers on the IBM Content Navigator server.

If you ran the Configure the JDBC Driver for Your Database task successfully, open the administrative console and ensure that the JDBC driver was added to the WebSphere Application Server environment variables at the correct level.