PLEASE HELP URGENT

[richiearora]

Hi All,

Please can anyone let me Know can Cognos 8.4.1 on Z Linux Systems connect to Microsoft SQL Databases?

Without installing virtual View manager.

thanks in advance

[sir_jeroen]

Do you have a SQL Server client driver installed? If yes, then I think it will be possible... Cognos uses client drivers to connect to the reporting databases...

[FM]

Have you tried through ODBC? Since ODBC doesn't care about "which type of database" you're querying, it should work.

Granted, performance will suffer relative to OLE or native client, but since you don't have a windows machine, i think that's your only option.

[cognostechie]

Have you tried through ODBC? Since ODBC doesn't care about "which type of database" you're querying, it should work.

Really ? Can you elaborate on how ODBC works? Is there only one ODBC driver for all kind of databases or different drivers made for different databases?

[FM]

Really ? Can you elaborate on how ODBC works? Is there only one ODBC driver for all kind of databases or different drivers made for different databases?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Database_Connectivity

And just a quote:
In computing, Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) provides a standard software interface for accessing database management systems (DBMS). The designers of ODBC aimed to make it independent of programming languages, database systems, and operating systems. Thus, any application can use ODBC to query data from a database, regardless of the platform it is on or DBMS it uses.

In a windows machine, you need to use the ODBC control panel to configure a VVM datasource for example. You can also map any other OCBD datasource, as long as you have the appropriate driver. Cognos can then access it just like any other datasource.

I suggest the OP try the ODBC route. System Z obviously does not come with standard sql server drivers, as it isn't a windows operating system. Perhaps using ODBC, you can overcome this limitation.  ;)

[cognostechie]

So you do agree that ODBC will connect only with appropriate driver to that database. It is a general software to connect to any database but it does care which database it is. That's what I meant too.

[Arsenal]

So you do agree that ODBC will connect only with appropriate driver to that database. It is a general software to connect to any database but it does care which database it is. That's what I meant too.

No, what FM is saying is that connecting with ODBC does NOT require you to have any drivers installed. So, in this example since the OP's installation is not on a Windows server, they will have to get a third party Sql Server driver (like Datadirect) which costs money.
But with ODBC, OP can make a connection to Sql Server WITHOUT any third party drivers using just the default Cognos software. However, as with most things in life, ODBC connectivity has a price to be paid as FM pointed out - performance bottleneck.

In summation: ODBC = no drivers, third party or native, needed to connect to any DB but with performance cost
                    OLE/Native/Third Party = money needed to license drivers but performance better than ODBC

[cognostechie]

.. and the world is flat. It's not round.

Look out of the window if you don't believe me. It's always flat.

Go too far and you will fall off the edge..

[RobsWalker68]

Hi,

We seem to have wandered off on the theoretical, anyway back to the actual question  ;)

My understanding is that SQL Server on a Z System is only accessible via Virtual View Manager.

Cheers


Rob

[MFGF]

Hi,

We seem to have wandered off on the theoretical, anyway back to the actual question  ;)

My understanding is that SQL Server on a Z System is only accessible via Virtual View Manager.

Cheers


Rob

From my limited knowledge of Z, that sounds about right to me. I'm not a mainframe expert though, so don't quote me on that! :)

MF.
[/quote]

[TROndrey]

Hi,

We seem to have wandered off on the theoretical, anyway back to the actual question  ;)

My understanding is that SQL Server on a Z System is only accessible via Virtual View Manager.

Cheers

Rob

I've been working on getting MS SQL Server connected to Cognos on System z. I just installed Virtual View Manager this morning, however I'm getting the following Java Script errors when clicking on the menu tabs:

Firefox v3.6.13 - Uncaught exception: JavaScript TypeError exception: $doc.getBoxObjectFor is not a function
IE8 - Uncaught exception: JavaScript Error exception: Not implemented

Any ideas? Thank you! Sorry to hijack the thread but its pretty relevant!

[RobsWalker68]

Hi,

I think with Cognos on a Z System you are going to be a pretty rare breed  ;)

Perhaps your quickest solution may be to open a PMR with Cognos support as at least your guaranteed a relatively quick response.

Rgds

Rob

[richiearora]

Hey all,

We have opened the PMr ticket, and Cognos Support told that we cannot Connect to MSSQL as ODBC Data Source without using virtual View Manager for Cognos 8.4+.

However in Cognos 10, we were able to Do so.

PS: Dont try this using cognos 10 and connecting MSSQL as ODBC, Most of the reports failed due to some or other issues.

my Life is a mess now troubleshooting the same.

Cheers,
Riche