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Accessing a Mainframe Database Using ODBC

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If your application requires direct access to a relational database on the mainframe, you can use the SNA Server built-in Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver to concurrently access, view, and modify data. ODBC provides full transaction support, scrollable cursors, asynchronous calling, array fetch and update, a flexible connection model, and the use of stored procedures. Using an ODBC driver for direct data access preserves the integrity, storage, management, backup, and security provided by the original mainframe system.

Many ODBC drivers are ready for accessing mainframe relational databases. On IBM mainframes, for example, applications designed to use the ODBC/DRDA driver can access all ODBC databases that use the Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA) protocol. These databases include:

  • DB2 for OS/390 (formerly DB2 for MVS).
  • DB2 for VM (formerly SQL/DS for VM and VSE).
  • DB2/400 for AS/400.

The primary advantage of using an ODBC driver to access mainframe relational database tables is that it's simple, consistent, and leverages existing relational technology.

For More Information   For more information on using the Host Data Replicator for fast relational data access, see Accessing a Mainframe Database Using the Host Data Replicator in this chapter. For more information on the ODBC architecture and how your application can use ODBC for data access, see Data Access Using Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) in this chapter.