OpenLink Data Access Drivers - Product Overview

Data-access middleware is still king of the road, and OpenLink's high-performance gateway middleware makes connecting to relational database management system (RDBMS) back ends feel like you're cruising with the top down. OpenLink High Performance speeds past other Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)-based drivers because it's fast and easy to manage--making it the most effective data-access tool that we tested to implement on an enterprise network.

---- Network Computing "Well-Connected" award for Best Data Access Middleware.

For Award details and selection criteria visit : http://techweb.cmp.com/nc/808/808wellcon20.html

"The task of developing an in house Client Server application meant that we had to work with a number of new technologies and evolving application standards to find just the right combination of products to make our application successful on an enterprise wide basis. OpenLink Software's ODBC Driver not only enabled the deployment of our application but it also provided the best overall performance.",

----- Karen Mihara, Xerox PeopleNet Development Manager, Xerox Corporation.

For Detailed Independent Case Study visit http://www.dbmsmag.com/9604pnet.html

OpenLink Data Access Drivers Suites

This is a comprehensive suite of standards compliant data access drivers serving the database connectivity requirements of end-users, systems integrators, and developers alike, without compromising performance, security, or usability.

The OpenLink Data Access Drivers Suite includes a comprehensive bundle of High-Performance, industry leading,database connectivity drivers that conform to industry standards such as; Java Database Connectivity (JavaSoft), Open Database Connectivity (Microsoft), and X/Open SQL Call Level Interface (CLI) specification.

This new product release includes all of the following products previously sold separately:

OpenLink ODBC Drivers (Enterprise Editions)

OpenLink Drivers for JDBC™ (Enterprise Editions)

OpenLink UDBC Drivers (Enterprise Editions)

OpenLink Proxy Agent

OpenLink ODBC Agent

OpenLink Agent for JDBC™

OpenLink Database Agents

OpenLink Data Access Drivers (Multi-Tier Edition)

OpenLink Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) Drivers

High-Performance 16 & 32 Bit Generic ODBC Drivers that provide transparent access to remote databases from any ODBC compliant application. Desktop Productivity Tools, such as Spreadsheets, Word Processors, Presentation Packages, Desktop Databases and Personal Organizers; Client-Server Application Development Environments; Web based Database Publishing Tools; and Computer Telephony Integration packages are just a few of the many products that can take advantage of our standards compliance.

Features

Blistering Performance
ODBC 1.0 – 3.0 Compliance
ODBC Core, Level 1, Level 2, and Extensions support
Server based Scrollable Cursor Support - Cursors are server based
In-built Database Independent Communications Layer
32 Bit Drivers are usable by 16 Bit ODBC compliant applications
Sophisticated Data security via Encryption.
Concurrent access to heterogeneous data sources (via OpenLink Database Agent)
Centralized File Data Source Name support (one ODBC Data Source serving all remote ODBC Clients).

Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

Additional product information can be obtained reading the "Open Database Connectivity Without Compromise" technical white paper.

OpenLink Drivers for Java DataBase Connectivity™ (JDBC)

Generic High-Performance Type 3 Drivers for JDBC™, that provide transparent access to remote database engines from JDBC compliant Java Applications, Applets, Serverlets, and Bean Components.

Features

Blistering Performance
Classes available for JDK 1.02 and JDK 1.1
Support JDBC compliant Applets independent of Web Browser (via OpenLink WebSQL classes)
Server based Scrollable Cursor Support
Built-In Database Independent Communications Layer
Sophisticated Data security via Encryption.
Concurrent access to heterogeneous data sources (via OpenLink Database Agents)

Client Operating Systems Supported:

Java VM and JavaOS .

Server Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

Additional product information can be obtained from the following documents:

"Java Database Connectivity Without Compromise"

"OpenLink Java Technical White Paper"

OpenLink Universal DataBase Connectivity (UDBC) Drivers

High-Performance Generic Data Access Drivers supporting concurrent access to heterogeneous backend database engines. These Drivers are not exposed to client environments via visual driver managers but are 100% ODBC & X/Open CLI compliant at the API level.

UDBC drivers are available for operating environments for which the ODBC Driver Manager has not been implemented or cannot be implemented, e.g. OpenVMS, VAX/VMS, and some flavors of UNIX.

