Overview of Linux Platform Support for DataDirect ODBC
DataDirect ODBC drivers have a proven track record of success on enterprise distributions of Linux in demanding production environments in which superior performance, unparalleled quality, and guaranteed reliability are mission-critical requirements. All of this is accomplished with ODBC drivers that offer the simplest installation, configuration, and management available on Linux, even when connecting between different databases or database versions.
To learn more about DataDirect's ODBC drivers on Linux, review the materials below and follow the related links for deeper technical information.
Overview of Linux Platform Support for DataDirect ODBC
- Why Choose DataDirect ODBC Drivers for Linux?
- Linux Distributions and Processor Architectures Supported
- Specific Features Available for Linux
For information on DataDirect's ODBC drivers on UNIX, click here.
Why Choose DataDirect ODBC Drivers for Linux?
DataDirect ODBC drivers do not require database client libraries
DataDirect Technologies is the first and only vendor to offer a full suite of ODBC drivers built using innovative wire protocol technology. The wire protocol architecture eliminates the need for the database's client libraries (for example, Oracle Net9), so the driver communicates directly to the database through the database's own wire level protocol. This makes the costs and headaches associated with installing, configuring, and maintaining database client libraries a thing of the past. Wire protocol ODBC drivers that are available for Linux include Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, Sybase and Informix.
License ODBC drivers for all of your databases and platforms from a single provider
For environments that require ODBC connectivity on multiple platforms to more than one database, DataDirect offers a full suite of ODBC drivers for all the major databases across all platforms including Linux. Customers who license DataDirect ODBC drivers often do so because of this breadth of database and platform coverage but also because DataDirect ODBC drivers are designed for maximum interoperability across databases and platforms. These design features enable developers who are familiar with DataDirect ODBC drivers for a particular database or platform to move to or add another database or platform quickly and easily without any special challenges.
Best ODBC driver performance for any production scenario
DataDirect wire protocol ODBC drivers access the database directly without using database client libraries. This effectively removes a communication layer and dramatically increases the overall performance of Linux applications. In fact, an independent study by database expert Ken North proves that DataDirect wire protocol ODBC drivers outperform applications coded in the database's proprietary (native) API. DataDirect offers more than great out-of-the-box performance; Performance Wizards are available that can be used with the ODBC drivers on Linux to help tune the drivers for optimal performance. Easy driver tuning ensures that no matter what the production scenario is like, the DataDirect ODBC driver will still exhibit optimal performance on par with the results achieved during development and testing.
Quality and Reliability
The ability to consistently perform well in any set of circumstances defines the quality of DataDirect ODBC drivers. DataDirect ODBC drivers are thoroughly tested to ensure that no matter what application environment and architecture you use, the ODBC drivers will work. DataDirect tests its ODBC drivers using the largest, most mature ODBC testing infrastructure in existence, the DataDirect ODBC Verification Suite (OVS). The OVS runs millions of test cases against each DataDirect ODBC drivers across all major client operating systems including the Red Hat and SUSE distributions of Linux as well as various UNIX (hyperlink to the "ODBC on UNIX" tab) distributions. This rigorous testing process is designed to guarantee that there will be no unpleasant surprises when the driver is rolled out into production.
Support
DataDirect offers the best technical support in the entire software industry as evidenced by winning the Omega NorthFace Award for five consecutive years. SupportLink, DataDirect's technical support organization, offers customers 7x24 phone access to technical experts with over 150 cumulative years of troubleshooting experience with the ODBC API across a multiple of platforms including Linux. Email support and online case creation and monitoring are also available as is the DataDirect Knowledgebase, a repository of thousands patches and fixes to known issues as well as code samples for all products, platforms, and databases.
History
DataDirect understands data connectivity products and standards better than anyone, as evidenced by the company's long history. Since working with Microsoft to deliver version 1.0 of the ODBC specification in 1992 and becoming the first non-Microsoft vendor to ship ODBC drivers at the 1.0 specification level, DataDirect has consistently been not just the world's leading vendor of ODBC drivers for Linux, but a leader and innovator in the realm of ODBC and other data access APIs as well. Technical leadership, the ability to deliver innovative products, and a history of commitment to high quality data connectivity are reasons why over 300 software companies and 96 of the Fortune 100 have chosen DataDirect Technologies.
Linux Distributions and Processor Architectures Supported
DataDirect has the most comprehensive coverage of Linux distributions and processor architectures available. The list below describes the platforms that are supported today by the current supported release of our Connect for ODBC and Connect64 for ODBC drivers:
- Red Hat Enterprise
- Intel x86 processor, OS versions 3.0 and 4.0
- SUSE Enterprise Server
- Intel x86 processor, OS versions 8.0 and 9.0
- Red Hat Enterprise
- Intel Itanium processor, OS versions 3.0 and 4.0
- AMD / Intel x64 processor, OS version 4.0
- SUSE Enterprise Server
- AMD / Intel x64 processor, OS version 9.0
If you don't see a distribution, distribution version, or processor architecture combination listed above that you are interested in, contact us to ask about it. Sometimes limited availability product is available for other configurations than what is listed here.
Specific Features Available for Linux
For a general list of features relevant to all platforms for the Connect for ODBC drivers, click here. For Connect64 for ODBC drivers, click here.
DataDirect ODBC Driver Manager
Microsoft selected DataDirect Technologies to be the exclusive licensee of the Microsoft Windows ODBC Driver Manager to port ODBC to non-Windows platforms. Therefore, each installation of DataDirect ODBC drivers on Linux comes with an ODBC driver manager that has equivalent functionality of the Microsoft Windows ODBC Driver Manager. DataDirect offers customers the only solution for applications that rely upon the most current and reliable ODBC driver manager features and functionality on Linux.
New ODBC Administrator
The ODBC Administrator for the Linux platform allows you to create, modify, and remove standard and file data sources. If you are familiar with the Windows ODBC Administrator, you will find this tool easy and convenient to use.
Full Unicode and multi-language character set support
Applications and databases that have requirements to successfully store, query, and handle multi-language data must be capable of supporting data encoded in non-English ANSI character sets or in Unicode. This means that the ODBC drivers that are used in these environments must also be fully capable of supporting non-English ANSI or Unicode data. DataDirect's ODBC drivers on Linux offer the most robust multi-language ANSI and Unicode character set support available and are designed and tested with a wide variety of data in an array of environments to ensure that data integrity is maintained.
DSN-less Connection String support
For some applications, having a static file that contains a list of ODBC data source information presents a security and usability concern. By supporting DSN-less connections, DataDirect ODBC drivers on Linux allow an application to successfully connect with a database without first having to configure an ODBC data source. This feature increases the practical usefulness of an application while eliminating the associated security concerns that come with a static data source list.
File DSN Support
File DSNs offer an easy way for application administrators to set ODBC data source information and distribute the information among multiple platforms or application deployments. DataDirect ODBC drivers on Linux can be configured to read information out of a File DSN, greatly simplifying application administration.
ODBC Troubleshooting Tools
Troubleshooting ODBC issues on Linux can be difficult and time-consuming which is why DataDirect offers the following tools to aid in resolving your technical issues more quickly:
- Full ODBC application tracing capabilities including process ID, thread number, and ODBC handle information
- A configurable proxy tool to decode network packet information exchanged between the driver and database
- Sample ODBC applications with platform-specific source code and Makefiles
