Components
The CONNX approach to data access is to treat all of the different data sources as a single database, providing access to all data in the enterprise through a single open-standards-based driver. CONNX provides secure read/write access to the data using the following main components.
CONNX Data Server
The CONNX servers for Oracle RDBMS, DB2, Sybase, Informix, Ingres, CISAM, VSAM, SQL Server, Oracle DBMS, PostgreSQL, Oracle Rdb, Digital RMS Files, DataFlex, and Adabas are full-featured data servers that translate SQL requests into the native database requests. The CONNX ODBC Driver makes the server transparent to the end user. The CONNX Data Server features include:
SQL access to target sources.
Complete user-level and group-level security.
Low memory and disk resource utilization.
Complete file and/or table security.
RPC Support (for VMS & UNIX only).
CONNX Data Dictionary
The CONNX Data Dictionary (CDD) is a repository of information describing the data tables and fields in the accessed databases, including security. The CDD contains the metadata information about each data source and provides a graphical user interface for easy maintenance of the metadata, stored procedures, integrated security and views. The CDD is required in order to use the CONNX ODBC driver. Once a CDD is created, it should be used for all additional table definitions, if these additional tables are to be joined with existing tables.
The CONNX Data Dictionary:
describes the structure of the tables or files being accessed.
creates a single metadata model that spans enterprise data sources and applications requiring data access. The result is an enterprise-wide view of data and provides a reusable standards-based framework for information access.
imports metadata directly from existing file layouts.
enables multiple views of the same data.
allows access to data sources, including databases, flat files and OLE DB or ODBC compliant data sources.
offers access to CONNX views, which combines tables from one or more data sources.
facilitates automatic conversions of legacy data types to SQL data types.
supports Occurs Clauses.
allows importation of existing data definition information.
resides on a shared server disk or on a client computer.
provides protection to the field and record level. Encrypted metadata security.
offers Password security to prevent unauthorized users from modifying the CDD.
provides Wizard Assistance for common tasks.
The CONNX ODBC Driver
The CONNX ODBC Driver is a dynamic-link library, administered by the ODBC data source administrator. Applications can access data located in remote systems through the ODBC driver. The CONNX driver processes the ODBC function calls, submits requests to the appropriate data source, and then returns the results. The CONNX ODBC Driver:
uses Structured Query Language (SQL) as the standard for accessing information.
enables the use of off-the-shelf ODBC-compliant reporting and development tools.
supports Unicode and ANSI data types.
CONNX Query/Reporting Tool
CONNX offers a desktop query/reporting tool called InfoNaut Professional. This tool enables end users to quickly and easily access information from enterprise and legacy databases. The reporting feature allows end users to view reports in a readable format.
CONNX Client
The CONNX Client is based on an ODBC driver, which is a dynamic link library that applications call to access data located in remote systems. The CONNX ODBC driver processes the ODBC function calls, submits requests to the appropriate data source, and then returns the results. The CONNX Client's features include:
The client is tightly coupled with the CONNX Data Dictionary.
The client uses Structured Query Language (SQL) as the standard for accessing information.
The client provides the ability to use off-the-shelf ODBC compliant applications without additional programming effort.
CONNX JDBC Driver (Thin Client)
The CONNX JDBC Driver (Thin Client) allows read/write access to a CONNX data source from any client machine possessing a JDK (1.3). The CONNX JDBC driver works with JDBC-compliant software, which increases its flexibility when used by companies with a wide range of front-end applications and database types. The CONNX JDBC interface enables applications to access data in database management systems using the JavaSoft JDBC API to connect to the databases. The CONNX JDBC Thin Client is a type 3 driver which processes the JDBC function calls and submits requests to the CONNX JDBC Server, then returns the results.
The CONNX OLE RPC Server
The CONNX OLE RPC Server allows the user to make remote procedure calls (RPC) from any programming language that supports OLE 2.0. Supported database systems include RMS, Oracle Rdb, Codasyl DBMS, VSAM, IMS, C-ISAM (for Unix only).
CONNX JDBC Server
The CONNX JDBC Server handles requests from the CONNXJDBC Thin Client and accesses the target data sources. The CONNX JDBC Server component enables access to multiple heterogeneous data sources on both Windows and Linux/UNIX platforms.
CONNX JDBC Router
The CONNX applets are served by a non-Windows Web server. The router is a Java application placed on the non-Windows Web server, and routes JDBC requests to the CONNX JDBC Server.