DB2 ADO.NET DATA PROVIDER FROM PROGRESS Progress® DataDirect®
The Only 100% Managed Code ADO.NET Data Provider for All DB2 Versions and Platforms
Progress DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET has been thoroughly proven in data transaction intensive environments in which high performance, stability and security are mission-critical requirements.
The only 100% managed code data provider for .NET applications connecting to IBM DB2:
- Best application performance and scalability for DB2
- No need for costly and cumbersome DB2 Connect client libraries
- Flexible and cost effective deployment
- Secure, end-to-end application data access with industry standard security features
- 100% managed code architecture delivers more throughput while using fewer CPU, memory, and network resources
- Visual Studio integrated Performance Tuning Wizard
- Multiple connection tuning options
- Bulk load operations via ADO.NET Bulk APIs
- Connection pooling and pool management
- Statement caching
- Single Sign-On
- Optimized data, data type conversions
- Tunable socket, array size, and DataSet management
- Batching and throughput optimization
- Operating system authentication (aka Single Sign-On) via Kerberos
- SSL data encryption
- Optimal use of .NET Framework security controls
Enterprise Application Functionality
- Connection failover and load balancing
- Bulk load operations via ADO.NET Bulk APIs
- Side-by-side installation
- Load balancing
- ClickOnce deployment
- SQL up-leveling for database interoperability
- Interoperability between databases and different versions of each database
Provider Functionality
- Support for LINQ, Entity SQL, and Microsoft Enterprise Libraries
- Seamless integration with Visual Studio 2005, 2008
- One provider supports all versions of DB2
- Statistical counters integrated with Windows perfmon
- Full Unicode and ANSI character set support
- Built-in runtime troubleshooting and tracing capabilities
- Advanced data type support
- Distributed transaction support
- Connection Statistics and Client Monitoring Information
DB2 Features
- XA transactions
- 2 MB SQL Statements
- 128 bit column names
- Supports returning errors from stored procedures and SQL statements using the RAISE_ERROR function
- Use Current Schema – Can restrict results from a meta-data collections query to a specific database schema
- Workload Manager (WLM) support - Enterprise applications experience the greatest benefit of this feature, which allows a user to specify performance goals and priorities for connections created through our provider. Available for DB2 on LUW and z/OS.
.NET Framework
- Support for ADO.NET Entity Framework with .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
- Support for .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, and 3.5 SP1
- Support for .NET Framework 1.x
- ADO.NET 2.0 conformance
Improves the Performance and Scalability of .NET DB2 Applications
- Outperforms other providers in throughput capacity and memory / CPU utilization
- 100% managed, making no calls outside the .NET runtime environment. Completely eliminating reliance on non-managed components dramatically improves application performance and scalability.
- High-performance Bulk Load capability enables loading large amounts of data into DB2 very quickly, without requiring application code changes or additional bulk load tools.
Provides Comprehensive Database / Platform Coverage from One Vendor
DataDirect can serve all your data connectivity needs, for any API (JDBC, ODBC, .NET) for any major database—SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, Sybase, and more, while offering extensive platform support.
Enables Faster, More Flexible Deployment
Because it doesn't require database client libraries, the DataDirect provider supports "side-by-side" installation, allowing you to run multiple applications using different versions of DB2 on the same machine. This eliminates the need to re-qualify unrelated applications if an application is updated.
Makes It Easy and Cost Effective to Support Multiple Databases and Database Versions
One DataDirect provider supports simultaneous connections to all DB2 versions and platforms: DB2 UDB 7.x, 8.x, and 9.x for Linux, Windows, UNIX, and z/OS; and DB2 UDB V5R1, 2, 3, and 4 for iSeries). This significantly reduces the cost of deploying and testing applications against multiple versions of DB2 and its client libraries.
Ensures Secure, End-to-End Application Data Access
DataDirect providers include advanced, industry-standard security mechanisms:
- SSL data encryption to secure the integrity of your data and provide client/server authentication
- Operating system authentication via Kerberos, allowing you to include database access in a Single Sign-On environment
In addition, 100% managed code ensures no reliance on components outside the .NET managed environment, allowing the application to take full advantage of the security controls in .NET.