Features

Blistering Performance
ODBC 1.0 – 3.0 Compliance
ODBC Core, Level 1, Level 2, and Extensions support
Server based Scrollable Cursor Support - Cursors are server based
In-built Database Independent Communications Layer
32 Bit Drivers are usable by 16 Bit ODBC compliant applications
Sophisticated Data security via Encryption.
Concurrent access to heterogeneous data sources (via OpenLink Database Agents)

Operating Systems Supported (as Clients or Servers)

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

Additional information on OpenLink UDBC technology is available

OpenLink Request Agent and Request Broker

These two components work in concert and form the nucleus of the OpenLink database independent communications technology used by all OpenLink Client Components. The Request Broker is the client element of this communications layer while the Request Broker and Database Agents form the server pieces.

The Request Broker is a Generic server component that manages OpenLink service provider location, binding, instantiation, session management, and termination. In Internet/Intranet/Extranet environments the OpenLink Request Broker’s "Sessions Rules" Book capabilities bolster traditional physical Firewalls by acting as a supplementary logical Firewall.

Logical Firewalls deal with internal intrusion. For instance, imagine having to protect your internal network infrastructure and data sources from malicious technically savvy ex-employees? Or,imagine having to protect your organization from SQL virus attacks which are (SQL statements constructed with the view of destroying one or more tables by breaking the referential integrity of the corporate data model)?

Features

Winsock & BSD Sockets compliant (host operating system dependent)
Network Centric License Management and Enforcement
Sophisticated Infrastructure Manager based applying a "Session Rules" Book approach
Naming and Resource Binding service provider to all OpenLink Client Components
Sophisticated Data Marshalling and Logical Network Message Assembly
Logical Firewalling and Data Encryption.

Operating Systems Supported (as Clients or Servers)

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

Network Protocol Support

TCP/IP, SPX/IPX, DECNet

Additional information is available

OpenLink Database Agents

These are server based data access service providers, abstracting the underlying Call Level Interfaces (CLIs) of supported database engines via a uniform interface definition. As a result they are database specific in nature with respect to data I/O but generic in relation to the methods referenced by other Generic OpenLink client components.

These components provide data access services to all OpenLink client components (ODBC/JDBC/UDBC drivers and agents).

Database engines currently supported: Betrieve, CA-Ingres, DB2, DBASE, Fox Pro, Informix, Kubl, MS Access, MS SQLServer, OpenIngres, Oracle, Paradox, Postgres, Progress, Solid, Sybase, Text, and Velocis

Features

Blistering Performance
Support all Native Backend Functionality
Array Fetching (locally and across the wire)
Scrollable Cursor Support
Network Centric Result set management (Maximum rows transferred to all OpenLink Client Components can be restricted)
Intelligent Meta Data Information Handling
Serves on more OpenLink Client Instances concurrently
Implements all InterProcess Communications mechanisms supported by backend database engines (Sockets, Shared Memory, Pipes etc.).
Enables Query optimizer configurations to be enforced across all OpenLink Client Components
Enables database engine ISOLATION LEVELS to be enforced across all OpenLink Client Components.
Supports Distributed Database capabilities of relevant backend database engine.

Database Engines Supported:

Betrieve, CA-Ingres, DB2, DBASE, Fox Pro, Informix, Kubl, MS Access, MS SQLServer, OpenIngres, Oracle, Paradox, Postgres, Progress, Solid, Sybase, Text, and Velocis

Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS.

OpenLink ODBC Agents

This server based data protocol service provider, implements a performance optimized across the wire protocol for non OpenLink ODBC Drivers. Thereby enabling OpenLink Multi-Tier Data Access drivers to provide transparent access ODBC backend databases. This capability serves two purposes:

Extends OpenLink’s database connectivity beyond its standard list of supported database engines, acting as an open hook to other backend databases via database vendor or third party provided ODBC Drivers.
Provide non OpenLink ODBC Drivers with the security and configuration flexibility provided by the OpenLink Request Broker’s "Session Rules" Book.

These drivers enable you to connect to remote desktop database engines such as MS ACCESS, Paradox, FOX PRO, DBASE etc. from Java (via JDBC-ODBC Bridges), UNIX, MacOS, Windows 3.11/95/NT clients in a Multi Tiered as opposed to Single Tiered fashion.

Features

Blistering Performance
ODBC 1.0 – 3.0 Compliance (restricted to levels supported by underlying ODBC Driver)
ODBC Core, Level 1, Level 2, and Extensions support (restricted to levels supported by underlying ODBC Driver)
Implements Scrollable Cursors across non OpenLink ODBC Drivers (This feature is still in development)
In-built Database Independent Communications Layer
Sophisticated Data security via Encryption.
Concurrent access to heterogeneous ODBC Drivers.

