SQL Power Software Forum

can I connect to iSeries (AS400)? I can't see the driver in my user prefernces

Hi! I don't know how well the Architect will work with iSeries.. you will be in uncharted waters!

According to a web search, it looks like you will need the "IBM Toolbox for Java", available from http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/toolbox/. It will include one or more JAR files that you will have to add to the Architect's driver list in the user preferences dialog, under the "JDBC Drivers" tab.

The correct driver class name to use is com.ibm.as400.access.AS400JDBCDriver. However, the current version of the Architect does not allow you to choose driver classes in the GUI other than those in the default list. So, create a new connection in the Architect, and choose the DB2 driver (ibm.sql.DB2Driver) from the JDBC Driver dropdown list. I'll explain how to fix it up later.

The JDBC URL format is jdbc:db2:dbname;param=value;param2=value2 etc. There is an extensive reference on the various parameters from the IBM web page http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/enable/site/java/jdbc/jdbcfaq.html that explains the available parameters.

Fill in your user name and password appropriately.

The remainder of the fields do not matter unless you are using our ETL tool, the Power*Loader.

Now, OK the connection dialog, then quit the Architect. Quitting is important, because this is when the database config file gets saved.

Now, find your pl.ini file (It should be located in your home directory). Open it in a text editor, and find the section for the database connection you just created. Change the "JDBC Driver Class=ibm.sql.DB2Driver" line to "JDBC Driver Class=com.ibm.as400.access.AS400JDBCDriver".

Save the file, and restart the Architect. You should be able to connect to your iSeries database, or at least get a meaningful error message, at this point.

As I've mentioned before in this forum, the GUI for loading JDBC drivers and setting up connections will change in an upcoming release of the Architect. The new interface will not involve the ugly "edit the config file in a text editor" step!

Please do let us know if you have any success connecting to iSeries!

-Jonathan