Native SQL, Agent-less access to Oracle, MS-SQL, MySQL, Excel & other data sources
DB-Gate: IBM i Remote Database Access
• DB-Gate strengthens the connectability of the IBM i in a multi-platform environment
• DB-Gate strengthens the IBM i which can now easily become the repository of data which has been stored in Oracle, MySQL, etc.
The Vision
DB-Gate
The Challenge: To integrate data in a multi-DB environment
• Companies have heterogeneous environments need to integrate data from the financial application on System A, the ERP application on B and the CRM on System C.
• ODBC is good BUT the initiative for executing ODBC lies within Windows or Linux the software must be written Visual Basic, .NET, C#, etc.
• So who has lost out?– Everyone connected with the i, from CIO to programmers.– The company which does not fully utilize the resources which it has-
those programmers who know RPG and Cobol– The IBM i (and IBM itself!) whose importance and centrality in the
organization have deteriorated
Customer Testimonial- Wolseley LLC, Canada• Company (http://www.wolseley.com) is the world’s largest trade
distributor of plumbing and heating products and a leading supplier of building materials.
• Group revenue in 2012 was 13 billion GBP.
• They use Oracle Access Manager to synchronize data between Oracle DBs and IBM i, “pushing” and “pulling” large amounts of data in both directions. However, OAM does not run on 7.1; DB-Gate does!
• “I ran a procedure which extracts all of the items from one of our divisions and sends it using DB-GATE connect (as Insert) from 5-6 files. The records sent were almost one million and I calculated that it will run for almost 10-12 hours, which is OK.”
Customer Testimonial- Wolseley LLC, Canada
14 Feb 2013 07:58 AM by Syed Farhan Qadri, Wolseley LLC, Canada
I had several small issues with DB-Gate which I worked with the vendor supplying them with all traces.
I am happy with overall tests with DB-Gate to Oracle and now MSSQL server also with all RPG SQL embedded programs and will soon be moving to DB-Gate from Access Manager from Oracle since they (Oracle) have stopped support in 7.1 OS.
Quote below is from http://www.iprodeveloper.com/forums/aft/148782 .
• Use a Type-4 MS JDBC driver and Java to access SQL• Concerns: Non-standard, knowledge, language,
performance, maintenance issues
• IBM InfoSphere Federation on Linux/Windows• Concerns: Additional hardware, cost (>$70K), complex
• DB-Gate• Advantages: Native and standard IBM i, superior
performance
Accessing Other DBs from IBM i
IBM i
When an i application requires integration of data with any other database…
OracleMS SQL MySQL
SQLite
ExcelCSV
You have the freedom of choice to run it on any platform except the i.
This is because the i cannot “connect” to other databases, but they all can ODBC to the i !
Oracle
MS SQL
MySQL
SQLite
ExcelCSV
IBM i
Oracle
MS SQL
MySQL
SQLite
ExcelCSV
APIAPI
FTPFTP HWSWHWSW
Oh yes - you can use a complex customized solution based on FTP, use a product that requires a
middleware server, or write complex non standard APIs, …but why? Now you have an alternative…
DB-Gate (patent-pending):requires no API, no HW/SW server, and it runs native
on the i, including STRSQL, and CRTSQLxxx, and even integrates with Host Server Authentication
Oracle
MS SQL
MySQL
SQLite
ExcelCSV
DB-Gate
APIAPI
FTPFTP HWSWHWSW
• However, DB-Gate can work in “Server Mode” as either an Internal or External server (both are optional)
– Internal Server: A server subsystem needs to be started
– External Server: Removes load off of the IBM I; installed and started from a PC
No Hardware/Software server is required…
DB-Gate
COBOL / RPG / C
*...1....+....2....+....3...C/EXEC SQLC+ DECLARE C1 CURSOR FORC+ SELECT * FROM CORPDATA.DEPTC+ WHERE JOB = 'MANAGER'C/END-EXEC
STRSQL
Enter SQL Statements> SELECT * FROM PROD.CUST> CREATE VIEW CORPDATA.MANAGERS AS SELECT LASTNAME, DEPT FROM CORP.EM WHERE JOB = 'MANAGER'> DELETE FROM PROD.CUST WHERE ID = 78===> ________________________________
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DB-Gate vs. RDB Connect Comparison
RDB Connect DB-Gate
Based on API SQL
Simplicity Low High
Works in STRSQL No Yes
Standard SQL in RPG, Cobol, C No Yes
Doesn’t requires manipulation for each field by an API
No Yes
Integrates with Server Authentication No Yes
Supports Excel, CSV(Owner written driver)
No Yes
High-level activity log No Yes
Hebrew support No Yes
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DB-Gate vs. ODBC
ODBC DB-Gate
Connection initiated by PC IBM i
Programming language .NET, C#, VB RPG, Cobol, C
Programmer experience Windows IBM i
Program runs on PC IBM i
Resources consumed on PC IBM i
Support for DBs and other data sources
Type of DB i5/OS DB-Gate
DB2 Y Y 1
Oracle - Y
Microsoft SQL Server - Y
PostgreSQL - Y
MySQL - Y
SQLite - Y
Firebird - Y
Excel, CSV,TXT(developed by Raz-Lee)
- Y
1 DB-Gate improves access by eliminating the need for *SQLPKG on target DB2s
• “Keep alive” statement that is sent repeatedly so that the server does not disconnect
• Support for SMB (MS protocol) to allow access to Excel/CSV files on shared folders
• Added support for reading Excel 2007-2010 (XLSX) formats • Can run as an internal server on the i, eliminating the JVM starting time • Can run as an external server on a PC, meaning there is no JVM on the i,
reducing an extensive load from the i. • Running on a PC enables DB-Gate to work with additional data sources by
employing the JDBC-ODBC bridge. This means for example that we can get data from MS Access.
• Federated databases – support planned
DB-Gate: Latest Features
DB-Gate
Utilizes standard SQL statements
Works from all native SQL commands (STRSQL)
Integrated with IBM Host Server Authentication(eliminating repetitive User/Pwd)
F4=Prompt will display remote table columns