Defining an ODBC connection to a database on Windows

Configure an ODBC data source using the ODBC Data Source Administrator; click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC), then click the System DSN tab. When you define a new data source, select the appropriate driver for your database and complete the dialog that is displayed. Refer to your relevant database product documentation for more information.

Setup considerations specific to WebSphere Message Broker are described below for the supported databases.

DB2 UDB
When you define a data source for DB2 UDB you must choose the driver named IBM DB2 ODBC DRIVER. Enter the data source name (DSN) and description, and select the correct database alias from the drop-down list. You must register the data source as a system data source.

You might find it easier to use the Configuration Assistant:

  1. Open the DB2 Configuration Assistant.
  2. Right-click the database, and select Change Database.
  3. Select Data Source.
  4. Select Register this database for ODBC and select the system data source option.
  5. Click Finish.
  6. The Test Connection dialog opens automatically and you can test the various connections.
Informix Dynamic Server
When you define a data source for Informix Dynamic Server, choose the driver:
  • IBM INFORMIX ODBC DRIVER
Complete these steps to configure the driver:
  1. On the Connection tab, specify:
    • the Informix server name
    • the machine host name
    • the Informix network service name (as defined in the services file)
    • the network protocol (for example, olsotcp)
    • the Informix data source name
    • the user identifier to access the data source within
    • the password for that user identifier
  2. Click Apply.
  3. Click Test Connection to check your supplied values.
  4. Click OK to finish.
Microsoft SQL Server
When you define a data source for Microsoft SQL Server you must choose the driver named SQL Server. The driver level must be Version 3.60 or later. Specify a name and description, and select the correct server from the drop-down list.
Oracle
When you define a data source for Oracle, choose the driver:
  • MQSeries DataDirect Technologies 5.00 32-BIT Oracle

Complete these steps to configure the driver:

  1. Enter the DSN name, description, and server name (where the server name is the "Service Name" that resolves to a "Connect Descriptor", for example through a mapping in the TSNAMES.ORA file).
  2. Start of changeSelect the appropriate Oracle client version from the drop-down list.End of change
  3. Ensure that the Enable SQLDescribeParam box is checked. This parameter is on the Advanced tab of the driver settings.
  4. Create a new registry subkey for each of your DSNs that reference an Oracle database. Use REGEDIT to navigate to the correct location:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
        SOFTWARE
            ODBC
                ODBC.INI
  5. Right-click the DSN, and select New > String Value. Specify WorkArounds for the string, and set the value to 536870912.
Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise
When you define a data source for Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, choose the driver:
  • MQSeries DataDirect Technologies 5.00 32-BIT Sybase Wire Protocol

Complete these steps to configure the driver:

  1. Enter the DSN name, description, network address of the server (for a description of the format of this address, see the explanation for NetworkAddress= in Editing the .odbc.ini parameters).
  2. Ensure the Enable Describe Parameter box is checked. This parameter is on the Advanced tab.
  3. Ensure the Prepare Method setting is 1 - Partial. This parameter is on the Performance tab.
  4. Create a new registry subkey for each of your DSNs that reference an Sybase database. Use REGEDIT to navigate to the correct location:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
        SOFTWARE
            ODBC
                ODBC.INI
  5. Right-click the DSN, and select New > String Value. Specify SelectUserName for the string, and set the value to 1.

You have now configured your ODBC data source names on Windows. Next, you must configure the environment for issuing console commands, and for running the broker, so that it can access the required database libraries. For more information, see Setting your environment to access databases.

Related tasks
Creating a DB2 database on Windows
Customizing DB2 databases
Related reference
Supported databases