IBM Data Server Provider for .NET support for the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) can connect to a Db2® database server by using an ODBC, OLE DB, or Db2 (IBM® Data Server Provider for .NET) embedded connection type.

You can select Db2 (IBM Data Server Provider for .NET) as an embedded connection type in the SSRS application if one of the following Db2 products is installed in the SSRS environment:

  • ADb2 database server product (for example, Db2 Enterprise Server Edition)
  • IBM Data Server Client
  • IBM Data Server Runtime Client
  • IBM Data Server Driver Package

You can provide the credentials that are used in a connection to a Db2 database if you select the Db2 embedded connection in the supported Microsoft Visual Studio software. The credentials that you provide are masked instead of being displayed in plain text. Use of the Db2 embedded connection is supported for SSRS 2008 and SSRS 2012.

If you install the SSRS software in an environment where the Db2 product is already installed, by default, only ODBC and OLE DB embedded connection types are available for connections to Db2 databases. The reason is that the Db2 installation process updates the SSRS configuration files that are required to list IBM Data Server Provider for .NET in the embedded connection type section of the Microsoft Visual Studio software.

If you installed the SSRS product after you installed the Db2 software, you cannot select the IBM Data Server Provider for .NET when you configure an embedded connection. If you want to select the IBM Data Server Provider for .NET for use, you must either reinstall the Db2 product or start the IBM Data Server configuration tool.
  • To reinstall the Db2 product:
    1. Open the Control Panel.
    2. In the Programs and Features window, right-click the entry for the Db2 product.
    3. Click the Repair or Change button.
  • To start the IBM Data Server Provider for .NET configuration tool:
    1. Open the IBM Db2 group icon.
    2. Select the default Db2 copy. For example, DB2COPY1.
    3. Select the Set-up Tools icon.
    4. Select the Configure Db2 .NET Data Provider icon.
    The IBM Data Server Provider for .NET configuration tool (Configure Db2 .NET Data Provider) is not available for the IBM Data Server Driver Package installation.

Using any third party .NET compiler (that eagerly resolves the dependency chain of assemblies) to compile an application referencing IBM Data Server Provider for .NET might result in exception errors. In order to resolve the exception error Cannot resolve dependency to assembly Microsoft.ReportingServices.Interfaces, you need to install the SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) software.