In this article Barry Mavin, CEO and Chief Software Architect for Recital provides details on how the Recital Database Server can be used to provide a solution for Universal Data Integration.

Overview

The Recital Database Server handles universal cross-platform data access to a wide range of data sources. The database server natively handles full remote SQL data access to Recital, Visual FoxPro, FoxPro, FoxBASE, Clipper and older dBase data. Using Bridges, it handles full remote SQL data access to C-ISAM and OpenVMS RMS. Using gateway connections, it handles full remote SQL data access to Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, server-side ODBC, server-side JDBC and server-side OLE DB data sources. With its ability to access data using server-side ODBC, JDBC and OLE DB drivers from clients on all supported operating systems (Windows, Linux, Unix, OpenVMS), the Recital Database Server is an ideal Data Integration Solution for applications of all sizes and complexity.

Universal Data Integration Solutions

There are several ways in which data may be accessed by the Database Server.

Table 1:

Client Universal Data Access solutions for accessing local or remote data.

Client	Solution
Recital	Use remote gateway connections
Visual FoxPro	Use the Universal ODBC Driver
Java (all platforms)	Use the Universal JDBC Driver
.NET Framework	Use the Universal .NET Data Provider
Microsoft Office	Use the Universal ODBC Driver
Windows Mobile	Use the Universal Compact Framework .NET Data Provider
PHP on Linux	Use the Universal ODBC Driver for Linux
Mono on Linux	Use the Universal .NET Data Provider
Others	If the data source you want to access is not in the list above, then you can use a remote ODBC, JDBC or OLE DB gateway. You can find examples of connection strings for most ODBC and OLE DB data sources by clicking here.

Table 2:

Windows Server Universal Data Access solutions accessible from any remote client running on Windows, Linux, Unix or OpenVMS:

Data Source	Solution
Recital	Native support (See table 1)
Visual FoxPro	Native support (See table 1)
FoxPro	Native support (See table 1)
FoxBASE	Native support (See table 1)
Clipper	Native support (See table 1)
dBase	Native support (See table 1)
C-ISAM	Use a bridge (See table 1)
Access	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=\somepath\mydb.mdb;User Id=admin;Password=;"
Exchange	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=ExOLEDB.DataSource;Data Source=http://servername/publicstore"
Excel	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\MyExcel.xls;"
Oracle	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=msdaora;Data Source=TheOracleDB;User Id=xxxxx;Password=xxxxx;"
SQL Server	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=sqloledb;Data Source=Aron1;Initial Catalog=pubs;User Id=sa;Password=asdasd;"
MySQL	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=MySQLProv;Data Source=mydb;User Id=xxxxx;Password=xxxxx;"
IBM DB2	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=DB2OLEDB;Network Transport Library=TCPIP;Network Address=XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX;Initial Catalog=MyCtlg;Package Collection=MyPkgCol;Default Schema=Schema;User ID=MyUser;Password=MyPW"
Sybase ASA	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=ASAProv;Data source=myASA"
Sybase ASE	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=Sybase.ASEOLEDBProvider;Srvr=myASEserver,5000;Catalog=myDBname;User Id=username;Password=password"
IBM Informix	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:Provider=Ifxoledbc.2;password=myPw;User ID=myUser;Data Source=dbName@serverName;Persist Security Info=true"
Ingres	Use a gateway connection gateway="odbc:dsn=data_source_name"
Firebird	Use a gateway connection gateway="odbc:dsn=data_source_name"
IBM AS400 iSeries	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:PROVIDER=IBMDA400; DATA SOURCE=MY_SYSTEM_NAME;USER ID=myUserName;PASSWORD=myPwd"
Interbase	Use a gateway connection gateway="oledb:provider=sibprovider;location=localhost:;data source=c:\databases\gdbs\mygdb.gdb;user id=xxxxx;password=xxxxx"
Others	If the data source you want to access is not in the list above, then you can use server-side ODBC, JDBC or OLE DB. You can find examples of connection strings for most ODBC and OLE DB data sources by clicking here. Full details on using server-side JDBC drivers can be found here. Full details on using server-side ODBC drivers can be found here. Full details on using server-side OLE DB drivers can be found here.

Table 3:

Linux and Unix Server Universal Data Access solutions accessible from any remote client running on Windows, Linux, Unix or OpenVMS:

Data Source	Solution
Recital	Native support (See table 1)
Visual FoxPro	Native support (See table 1)
FoxPro	Native support (See table 1)
FoxBASE	Native support (See table 1)
Clipper	Native support (See table 1)
dBase	Native support (See table 1)
C-ISAM	Use a bridge (See table 1)
Oracle	Use a gateway connection gateway="oracle:Connection_String"
MySQL	Use a gateway connection gateway="mysql:Connection_String"
IBM DB2	Use a gateway connection gateway="db2:Connection_String"
PostgreSQL	Use a gateway connection gateway="postgres:Connection_String"
Others	If the data source you want to access is not in the list above, then you can use a server-side JDBC driver. Full details on using server-side JDBC drivers can be found here.

Table 4:

OpenVMS Server Universal Data Access solutions accessible from any remote client running on Windows, Linux, Unix or OpenVMS:

Data Source	Solution
Recital	Native support (See table 1)
Visual FoxPro	Native support (See table 1)
FoxPro	Native support (See table 1)
FoxBASE	Native support (See table 1)
Clipper	Native support (See table 1)
dBase	Native support (See table 1)
RMS	Use a bridge (See table 1)
Others	If the data source you want to access is not in the list above, then you can use a server-side JDBC driver.