Database Engines Supported:

Non OpenLink ODBC Drivers

Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

OpenLink Agent for JDBC™

This server based data protocol service provider, implements a performance optimized "across the wire" data protocol for OpenLink Generic Client Components for JDBC™. The agent provides Native or ODBC based data access services to OpenLink Client Components for JDBC™. This capability serves following purposes:

It enables OpenLink Drivers for JDBC™ to support both ODBC and Direct-Native backend database engine access, without any changes to JDBC connection URLs at the JDBC client level

Provides OpenLink Drivers for JDBC™ with the security and configuration flexibility provided by the OpenLink Request Broker’s "Session Rules" Book

Allows concurrent utilization of both ODBC & JDBC against homogeneous or heterogeneous data sources.

Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

OpenLink Proxy Agent

This OpenLink service provider implements a distributed version of the OpenLink Data protocol used by OpenLink UDBC & ODBC client components (this capability is built into the JDBC Agent).

The OpenLink Proxy agent provides OpenLink ODBC, UDBC, and non OpenLink ODBC Drivers with the ability to connect to remote Internet/Intranet/Extranet databases and logical data sources behind a corporate firewall without compromising security.

Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

Data Access Driver Suite Benefits

Freedom To Mix & Match Best of Class Products - No technology lock-ins at any level (operating system or database engine).
Sophisticated Infrastructure Management and Control via "Session Rules" Book - Technology is adaptable across organizational skills, departmental, divisional profiles etc.
Sophisticated Security
Flexible and cost-effective product licensing - concurrent Client Machine or Concurrent DB connection based licensing.
Maximum Incorporation of tomorrow’s technology with minimum disruption to your current computing Infrastructure.
Multiple Data Access Technologies (previously sold separately) delivered as a single product

Methods Of Payment:
Credit Card, Check, Wire Transfer or Purchase Order.

Refund Policy:
Refund requests must be made in writing with full details of reason for return. Requests must be made within 30 days of purchase date. Refunds will only be granted for products that are qualified by OpenLink as containing errors.

OpenLink provides free evaluation licenses for your convenience.

Price Change & Announcement Policy

OpenLink Software reserves the right to change pricing or licensing at any time without notice.

OpenLink Data Access Drivers (Lite Edition)

A comprehensive suite of standards compliant data access drivers serving the database connectivity requirements of end-users, systems integrators, and developers alike, without compromising performance, security, or usability.

This Data Access Driver suite includes a comprehensive bundle of High-Performance, industry leading, database connectivity drivers that conform to industry standards such as: Java Database Connectivity (JavaSoft), Open Database Connectivity (Microsoft), X/Open & SQL Access Group’s Level Interface specification.

This new product release includes all of the following products previously sold separately:

OpenLink ODBC Lite

OpenLink Lite for JDBC™

OpenLink UDBC Lite

OpenLink ODBC Lite

High-Performance 16 & 32 Bit ODBC Drivers that provide transparent access to remote databases from any ODBC compliant application. Desktop Productivity Tools, such as Spreadsheets, Word Processors, Presentation Packages, Desktop Databases and Personal Organizers; Client-Server Application Development Environments; Web based Database Publishing Tools; and Computer Telephony Integration packages are just a few of the many products that can take advantage of our standards compliance.

Features

Blistering Performance
ODBC 1.0 – 3.0 Compliance
ODBC Core, Level 1, Level 2, and Extensions support
Client based Scrollable Cursor Support
Remote Database connections via Database Specific Communications Services provided by relevant Database Engine vendors (e.g SQL*Net, I-Net, Ingres Net, Open Client, NETLIB, Progress Client, DDCS etc.).

Client Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 95 and Windows NT

Server Operating Systems Supported:
All operating environments supported by relevant database vendor.

Network Protocol Support

All network protocols supported by relevant database vendor.

Additional product information can be obtained reading the "Open Database Connectivity Without Compromise" technical white paper.

OpenLink Lite for JDBC™

Generic High-Performance Type 1 & 2 Drivers for JDBC™, that provide transparent access to remote database from JDBC compliant Java Applications, Applets, Serverlets, and Bean Components.

