connect to Informix database (Full Version)

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pd_it_guy -> connect to Informix database (3/19/2008 11:18:11)

All,

We are trying to develop an Intranet website that can go to an Informix DB with a custom user query and get database results, much like we have done in the past with the smaller Access databases that FP makes up more or less automatically. The problem is that Informix requires a driver, at least we think it does, that usually goes on a specific PC for an ODBC connection and a specific data source already defined.

How do I essentially take the Informix driver and make it available to the Intranet Web users so that when they submit their query, FP and asp can go to the Informix DB and get results to post. The DB setup wizard seems to have a place to add a user name and PW but there are a lot of choices and a few pieces missing; namely, where do we put the driver and how do we set it up. It would seem to want to go on the Intranet server, but that may not be the right way to do it.

Any advice as to how to set this up would be greatly appreciated. Once our DB connection is working we can figure out how to do our queries.



rdouglass -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/19/2008 11:56:53)

I'd suggest installing and configuring the driver on the server itself and configuring it to work with the IUSR_machinename account. Normally that's what account the ASP scripts (and DRW) will use.

Install the driver on the server. Then build a DSN / ODBC connection at the server console using the driver you just installed.

Then use that connection for your DRW's. But basically, you should only have to setup that driver on the server for 1 account.

Hope it helps.



pd_it_guy -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/19/2008 12:31:28)

rdouglass:

Thanks so much for the prompt response and advice. We will install the Informix drivers on the web server. I believe it shows up as Informix SD-K.

In the setup procedures, having done this a number of times, I know it calls for a user name and password that of course is known by the Informix DB. We have a specific read-only one assigned by the DBA that we use. Even though all of this is an Intranet we want that one buried in the scripts.

But, if it is IUSR_ourwebserver that anonymous users default to, that could be a problem, as IUSR_ourwebserver at least at this point is not a registered DB user and thus would not be allowed to access the DB. So should we try to make the IUSR_ourwebserver account privileged to access the DB or work around that somehow.

We will proceed as you suggest, see where this takes us, and report back any progress.

pd_it_guy



rdouglass -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/19/2008 12:53:48)

quote:

So should we try to make the IUSR_ourwebserver account privileged to access the DB or work around that somehow.


It depends. If you just want Read access, you should be able to password protect the page itself somehow.

If you want to restrict the data based on DB logins, then you will probably need to work out how to pass the individual usernames and passwords throught he connection strings dynamically as in something like:

connectionString="Data Source=InformixSDK;uid=" & UserIDVariable & ";pwd=" & PasswordVariable

Not sure at all of the syntax but I don't think it would be at all easy with the DRW if at all possible. However, straight ASP should be able to accomodate passing the username and password on the fly.



pd_it_guy -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/19/2008 13:36:51)

I think the first step would almost have to be to get the Informix-SDK driver installed and running on the web server. Since the web server will be in essence making the query, albeit directed to do so by the user, if the PC model holds true the server would have to have a Machine DSN available. Assuming that works, then in theory, anyone who is properly on that machine could make the read- only query within the bounds we set.

Then, we have to figure out how to configure FP Database Results to point to the DB. The wizard has a dropdown box that lists a choice of an SQL server, which we do not have, and Microsoft Driver for Oracle, which we also do not have. What is missing is for the FP wizard to see the Informix-SDK driver. Once that happens I think we can navigate through. Perhaps the two choices that I can see now are because those drivers are already on the web server and once installed the SDK driver will sort of pop up along with the rest.

The connection string you quoted looks a lot like what we have been doing in VB to push a custom SQL query from desktop Excel to our DB through Microsoft query. Certainly a good place to start.

Will continue this effort and report back.



pd_it_guy -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/24/2008 23:25:09)

Today, we went ahead and set up the Informix 32 bit drivers on the web server. Bot the web server and the Informix machine are both inside the same firewall and are actually only about 6 feet from each other. We then set up a SYSTEM DSN, which of course called for username, password, IP, and services, which we installed, all those were necessary. System DSN "abcd" was tested from the control panel of the web server and worked perfectly. Basic the same setup as we used for PC's going to the same database. In theory, any user of the web server machine would have access to and could execute the data connection.

Then, we went back the mini- web whose function it is to query the Informix database and present results through the web. We called for a database results section, and started the wizard looking for a new database. Presented with the choice of a System Data Source on the web server, we took it, and eventually now seeing the "abcd" DSN with Informix driver as the only choice, things were looking pretty good (there were really no other choices to be made that I could see) until I tried to verify the data connection. Then, it greyed out to the Perpetual Hourglass and that was that. I think the server must have jammed because forcing my way out, quitting FP cold reboot and coming back in, as soon as I got to create new database connection, it locks up and says "xyz web is busy try again". May have to do a server reboot in the AM if it doesnt release.

We just have to be close. (Said that before, and was wrong). Any ideas where we went wrong, things we forgot, things we could use to verify settings. Dont want to just repeat today's steps. All help appreciated.



pd_it_guy -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/25/2008 16:21:20)

Here is more. Restarted the web and IIS services and all freed up. Started the db results wizard, found the db, connected and got a "globalASA file" now. Really thinking we had something, and then it errored out as follows:

Server error: Unable to connect to a database from the web server using the connection string 'DSN=wcpd;DRIVER={INFORMIX 3.33 32 BIT}'.

The following error message comes from the database driver software; it may appear in a different language depending on how the driver is configured.
-------------------------------------------------------
[Informix][Informix ODBC Driver]Unable to load translation DLL.

Source: Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers
Number: -2147467259 (0x80004005)

Anyone- Any idea what a translation DLL is and why it might not be able to load. Seems that this was mentioned earlier in the thread.



pd_it_guy -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/25/2008 17:15:55)

Scouring the web for answers, the consensus was that the cure for that particular and very common error was that the server just needed to be rebooted. I find that a bit hard to believe, but we will most certainly try the easy stuff first and post back our success or failure tomorrow. Up to now we just did a low level web services restart. The web server is a Windows Server OS by the way.



pd_it_guy -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/26/2008 10:49:41)

I am most pleased to report that a simple reboot of the server did the trick. We are connected via the web, all tables visible, data returns with no problem. Now, the real work starts.

Thanks to all of you who pointed us in the right direction.



rdouglass -> RE: connect to Informix database (3/26/2008 16:15:58)

Thank you for keeping this thread up with your findings. I'm sure it will help someone along the way.



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