Supported Data Sources

Native Data Access

The Recital Database Server has native built-in support for the following data sources:

• Recital
• Visual FoxPro
• FoxPro
• FoxBASE
• Clipper
• dBase

You can setup tables to work with using the Database Administration Tool in Recital Enterprise Studio.

Bridges

Using Bridges, you can access the following data sources as if they were standard Recital/FoxPro tables:

• CISAM
• OpenVMS RMS

You can setup bridges using the Database Administration Tool in Recital Enterprise Studio.

Gateways/Connections

Using Gateways, you can transparently access the following local or remote data sources:

• Recital
• Oracle
• ODBC (Server-side ODBC data sources)
• JDBC (Server-side JDBC data sources)
• OLEDB Use this to connect to SQL Server and other Windows OLE DB data sources)
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL

Remote Data Object functions

Recital 10 includes a complete and robust set of data source independent functions for accession MySQL, Oracle, DB2 and Postgres. This article explains how to use them.

Client Data Access drivers

Included with the Recital Database Server are three Client drivers. These Client drivers can access any data sources supported by the Recital Database Server. They are not restricted to accessing only Recital data. They can be used to access server-side ODBC, JDBC and OLE DB data sources also.

Recital Universal .NET Data Provider

Use this client driver when building .NET applications with Visual Studio .NET. A data provider in the .NET Framework serves as a bridge between an application and a data source. A data provider is used to retrieve data from a data source and to reconcile changes to that data back to the data source.

Key features of the Recital Universal .NET Data Provider:

• Fully Internet enabled
  The Recital Universal .NET Data Provider works across the internet providing access to a wide range of data sources located on remote servers running Windows, Linux, Unix and OpenVMS.
• SQL Server compatible
  The Recital Universal .NET Data Provider is plug compatible with the .NET Framework SQL Server Data Provider.
• Cross-platform Data Integration
  Using the Recital Universal .NET Data Provider, you can connect to remote Windows, Linux, Unix or OpenVMS servers and access any data source supported by the Recital Database Server.
• Managed code
  The Recital Universal .NET Data Adaptor written in C# is 100% .NET Framework managed code.
• Runs on Windows Mobile
  The Recital Universal .NET Data Adaptor runs under the .NET Compact Framework on Windows Mobile.

Recital Universal JDBC Driver

The JDBC API is the industry standard for database-independent connectivity between the Java programming language and a wide range of databases. The JDBC API provides a call-level API for SQL-based database access. JDBC technology allows you to use the Java programming language to exploit "Write Once, Run Anywhere" capabilities for applications that require access to enterprise data.

Key features of the Recital Universal JDBC Driver:

• Fully Internet enabled
  The Recital Universal JDBC driver works across the internet providing access to a wide range of data sources located on remote servers running Windows, Linux, Unix and OpenVMS.
• JDBC 3.0 API
  The Recital Universal JDBC driver supports the JDBC 3.0 API.
• Pure Java Type 3 Driver
  The Recital Universal JDBC driver is a 100% pure Java Type 3 driver.
• Full Access to Metadata
  The JDBC API provides metadata access that enables the development of sophisticated applications that need to understand the underlying facilities and capabilities of a specific database connection.
• Cross-platform Data Integration
  Using the Recital Universal JDBC driver, you can connect to remote Windows, Linux, Unix or OpenVMS servers and access any data source supported by the Recital Database Server.
• No Installation
  A pure JDBC technology-based driver does not require special installation; it is automatically downloaded as part of the applet that makes the JDBC calls. The Recital Universal JDBC Driver is 100% java.

Recital Universal ODBC Driver

Connect to remote data from Microsoft Office or other applications that support ODBC data access. The Recital Universal ODBC Driver is also available for Linux and Unix.

Key features of the Recital Universal ODBC Driver:

• Fully Internet enabled
  The Recital Universal ODBC driver works across the internet providing access to a wide range of data sources located on remote servers running Windows, Linux, Unix and OpenVMS.
• Works with Crystal Reports
  The Recital Universal ODBC driver supports the SQL syntax generated by Crystal Reports.
• Works with Microsoft Office
  The Recital Universal ODBC driver works with Microsoft Office products.
• Works with PHP on Linux
  The Recital Universal ODBC driver is available for Linux and works with PHP.

Hdparm can be used to view or set many hardware characteristics of IDE or SATA drives including optical drives (and even some SCSI drives).  For example, the read-lookahead feature can be enabled or disabled.  Also of interest is that the on board write caching can be disabled.  This may or may not be of use when trying to optimize the writing of data to the drive especially when the operating system and/or file system itself may also perform write caching.

Some options of hdparm are dangerous and are generally listed as such in the man page.

Hdparm is available from SourceForge and there is even a version for Windows.

For Recital to run correctly on 64bit Linux you require the ia32 shared libraries.

The 64bit port of Recital requires these libraries to allow access to 32bit Xbase and C-ISAM data files which are 32bit.

If you do not have these libraries installed you will either get a "can't find db.exe" or an "error loading shared libraries" when trying to run or license Recital.

Installing the ia32 shared libraries

Redhat EL 5 / Centos 5 / Fedora 10

1. Insert the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Supplementary CD, which contains the ia32el package.

2. After the system has mounted the CD, change to the directory containing the Supplementary packages. For example:

   cd /media/cdrom/Supplementary/

3. Install the ia32el package:

   rpm -Uvh ia32el-<version>.ia64.rpm

Alternatively: Note you must have the required repo's enabled.

 yum install ia32el

Ubuntu / Debian

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

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You can use any of the following languages for colorizing your code in articles. 
 

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