Creating a data source connection

A data source connection specifies the parameters needed to connect to a database, such as the location of the database and the timeout duration. These parameters form a connection string for the data source.

You can include authentication information for the database in the data source connection by creating a signon. Users need not enter database authentication information each time the connection is used because the authentication information is encrypted and stored on the server. The signon produced when you create a data source is available to the Everyone group. Later, you can modify who can use the signon or create more signons.

Before you begin

You must have write permissions for the folder where you want to save the data source, and for the Cognos namespace. You must also have execute permissions for the Data Source Connections capability. Certain roles, such as Analytics Explorers and Analytics Users, have this capability by default. For more information, see User capabilities.

About this task

Existing data source connections cannot be edited in Framework Manager.

Note: Data server connections that are created in Manage also appear in Administration console > Configuration > Data Source Connections as data source connections. Users with the required capabilities and access permissions can view the connections here, and edit the connections that they created in Manage.

Procedure

  1. In IBM Cognos Administration, on the Configuration tab, select Data Source Connections.
    Tip: To remove a data source, select the check box for the data source and select the delete button.
  2. Select the new data source button.
  3. In the name and description page, type a unique name for the data source and, optionally, a description and screen tip, and then select Next.
  4. In the connection page, from the Type drop-down list, select the type of data source that you want to create.

    If your data source is not listed, click Other type.

    If you selected a relational data source, the Configure JDBC Connection check box is selected. If you do not want to create a JDBC connection, clear the check box. For more information about JDBC connections, see Using JDBC connections for data sources.
  5. Specify the isolation level:
    • If Isolation level does not appear, select Next.
    • If Isolation level also appears, select the default object gateway or specify a value, and then select Next.
  6. Specify the connection parameters for the data source.

    For information about connection parameters for the type of data source that you are using, click the associated item in the following list:

  7. Select Test the connection, and then Test to test whether parameters are correct.

    In the Status column, you can see if the connection was successful. If it was unsuccessful, select Close, return to the previous steps, and verify your connection parameters. If it was successful, go to the next step.

  8. Click Finish.

    If you selected a data source other than IBM Cognos PowerCube or SAP BW, the new data source appears in Data Source Connections on the Configuration tab, and can be selected when using the Metadata Wizard in Framework Manager.

    If you selected IBM Cognos PowerCube or SAP BW, go to the next step.

  9. Click OK to return to Data Source Connections, or for some data sources, you can click Create a Package and OK.
    Note: You can create a package with your new data source now or later. The Create a Package check box is available only if you have the required capabilities.
  10. To make the data source connection available in the new administration interface in Manage > Data server connections, click the set properties button Set properties icon for the connection, and on the Connection tab, check the Allow web-based modeling check box.

What to do next

If you created a signon, you can now modify it or add more signons. For more information, see Data source signons.