DataDirect's ADO.NET Data Provider for Oracle

DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET offers Oracle database developers and application architects feature rich, reliable, and secure data connectivity that is simple to implement and easy to manage, even when connecting between different database versions or platforms.

DataDirect's ADO.NET data provider supports Oracle 8i, 9i, 10g, and 11g, and is the only 100% managed code data provider available. As a 100% managed code provider, Oracle client libraries are not required, eliminating the deployment, maintenance and performance costs associated with the client, and allowing all of the database processing to occur within the CLR (Common Language Runtime). These features significantly improve performance, reliability and application security.

DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET has been thoroughly proven in data transaction intensive environments in which high performance, stability and security are mission-critical requirements.

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To learn more about DataDirect's ADO.NET data provider for Oracle, select one of the topics below.  Also see the competitive advantage matrix to learn more about the benefits of 100% managed data providers.

Topics:

Why Choose DataDirect ADO.NET Data Providers for Oracle?

DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET is the only 100% managed code provider for Oracle that supports both the 32-bit and 64-bit .NET Framework for versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5. All other options, including the Oracle data provider, do not employ 100% managed code.

Because the DataDirect data provider is 100% managed code, your .NET assemblies run inside the .NET CLR (Common Language Runtime), allowing your application to take advantage of the numerous built-in services that enhance performance.

By contrast, Oracle’s providers bridge into unmanaged code (code outside the .NET environment), adversely affecting performance due to the overhead required by the CLR to make additional checks on calls to the unmanaged code.

For applications that require speed and scalability, DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET offers application developers and architects a superior choice. Internal tests show the DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET is significantly faster under load conditions than either Oracle’s ODP.NET or Microsoft's ADO.NET data provider for Oracle.

Flexible Deployment Support

Since DataDirect's Connect for ADO.NET does not rely on the Oracle client software (OCI), DataDirect eliminates versioning issues associated with database client libraries and provides a great deal of flexibility in terms of deployment options. With DataDirect, applications can be deployed “side by side” using different versions of the ADO.NET provider allowing different versions of Oracle to be accessed from the same application host machine. This eliminates the constraint in the Oracle solution that forces all applications to use the same version of the native database client which is effectively “hard wired” to a specific Oracle version. DataDirect’s approach eliminates the need to re-qualify all applications due to the fact that an unrelated application is using a different version of the provider / database and provides greater flexibility in terms of development, QA and deployment schedules.

In addition, DataDirect is the only Oracle data provider that supports all Oracle versions in a single provider assembly. This approach reduces the cost associated with developing and deploying applications vs. Oracle’s approach that relies on native database clients that are “hard wired” to specific versions of the Oracle database.

Supports Microsoft .NET Framework Versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 / ADO.NET 2.0

The DataDirect Oracle data provider is certified for use with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 (32-bit and 64-bit) and conforms to the ADO.NET 2.0 specification. ADO.NET 2.0 provides support for a Common Programming Model that makes it easy to write interoperable code for various target databases.

Visual Studio 2008 Developer Tools

Only DataDirect offers visual development aids that integrate seamlessly into the Visual Studio 2008 environment. These tools provide a consistent level of functionality across the different database types and graphical dialogs that guide the developer in the connection process.

ClickOnce Deployment

The DataDirect provider can be distributed along with the application via the .NET "ClickOnce" Deployment capability. (Formerly referred to as "No-Touch Deployment" in the .NET 1.x Framework.)

Oracle providers require manual deployment to each server or workstation hosting the application.

Testing and Performance Benchmarking

DataDirect's .NET testing infrastructure [the ADO.NET Verification Suite (ADOVS)] is designed to ensure quality and reliability, verify conformance using the Microsoft LTM (Local Test Manager), and rigorously test against all supported Oracle database versions. This comprehensive testing ensures that you can develop the most robust Oracle .NET application possible within your environment.

Support for the Microsoft Enterprise Library Data Access Application Block (DAAB)

Simplifies application development by wrapping common data access tasks into portable code that supports multiple applications and databases. DAAB classes provide access to the most frequently used features in ADO.NET greatly improving developer productivity. DAAB support requires Release 3.1, SP1.

Enhanced support for Meta-data Schema Options

In order to handle meta-data queries that result in a large amount of information, DataDirect now provides tunable and fine-grained control of what meta-data is returned to the ADO.NET provider to the application. The developer can configure whether specific collections (e.g., Descriptions, Synonyms, etc.) are returned as the result of a DBCommand.GetSchema() method call. This capability requires Release 3.1, SP 1.

