ProData Goes Cross-Platform with DBU

Published: May 22, 2007

by Alex Woodie

ProData Computer Services has released a version of its Database Utility (DBU) that can access other relational database management systems in addition to DB2/400. With the new capability, available from ProData as a plug-in called DBU Remote Database (RDB), System i programmers can now get the same high-powered, real-time access to SQL Server, DB2 UDB, Oracle, MySQL, and other database as DBU customers have realized when accessing DB2/400.

DBU is a popular and handy utility that makes it easy for programmers, administrators, and users to view and access any file in DB2/400, without programming. The software, which was designed as a replacement for IBM's native DB2/400 utility, called Data File Utility (DFU), has proved useful when programmers really need to get very low-level access to database records, such as during a server emergency or when testing a new application. With more than 20,000 licenses sold over the years, the product has a solid and proven track record.

With DBU RDB, ProData is now giving DBU users the deep level of access to other databases using a tool they're familiar with, as opposed to forcing them to learn to use another tool. Users can even access other databases from the green-screen interface, in addition to using DBU's Java-based GUI.

Users can do practically everything they can do with DBU on DB2/400 with DBU RDB on Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, and DB2 UDB. Not only does this mean viewing, adding, changing, or deleting data, but a number of other capabilities, including performing mass replaces or deletes, exporting data en masse, creating DBU applications and customizing function keys, support for Boolean logic, a number of field-level controls, audit tracking (via the DBU Audit plug-in), and a full array of print options.

ProData says it's easy to connect to other databases using DBU RDB, which uses the same connection settings for accessing i5/OS servers with DBU. Once users have entered information such as the remote server's IP address, the port number, schema, user name, and password, the information is encrypted with a 256-bit key stored as an object on the System i.

Once it's setup, when users want to access the remote database, all they do is issue the RDB command, and they are connected to the last database table they were connected to in their 5250 session. To change database tables, users simply enter the new table name.

DBU RDB is a powerful tool, and ProData has designed it to respect security. From the System i perspective, the software supports i5/OS object-level security, enabling security administrators to provide fine-grained access control. When connecting to remote servers, DBU RDB users cannot access any databases that they haven't been provided access to; authority must be granted from the database's native console, not DBU RDB. The software respects all access authorities for remote systems.

ProData owner and CEO, Allen Hartley, says the software will be well-received by DBU users. "Our customers have been asking for one tool/one interface to access all their data in their shops for the past several years," Hartley says. "DBU RDB allows our customers simple setup and the use of one database tool across multiple platforms to access their data. With DBU RDB, they no longer have to learn other tools to access remote information."

DBU RDB requires DBU 7.0, i5/OS V4R5 or greater, and an IP connection to the remote server. A license to use DBU RDB across an unlimited number of databases and an unlimited number of users costs $1,995. For more information, visit www.dodbu.com.

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