Designing Client-Server Applications for Enterprise Database Connectivity

Abstract

Client-server computing is moving into the mainstream of corporate information systems. With this move comes the need for client-server applications that can access enterprise-wide data. Much of this data is currently stored in mainframe-and mini-computer databases, and one of the challenges facing implementors of client-server technology today is how to bring this mission-critical data to the desktop and integrate it with the functional, easy-to-use graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that are associated with PC-based tools.

The purpose of this technical note is to outline the database connectivity solutions MicrosoftTM has developed to allow client-server applications to access enterprise-wide data. This technical note identifies some of the basic problems involved in accessing heterogeneous databases and outlines general approaches to achieving heterogeneous database access. The database connectivity solutions developed by Microsoft are discussed in depth, with an emphasis on how these products relate to each other. Finally, this technical note provides some general guidelines for designing applications for enterprise database connectivity using Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft database connectivity products.

(Note: Unless otherwise noted, information in this technical note applies to Microsoft SQL Server on both the Windows NTTM and OS/2® platforms.)