Improved Integration with Visual Studio 2005

DataDirect has updated its support for Visual Studio 2005, including integration of the DataDirect Performance Tuning Wizards, DBA tools including Table and View Wizards, as well as developer aids with standard Templates and Toolkits. This capability requires Release 3.1, SP 1.

Competitive Advantage

See the competitive advantage matrix which compares the performance and reliability advantages of using a 100% managed code data provider like DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET.

Oracle Features

The following Oracle features are supported by DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET:

  • Support for Oracle-style REF Cursors – support for Oracle style REF Cursor support allows developers to use overloaded stored procedure using REF Cursors. This allows Oracle-based applications to more easily migrate to DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET.
  • Support for Oracle data types: Timestamp, Timestamp with Local Time Zone, Timestamp with Time Zone (all Timestamp data types are supported in Oracle 9i or higher only), NChar, NVarchar, NClob, and ROWID
  • Supports Oracle 10g Binary Float and Binary Double Data types
  • Supports Oracle RAC
  • Ability to execute PL/SQL upon connection
  • TNSNAMES.ORA Support
  • Ability to use native Named Parameter format in stored procedure calls
  • Support for PL/SQL Associative Arrays (Table type) as input parameters to Stored Procedures
  • Support for multiple TNS Names files for failover purposes
  • Supports the ability to execute a single SQL statement using multiple rows of values
  • Tuning options to control the amount of data that is returned across the network on single roundtrips from the Oracle server
  • Asynchronous Commit Functionality – DataDirect provides the ability to control whether aspects of a commit operation are performed synchronously or asynchronously. This capability provides better control to the developer so that the developer can make trade-offs between transaction control and application response time.
  • SYSDBA / SYSOPER login support – DataDirect provides the ability to associate the SYSDBA and / or SYSOPER role with a user. This is necessary since some database operations require privileged access.
  • "Support Links" support – DataDirect provides the ability to designate whether a data source can be enlisted in a distributed transaction. The developer can now specify this enabling better control over distributed transactions and offers the potential for computer resource savings.
  • Expired password support – to better support situations where a password is expired, DataDirect now provides the ability to provide an alternate password as part of the connection string. If the primary password has been expired, the provider will attempt to connect using the alternate password.
  • TCPS support for TNSNAMES.ora – DataDirect now supports the ability to interact with the TNSNAMES.ora file via the TCPS protocol. Previous support was limited to TCP.
  • Support for statement caching for increased efficiency between Oracle database and .NET application
  • Additional connection tuning options – Array Send Size, Socket Send Buffer Size, Socket Receive Buffer Size
  • Connection Statistics and Client Monitoring Information
  • Server-side result set caching to boost performance for specific application operations connecting to Oracle 11g without changes to the application code
  • Transparent Data and Tablespace Encryption support
  • SECUREFILE LOB Storage support
  • Transaction Timeout – Configure a specific transaction timeout time without changes to the application code

Interoperability

DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET enables applications to access multiple databases with fewer lines of code and less maintenance, ensuring consistent functionality and performance, regardless of the database.

Data Direct’s ADO.NET data provider includes interoperability features such as a common code base across all providers; standard escape syntax for stored procedures, outer joins, scalar functions, and date, time and timestamps. Additional functionality includes ANSI standard parameter markers, standardized error code mapping and SQL leveling. DataDirect's ADO.NET data provider also supports provider-neutral error objects, standardized error code mappings and common ways to specify arrays of parameters for use.

By contrast, Oracle's data providers are specific to individual Oracle databases and versions, which means that interoperability is not provided across the entire Oracle product line, let alone support for other database versions such as DB2, Sybase and SQL Server.

Bulk Load

A persistent data connectivity challenge is the need to load very large amounts of data into relational databases as fast as possible. DataDirect Bulk Load is the first independent, standards-based implementation of bulk load functionality that provides consistent semantics across all supported databases, including Oracle.

ClickOnce Deployment

ClickOnce Deployment is a feature of the .NET Framework that lets you package Windows Forms applications so they can be distributed with a minimum of work. Like browser-based application deployment, ClickOnce Deployment lets clients download the assemblies they need from a remote Web server.

Only 100% managed code solutions like DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET, offers the ability to deploy the data providers along with the application code. Oracle providers require manual effort for the initial installation and ongoing maintenance of the data access components.

Connection Pooling

Connection pooling in ADO.NET is not provided by the core components of the .NET Framework. It must be implemented in the .NET data provider itself. All DataDirect .NET data providers provide the same connection pooling functionality.