Guarantees Reliability for Demanding Production Environments
DataDirect providers are quality tested and certified using our extensive ADO.NET Verification Suite (ADOVS), verifying all supported Windows platforms and Oracle database versions. We also test ADO.NET conformance using the Microsoft LTM (Local Test Manager). This comprehensive testing ensures that you can develop the most robust Oracle .NET application.
Offers 100% Specification Compliance and Robust Functionality
DataDirect providers are certified for use with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 (32-bit and 64-bit), are fully compliant with ADO.NET 2.0, and offer advanced functionality such as:
- Connection failover and client load balancing
- Numerous connection tuning options
- Distributed transactions
- ClickOnce deployment (formerly "No Touch")
- Support for Microsoft Enterprise Library Data Access (DAAB) Application Block
- Visual development aids that integrate seamlessly with Visual Studio 2008
- Built-in debugging tools and tracing capabilities
Reduces Total Cost of Ownership through Superior Technical Support
Focused on database connectivity, our award-winning support includes 24x7 phone, web, email, forum, fax, and an extensive knowledgebase. Superior technical support is essential to resolve data connectivity issues quickly, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership of software.
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Advantages of DataDirect's DB2 Data Provider |
Limitations of IBM's DB2 Data Provider |
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100% managed code This improves application performance, scalability, stability, and security by eliminating the application’s reliance on components that reside outside the managed environment. |
IBM’s provider is not 100% managed because it either bridges into the DB2 Call Level Interface (CLI), or uses DB2 Connect client libraries, which means it makes calls to unmanaged code. If you’re deploying many .NET applications, or if your applications need to handle large amounts of data, these numerous calls outside the CLR can seriously degrade performance and become a scalability nightmare. |
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No database client libraries required |
IBM providers require native database clients be installed. |
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Best ADO.NET provider performance and scalability DataDirect providers are optimized for best possible performance in the most common application scenarios, especially those handling large amounts of data. The provider is tunable for an infinite variety of application usage scenarios so your application will always run faster and support more users with the same hardware resources. |
Requires either calls into the DB2 CLI or DB2 Connect client libraries, causing it to bridge into unmanaged code. Client libraries are not optimized for ADO.NET and create communication overhead on the network that degrades performance and impacts scalability. |
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Faster, more flexible application deployment |
Requires different client libraries on each machine where the data provider is deployed. If multiple applications are running on the same machine, they will all be forced to use the same underlying client libraries. This can be painful if there are several applications that need to be certified for a particular version of the client libraries. |
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Robust security features DataDirect providers include advanced security features such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) data encryption and operating system authentication (aka Single Sign-On) via Kerberos. |
Calls to unmanaged code in the DB2 client libraries bypasses the .NET CLR security. This opens a door to potential compromise via code that uses pointers or has direct access to memory or machine registers. Once that unmanaged code is executing, the CLR can no longer check it. |
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One provider supports multiple DB2 versions This significantly reduces the costs of deploying and testing applications against multiple versions of DB2, DB2 client libraries, and different DB2 platforms. |
IBM requires different providers for different versions of DB2, and for different versions of the operating system. |
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DataDirect Bulk Load |
Requires a proprietary tool from IBM or your own homegrown tool. |
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Complete interoperability between databases This interoperability reduces the total cost of development, testing, and deployment for heterogeneous environments. |
Interoperability is not provided because the IBM provider is designed to work only with DB2. Organizations that need to access more than DB2 will be forced to use providers from different vendors, requiring a learning curve for each one. |
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Reliability for demanding production environments This comprehensive testing ensures that you can develop the most robust DB2 .NET application. |
IBM’s testing infrastructure for data access components is unknown. |
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Comprehensive Technical Support Focused on database connectivity, our award-winning support includes 24x7 phone, web, email, forum, fax, and an extensive knowledgebase. Fast, high-quality technical assistance from data connectivity experts is essential for critical systems. |
Because IBM is not focused on data connectivity, troubleshooting can be more difficult and may take longer. |
