RemoteDB Gateway Version 2.1OverviewRemoteDB Gateway is a SHAREWARE program that lets Java and native Windows(TM) applications access ODBC data sources configured on a remote computer. The package consists of a JDBC driver and 16-bit and 32-bit ODBC drivers that communicate with a 32-bit server process running under Windows NT or 95. The server process provides access to the full array of ODBC data sources that have been configured on the server machine. This architecture simplifies the administration of ODBC data sources by limiting administration to the server machine.The architecture is depicted by the following diagram.
The RemoteDB Gateway JDBC driver is written using "pure" Java allowing it to run on virtually any platform. Java applications or applets that utilize JDBC for database access can now exploit the capabilities of RemoteDB Gateway to access remote ODBC data sources. In addition, Windows applications that have been designed to work with a particular data source can now access that same data source from a remote computer. It is as simple as configuring a data source on the remote computer to use either the REMOTE16 or REMOTE32 ODBC driver. Only three configuration options are required: 1) a local data source name, 2) the remote host name or IP address of the machine where the RemoteDB Gateway server process is running, and 3) the remote data source name. RemoteDB Gateway Version 2.1 represents a significant improvement over previous versions of the product. In particular, overall performance has increased by a factor of 5 to 10 times based on various intelligent caching techniques employed by both the driver and server. In addition, robustness has improved dramatically over prior versions. Many thanks to our beta test participants in helping to shape the product in its current form.
RemoteDB Gateway Features
RemoteDB Gateway Usage Scenarios
InstallationRemoteDB Gateway is distributed in a single ZIP file. This archive contains the following files:
The RemoteDB 16-bit ODBC driver can be installed on Windows 3.x, 95, or NT. To install the driver, run the SETUP.EXE program in the DRIVER16\ directory. The RemoteDB 32-bit ODBC driver can be installed on Windows 95 or NT. To install the driver, run the SETUP.EXE program in the DRIVER32\ directory. The RemoteDB Gateway server can be installed on Windows 95 or NT. To install the server, run the SETUP.EXE program in the SERVER\ directory. The setup program copies files onto your hard disk and creates a group icon that allows you to run the server software. Clicking on the icon will bring up a graphical user interface that allows you to monitor current activity on the RemoteDB Gateway server. When the RemoteDB Gateway server is installed for the first time, a license key will automatically be generated that grants the user a 30-day evaluation license to use the software for a single client. To enable additional concurrent clients, the software must be registered and a license must be purchased from the author. Please see the section entitled "Registering RemoteDB Gateway" for further details. When installing the server software on Windows NT, the setup program will provide you with the option of installing the server as an NT service. The default startup type for the service is set to Manual. To make the NT service automatically start when the system boots, you will need to select the Services option in the Control Panel and set the startup type for the RemoteDB Gateway Server service to Automatic.
Using the RemoteDB Gateway ServerThe RemoteDB Gateway server will run on Windows NT or 95. The server includes a graphical user interface that allows you to configure the server and view the status of current connections. The graphical user interface can be launched by clicking on the RemoteDB Gateway icon that is created during installation.To configure the RemoteDB Gateway Server, select the "File|Options..." menu item. This brings up a dialog that contains the available program options. These include:
Using the RemoteDB Gateway ODBC DriversTo have a Windows application remotely connect to an ODBC data source via the RemoteDB Gateway server, two separate ODBC data sources must be configured. First, the appropriate RemoteDB Gateway ODBC driver (16-bit or 32-bit) must be installed and configured on the client machine (i.e., the same computer on which the application is to be run). Second, an ODBC data source must be installed and configured on the server machine (i.e., the computer on which the RemoteDB Gateway server is running). The server's ODBC data source typically uses a third-party ODBC driver provided by a database vendor.To configure the RemoteDB Gateway ODBC driver on the client machine, run the Control Panel application and select the ODBC icon. Follow these steps to configure a new data source.
Using the RemoteDB Gateway JDBC DriverThe JDBC driver classes are installed as part of the RemoteDB Gateway Server installation. The classes that make up the JDBC driver are part of a Java package named "remotedb". To use the JDBC driver, all of the class files must be physically copied from their installation directory, typically "C:\Program Files\Nogginware\RemoteDB Gateway\java\remotedb", to a directory pointed to by the CLASSPATH environment variable.The main driver class which implements the java.sql.Driver interface is found in the "remotedb.Driver" class. Your Java program must explicitly load this class by executing the following Java statement.
This statement will cause the JDBC driver to be registered with the JDBC DriverManager. Once the driver has been loaded, connections can be made to the database by invoking the DriverManager.getConnection() method. The URL that is passed to DriverManager.getConnection() must conform to the following syntax.
Items in square brackets ([]) are optional. In its simplest form, the URL "jdbc:remotedb://marvin/test" instructs the JDBC driver to connect to the RemoteDB Gateway server running on the host "marvin" and use the ODBC data source name "test" that has been configured on that server. If a port is not specified, it is assumed to be port 1800. In the more complex form, it is possible to set various parameters that are associated with the target ODBC data source. For example, the URL "jdbc:remotedb://wizard:2371/accounting/TIMEOUT=30" will instruct the JDBC driver to connect to the host "wizard" at port 2371, use the ODBC data source name "accounting", and pass the parameter "TIMEOUT=30" to the specified data source. An abbreviated example of the statements needed to connect to a database is presented below.
The "C:\Program Files\Nogginware\RemoteDB Gateway\java\samples" directory contains sample code for the following two Java applications.
These samples demonstrate the use of JDBC and, more importantly, how connections to the RemoteDB Gateway server are made. They can also be used to test whether or not the software has been properly installed.
DistributionRemoteDB Gateway may be freely distributed with the following conditions:
Registering RemoteDB GatewayPlease complete the form found in the file REGISTER.HTM and mail the completed form along with payment directly to Nogginware Corporation at the address listed in the following paragraph.
Contacting NogginwareAddress questions, problems, or praise to:
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