By thoughtfully handling connection management before implementation of the ADO.NET provider, improved application performance and maintainability can be substantially improved.

Connection Failover and Client Load Balancing

It is important to ensure that the data on which your critical .NET application depends is always available. "Connection failover" and "connection retry" are two useful features that are available in the DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET data provider.

Connection failover allows an application to connect to an alternate (or backup) database server if the primary database server is unavailable.

Connection retry defines the number of times that the data provider attempts to connect to the primary (and, if configured, alternate or back up) database servers after the first unsuccessful connection attempt. Connection retry can be an important strategy for seamless system recovery.

Distributed Transactions

If your .NET application needs to connect to more than one database, you need to use distributed transactions (application code that relies on multiple data sources). The DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET data provider supports distributed transactions using the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC).

By contrast, Oracle's provider does not support distributed transactions without the addition of Oracle Services for MTS.

Operating System (OS) Authentication (aka Single Sign-On/Kerberos)

OS authentication is a trusted third-party authentication service that verifies user identities. The latest release of DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET Oracle data providers support NTLM, which delivers a session security mechanism that provides for message confidentiality (encryption) and integrity (signing). Kerberos is a variety of NTLM.

This feature can be used to integrate the authentication of users for an application with the authentication mechanisms provided by the environment the application runs in. Organizations can create a Single Sign-On environment that bolsters security, eliminates the need for users to log in separately for each application, and reduces the costs associated with managing user accounts. DataDirect's OS authentication features allow the ADO.NET Oracle data provider to integrate seamlessly into that environment.

The following authentication features are supported:

  • Delegated credentials – Provides the ability for the application to act on behalf of the user. For web-based applications, the application or web server can use the delegated credential that represents the user vs. the credential that represents the server administrator. This bolsters security because the application can base permissions on the actual end-user. In addition, the application audit trail can associate usage with the end-user vs. a generic system administrator ID.
  • Re-authentication – DataDirect provides the ability to re-associate a pooled connection with a different authenticated user. Applications that use connection pooling can use this feature to more efficiently re-use connections while minimizing the number of connections required in the pool.
  • Comprehensive KDC (Kerberos Key Distribution Center) support – Includes support for both Active Directory and MIT.

Support for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Encryption

SSL is an industry-standard protocol for sending encrypted data over database connections. SSL secures the integrity of your Oracle data by encrypting information and providing client/server authentication. DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET Oracle data providers support SSL to protect data that is transmitted between the database and the application, data that could otherwise be compromised.

XML Data Type Support

The database vendors have started to add support for a native XML data type that will allow you to store native XML data. A database table can now be created that contains one or more XML data type columns. XML data type columns are stored as large binary objects enabling the XML model to support document order and recursive structures. Unfortunately, the data type implementation approaches used by the database vendors vary, making it difficult to develop interoperable database access code. DataDirect provides support for XML data types in the Oracle ADO.NET providers. DataDirect is providing a consistent mechanism to interact and manage XML data across databases and across DataDirect products (ADO.NET, JDBC and ODBC).

Superior Performance and Scalability

DataDirect's ADO.NET data providers are proven in production scenarios and benchmark tests to be significantly faster and more scalable than Oracle providers. In some scenarios, the DataDirect solution has significantly decreased the number of servers required to support a multi-tier application. Benchmark results show that for queries that select a single row, the DataDirect driver performs from 148% to 357% better as the number of threads are scaled in the test.

In addition, through the use of multiple connection options available through the use of the DataDirect provider, any .NET application can benefit because no code changes are required.

Performance Tuning Wizard

DataDirect .NET providers include a simple-to-use wizard that automatically generates the connection properties needed to configure your ADO.NET data provider for optimal performance.

The Performance Tuning Wizard covers all application characteristics that affect performance, including database type, select statement characteristics, stored procedures usage, transaction characteristics, scrollable result sets, etc.

Performance Testing

Our experienced staff employs a wide variety of tests designed to exercise the data provider, not the database, so provider execution is isolated and measured. Tests performed include every area of functionality in which high performance is expected, including inserts, updates, deletes, and selects. Other tests include very high volume and batch transactions, as well as data type conversion and parameter testing.

Scalability Testing

To test for scalability, we start with one thread and increase the thread count until either the client-side hardware or the server-side hardware reaches saturation. We are always striving to improve over our previous product release, and we look for factors such as good response time, efficient use of network traffic, disk I/O usage and efficient use of memory.

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