Chapter 43. DB2 Connect

IN THIS CHAPTER

• An Overview of IBM DB2 Connect

Applications that run on a non-zSeries platform require a gateway to access DB2 for z/OS data. IBM's DB2 Connect product can be used to enable applications that run on a Linux, Unix, or Windows environment to access mainframe DB2 data.

DB2 Connect is an add-on product from IBM that implements DRDA Application Requester functionality for DB2. Using DB2 Connect, applications executing on non-mainframe platforms can transparently access DB2 for z/OS and OS/390 databases. For example, an application running on a Windows workstation can use DB2 Connect to access DB2 data from the mainframe.

Of course, DB2 Connect is not the only gateway product on the market. Other popular gateway products exist for connecting DB2 for z/OS to client/server applications, such as Neon Systems' Shadow Direct gateway and the Oracle Transparent Gateway. But this chapter will discuss DB2 Connect, because it is the most popular of the available options for DB2 for z/OS and OS/390.

NOTE

DB2 Connect V8 is the most recent version of IBM's gateway product for DB2. Be sure to run this latest version of DB2 Connect to take advantage of the latest and greatest features.