Features

Blistering Performance
Classes available for JDBC 1.02 and JDBC 1.1
Support JDBC compliant Applets independent of Web Browser (via OpenLink WebSQL classes)
Client or Server based Scrollable Cursor Support (depends on underlying ODBC Driver)
Concurrent access to heterogeneous data sources (via ODBC Drivers using in-built ODBC Bridge)
Supports Native or ODBC based backend database connectivity.

Client Operating Systems Supported:

Java VM and JavaOS .

Server Operating Systems Supported:

Windows 3.11/95/NT, Solaris, SunOS, HP-UX, AIX, IRIX, DG-UX, SINIX, Generic UNIX 5.4 (AT&T), Unixware, SCO UNIX, Linux, MKLinux, BSDI Unix, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenVMS, Vax/VMS, MacOS.

Additional product information can be obtained from the following documents:

"Java Database Connectivity Without Compromise"

OpenLink UDBC Lite

High-Performance Generic Data Access Drivers that support concurrent access to heterogeneous backend database engines. These Drivers are not exposed to client environments via a visual driver managers but are 100% ODBC & X/Open CLI compliant at the API level.

Features

Blistering Performance
ODBC 1.0 – 3.0 Compliance
ODBC Core, Level 1, Level 2, and Extensions support
Client based Scrollable Cursor Support
Remote Database connections via Database Specific Communications Services provided by relevant Database Engine vendors (e.g SQL*Net, I-Net, Ingres Net, Open Client, NETLIB, Progress Client, DDCS etc.).

Client Operating System support:

Windows 3.11, Windows 95, Windows NT

Server Operating Systems Supported:

All operating environments supported by relevant database vendor.

Product Support

OpenLink Software is committed to providing first class product support via the following channels:

Dedicated Support e-mail accounts

OpenLink Software provides dedicated e-mail support accounts covering all of its data access products :

odbc_support@openlinksw.com – Serving ODBC & UDBC related support calls 24hrs a day 7 days week.

jdbc_support@openlinksw.com – Serving Java & JDBC related supported calls 24hrs a day 7 days a week.

Online Forums

OpenLink Software sponsors a wide range of online support forums, the aim being to provide global product support. We also see these forums as mediums through which we stimulate and foster collaborative support among fellow OpenLink technology users.

These forums also facilitate special interest discussions and collaborative knowledge building regarding database connectivity and distributed computing technology as a whole.

OpenLink Software currently operates 2 support forums:

Discussion Forums: accessible by adding our NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol) news server (news.openlink.co.uk) to the list of NNTP servers supported by your New Reader (NNTP Client).

The Online Technical Support System was designed to expedite the process of resolving support cases and allows you to enter and monitor cases 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

OpenLink Professional Services

OpenLink Software offers first class professional services covering the following areas:

Training

OpenLink Software provides a comprehensive set of training courses covering ODBC, JDBC, Client-Server Computing, and Distributed Computing. These courses include OpenLink product specific and non- OpenLink product specific courses.

Our training courses are available in the following formats:

On Site – OpenLink Software consultants prepare custom courses, tailored specifically to your requirements and then conduct the training at your site using your training facilities.

Off Site – Your staff attend standard OpenLink courses (or in some cases custom courses) provided at our training facilities. These courses require advanced booking due to high demand. OpenLink software provides a Web based on-line registration form to speed up the process of OpenLink course registration and reservation.

Consultancy

OpenLink Software provides three forms of consultancy covering a broad range of ODBC & JDBC related areas:

Strategic Consultancy – This addresses ODBC, JDBC, Client-Server, Distributed Computing, Internet/Intranet/extranet related issues as a whole from an independent and strategic perspective.

Product Specific Consultancy – This form of consultancy typically arises as a result of strategic consultancy or a decision to purchase OpenLink Software products. The consultancy is subjective and product specific in nature. It covers implementation, configuration and fine tuning aspects of the relevant OpenLink products acquired.

Custom Development – This form of consultancy typically involves OpenLink consultants developing product prototypes or full blown ODBC or JDBC based solutions on behalf of the client. This service is offered on a contract basis only.

Technology Implementation & Deployment Services

OpenLink Software also provides technology implementation and deployment services. These services involve OpenLink consultants taking full responsibility for the implementation and roll out of ODBC and JDBC based solutions across one or more customers sites.

Parties interested in any of these services simply need to fill in our on-line professional services inquiry and requests form. An OpenLink professional services consultant will be in touch with you shortly after the form is completed and sent to us.