DataDirect Connect for ODBC — 32-bit ODBC drivers

DataDirect Connect for ODBC is the fastest, most comprehensive suite of ODBC drivers for all major databases.

Read about DataDirect Connect 32bit ODBC Drivers
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The unique wire protocol design of DataDirect's ODBC driver eliminates the need for database client software and libraries, which greatly simplifies installation and administration and dramatically improves performance. Whether you need an ODBC driver for
Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, Sybase, Informix, MySQL, Linux, Windows, UNIX, or any other database/platform combination, DataDirect has what you need.

This clientless ODBC driver even outperforms applications that use the database's native (proprietary) API for database access. The DataDirect ODBC driver is the industry standard for ODBC drivers, providing the advanced functionality, performance, and reliability that developers need to quickly deliver high-quality, database-independent applications.

To learn more about DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers, review the materials below and follow the related links for deeper technical information.

DataDirect Connect for ODBC Topics:

For information on DataDirect's 64-bit ODBC drivers, click here.

Why Choose DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers?

For a general list of the latest features available with the DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers, click here.

DataDirect ODBC drivers do not require database client libraries
DataDirect Technologies is the first and only vendor to offer a full suite of ODBC drivers built using innovative wire protocol technology. The wire protocol architecture eliminates the need for the database's client libraries (for example, Oracle Net9), so the driver communicates directly to the database through the database's own wire level protocol. This makes the costs and headaches associated with installing, configuring, and maintaining database client libraries a thing of the past. ODBC drivers that are available with wire protocol architecture include Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, Sybase, and Informix.

License ODBC drivers for all of your applications, databases, and platforms from a single provider.
For environments that require ODBC connectivity on multiple platforms to more than one database, DataDirect offers a full suite of 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC drivers for all the major databases across all platforms. Customers who license DataDirect ODBC drivers often do so because of this breadth of database and platform coverage but also because all DataDirect 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC drivers are designed for maximum interoperability across databases and platforms. These design features enable developers who are familiar with DataDirect ODBC drivers for a particular database or platform to move to or add another database or platform quickly and easily without any special challenges.

Best ODBC driver performance for any production scenario
DataDirect wire protocol ODBC drivers access the database directly without using database client libraries. This effectively removes a communication layer and dramatically increases the overall performance of Linux applications. In fact, an independent study by database expert Ken North proves that DataDirect wire protocol ODBC drivers outperform applications coded in the database's proprietary (native) API. DataDirect offers more than great out-of-the-box performance; Performance Wizards are available that can be used with the ODBC drivers to help tune the drivers for optimal performance. Easy driver tuning ensures that no matter what the production scenario is like, the DataDirect ODBC driver will still exhibit optimal performance on par with the results achieved during development and testing.

Quality and Reliability
The ability to consistently perform well in any set of circumstances defines the quality of DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers. DataDirect ODBC drivers are thoroughly tested to ensure that no matter what application environment and architecture you use, the ODBC drivers will work. DataDirect tests its ODBC drivers using the largest, most mature ODBC testing infrastructure in existence, the DataDirect ODBC Verification Suite (OVS). The OVS runs millions of test cases against each DataDirect ODBC drivers across all major databases, client operating systems, and processor architectures. This rigorous testing process is designed to guarantee that there will be no unpleasant surprises when the driver is rolled out into production.

Support
DataDirect offers the best technical support in the entire software industry as evidenced by winning the Omega NorthFace Award for five consecutive years. SupportLink, DataDirect's technical support organization, offers customers 7x24 phone access to technical experts with over 150 cumulative years of troubleshooting experience with the ODBC API across a multiple of platforms and databases. Email support and online case creation and monitoring are also available as is the DataDirect Knowledgebase, a repository of thousands patches and fixes to known issues as well as code samples for all products, platforms, and databases.

