Distributed database programming

Distributed database programming describes the distributed relational database management portion of the IBM® i licensed program. Distributed relational database management provides applications with access to data that is external to the applications and typically located across a network of computers.

This topic also contains IBM i distributed data management (DDM) concepts, information about preparing for DDM communications, and DDM-related programming information. You can use IBM i DDM to prepare a system to access data in remote files and to control access to local files by remote systems.

Note: By using the code examples, you agree to the terms of the Code license and disclaimer information.

What's new for IBM i 7.1
Read about new or significantly changed information for the distributed database programming topic collection.
PDF file for Distributed database programming
You can view and print a PDF file of this information.
DRDA and DDM overview
This topic describes the concepts and processing of IBM i distributed relational database support and IBM i distributed data management support.
Planning and design
To prepare for a distributed relational database, you must understand both the needs of the business and relational database technology. To prepare for the use of DDM, you need to meet several requirements including communication requirements, security requirements, and modification requirements.
Initial setup
The IBM i operating system provides runtime support for distributed relational databases. However, some setup work might be required to make the servers and clients ready to send and receive work, particularly in the Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (APPC) environment.
Security
The IBM i operating system has built in security elements that limit access to data resources of a server. Security options range from simple physical security to full password security coupled with authorization to commands and data objects.
DRDA and DDM application development
Programmers can write high-level language programs that use SQL statements for IBM i distributed application programs. This topic also indicates which languages, utilities, and application programs support DDM, and provides the DDM-specific information to properly access remote files.
DRDA and DDM administration
As an administrator for a distributed relational database, you are responsible for work that is done on several systems.
Data availability and protection
In a distributed relational database environment, data availability involves not only protecting data on an individual system in the network, but also ensuring that users have access to the data across the network.
DRDA and DDM performance
No matter what kind of application programs you are running on a system, performance can always be a concern. For a distributed relational database, network, system, and application performance are all crucial.
Examples: Application programming
These examples show how to use a distributed relational database for functional specification tasks and how to code for DDM-related tasks.
User FAQs
You need to consider these conditions when working with another specific IBM product.
Troubleshooting DRDA and DDM
When a problem occurs accessing a distributed relational database, determine the nature of the problem and whether it is a problem with the application or a problem with the local or remote system.
Related information for Distributed database programming
Product manuals, IBM Redbooks® publications, Web sites, and other information center topic collections contain information that relates to the Distributed database programming topic collection. You can view or print any of the PDF files.