Migrate from Simba Spark ODBC Driver to Databricks ODBC Driver

Databricks renamed the ODBC driver in February 2026. This guide helps you migrate existing connections from the legacy Simba Spark ODBC Driver to the Databricks ODBC Driver.

Databricks is no longer distributing new versions of the legacy Simba driver, but existing versions remain supported for two years. Databricks recommends migrating to the new driver to gain access to the latest features and improvements. Both drivers can coexist during migration, so you can migrate incrementally across applications, test without disrupting production, and roll back quickly if needed.

What changed

Only the driver name and installation paths changed. All connection parameters and functionality remain the same.

Component	Simba Spark ODBC Driver	Databricks ODBC Driver
Windows install path	C:\Program Files\Simba Spark ODBC Driver	C:\Program Files\Databricks ODBC Driver
Linux install path	/opt/simba/spark	/opt/databricks/databricksodbc
macOS install path	/Library/simba/spark	/Library/databricks/databricksodbc
Environment variable	SIMBASPARKINI	DATABRICKSODBCINI

Migration steps

Complete these steps to migrate from the legacy Simba ODBC Driver to the Databricks ODBC Driver.

Step 1: Install the new driver

Download from the Databricks ODBC Driver download page and run the installer for your platform.

Windows

Run the .msi installer and follow the prompts.

Linux (RPM)

sudo rpm -i databricks-odbc-*.rpm

Linux (DEB)

sudo dpkg -i databricks-odbc_*.deb

MacOS

Open the .dmg file and run the .pkg installer.

Step 2: Update connection strings

Change the driver name in your connection strings:

Before:

Driver={Simba Spark ODBC Driver};Host=...

After:

Driver={Databricks ODBC Driver};Host=...

All other parameters (Host, Port, HTTPPath, AuthMech, and credentials) remain unchanged.

Step 3: Update DSN configurations

Skip this step if you use DSN-less connection strings.

Windows

1. Open the ODBC Data Source Administrator.
2. Select your DSN and click Configure.
3. Select Databricks ODBC Driver from the driver list.
4. Click OK.

Linux/macOS

Update your odbc.ini file to point to the new driver library:

Before:

Driver=/opt/simba/spark/lib/64/libsparkodbc_sb64.so

After:

Driver=/opt/databricks/databricksodbc/lib/64/libdatabricksodbc_sb64.so

Step 4: Update environment variables (Linux/macOS only)

If you use SIMBASPARKINI, change it to DATABRICKSODBCINI:

export DATABRICKSODBCINI=/path/to/databricks.odbc.ini

Step 5: Update application code

Update driver name references in your code:

Python

# Before
conn_str = "Driver={Simba Spark ODBC Driver};..."

# After
conn_str = "Driver={Databricks ODBC Driver};..."

Java

// Before
String connStr = "jdbc:odbc:Driver={Simba Spark ODBC Driver};...";

// After
String connStr = "jdbc:odbc:Driver={Databricks ODBC Driver};...";

C#

// Before
string connStr = "Driver={Simba Spark ODBC Driver};...";

// After
string connStr = "Driver={Databricks ODBC Driver};...";

Step 6: Verify the migration

Test your connection:

SELECT current_version();

Confirm the driver is installed:

Windows

Check ODBC Data Source Administrator > Drivers tab for "Databricks ODBC Driver".

Linux/macOS

Run the following command. The output includes [Databricks ODBC Driver]:

odbcinst -q -d

Tool-specific migration

Follow these additional steps for specific tools and platforms.

Tableau

Tableau automatically detects the new driver in most cases. Verify by checking Data > [Your Connection] > Edit Connection.

Excel

Update your DSN in the ODBC Data Source Administrator. If you use Power Query formulas, update any references to the driver name.

SQL Server Management Studio

Update SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) linked server configurations that reference the old driver name and retest your queries.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during migration, try these solutions.

Driver not found error

Error: [IM002] Data source name not found and no default driver specified

Solutions:

• Verify the installation by checking the ODBC Data Source Administrator (Windows) or run odbcinst -q -d (Linux/macOS).
• Verify driver paths in odbc.ini or odbcinst.ini.
• Confirm correct architecture (32-bit versus 64-bit).

Library loading errors (Linux)

Error loading shared libraries

Solution: Install unixODBC:

# RPM-based
sudo yum install unixODBC

# Debian-based
sudo apt-get install unixodbc

Frequently asked questions

The following are common questions about migrating to the updated driver.

Do I need to change connection parameters besides the driver name?

No. All parameters (Host, Port, HTTPPath, AuthMech, and credentials) remain the same.

Will my existing DSNs stop working?

No, as long as the Simba driver remains installed. However, migrate to the new driver for future updates.

Is there any functionality change?

No. This is a renaming only. All features work identically.

Can I use both drivers simultaneously?

Yes. Install both drivers to migrate incrementally.

To get help, contact Databricks Support or your account team for migration assistance.