History
DataDirect understands data connectivity products and standards better than anyone, as evidenced by the company's long history. Since working with Microsoft to deliver version 1.0 of the ODBC specification in 1992 and becoming the first non-Microsoft vendor to ship ODBC drivers at the 1.0 specification level, DataDirect has consistently been not just the world's leading vendor of ODBC drivers, but a leader and innovator in the realm of ODBC and other data access APIs as well. Technical leadership, the ability to deliver innovative products, and a history of commitment to high quality data connectivity are reasons why over 300 software companies and 96 of the Fortune 100 have chosen DataDirect Technologies.

Platforms and Processor Architectures Supported

DataDirect has the most comprehensive coverage of platforms and processor architectures available. The list below describes the platforms that are supported today by the current supported release of the DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers:

For 32-bit applications:

  • HP-UX
    • HP PA-RISC processor, OS versions 11 and 11i (B.11.11 & higher)
    • Intel Itanium processor, OS versions 11v1.6 (11.22) and 11v2 (11.23)
  • IBM AIX
    • IBM PowerPC processor, OS versions 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3
  • Microsoft Windows
    • Intel x86 processor, OS versions 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, XP, and Server 2003
  • Red Hat Enterprise
    • Intel x86 processor, OS versions 3.0 and 4.0
  • SUSE Enterprise Server
    • Intel x86 processor, OS versions 8.0 and 9.0
  • Sun Solaris
    • Sun SPARC processor, OS versions 8 (SunOS 5.8), 9, (SunOS 5.9), and 10 (SunOS 5.10)
    • Intel x86 processor, OS version 10 (SunOS 5.10)

If you don't see a platform, platform version, or processor architecture combination listed above that you are interested in, contact us to ask about it. Sometimes limited availability product is available for other configurations than what is listed here.

Frequently Asked Questions About DataDirect's 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC drivers

Q: How Are DataDirect Connect® for ODBC and DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC Different?

A: DataDirect Connect for ODBC is comprised of 32-bit binaries. It is linked with specific 32-bit operating system libraries and supports only 32-bit addressing. DataDirect Connect for ODBC will run on both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems but will only work with 32-bit applications. DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC built on the DataDirect Connect for ODBC code base for exclusive use on 64-bit platforms, and is comprised of 64-bit binaries. It is linked with specific 64-bit operating system libraries and supports only 64-bit addressing. DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC will only run with 64-bit applications on 64-bit operating systems.

Q: How Do I Know Whether to Use DataDirect Connect® for ODBC or DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC?

A: If your application was built with 32-bit system libraries, you must use DataDirect Connect for ODBC. If your application was built with 64-bit system libraries, you must use DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC. It is important to remember that the only factor to consider in this decision is the build system of the application that will be using the ODBC driver. It does not matter if the database to which you are connecting is 32-bit or 64-bit enabled.

Q: Is DataDirect Connect64™ for ODBC Faster Than DataDirect Connect® for ODBC?

A: DataDirect Technologies is always focused on performance. It is difficult to compare performance between these two products because they run in different environments. DataDirect Technologies is committed to delivering the same quality of performance with each of its products in similarly defined environments. Any changes for performance made to one product will be introduced into the other whenever possible.

Q: What Are the Advantages of Using 64-bit Technology Over 32-bit?

A: Increasingly, software companies are announcing support for 64-bit applications. Many hardware vendors already have 64-bit solutions in place. The white paper Why Choose 64-Bit Technology as Your Server Platform provides an overview of the reasons for switching to 64-bit computing, and provides examples of companies who have made the switch for all or part of their computing needs.

Q: Will DataDirect Technologies Continue to Support DataDirect Connect® for ODBC?

A: DataDirect Connect for ODBC and DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC are two separate product lines. The introduction of DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC does not alter plans for the continued support of DataDirect Connect for ODBC. Both products will be supported going forward.

Q: How Can I Upgrade to DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC?

A: DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC is a separate product from DataDirect Connect for ODBC. There is no generic "upgrade" path for this. Click here to download an evaluation copy of DataDirect Connect64 for ODBC.

For more details, please contact your DataDirect Technologies sales representative or request information at:

http://www.datadirect.com/contactus/request_
information/index.ssp