Embedding Informix Dynamic Server

IBM® Informix® Dynamic Server is IBM's flagship database server solution for embedded computing. It provides blazing online transaction processing (OLTP) performance, legendary reliability and ease of management to businesses of all sizes.

Embedding database servers has become a requirement as applications are being deployed on hand-held devices, specialized systems and network infrastructures, and can be carried out in 3 ways.

• Invisible (or Deep) embedding
• Integrated administration
• Included

With invisible, or deep embedding of a database server, there is no database administrator involved. Any required administration is done programmatically or is scripted. Deep embedding can be seen as the most demanding of embedded database environments. An example of deep embedding is a consumer electronics device designed to operate on a standalone basis, independent of any network support.

In an integrated administration scenario, the data server administration is included with the application administration. The application provider includes all the necessary administration components (for example backup tools) in the application administration tooling that the user can utilize. Examples of an integrated solution include software products designed to run in a networked environment, with high availability and backup requirements, where the IT staff is expected to retain some control over data archiving and recovery.

Finally, in the included scenario, the database server is bundled with the application, but the administration and tuning is handled by the user or a DBA. This scenario provides the greatest flexibility to the user. The data stored in the database can be mined for other purposes as well. Examples of included solutions are large scale integrated supply chain and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions.

A solution comprising of IDS embedded within an application can be configured and programmed proactively to shield itself from potential issues. In addition, it can be configured to reactively and automatically respond to specific events if they should occur. This ensures that the entire system can run smoothly and in a self-sufficient way, with virtually zero administration overhead. With IDS embedded as a database server, there is minimal to zero effort required after deployment. This enables many solutions to act independently of administrator supervision without sacrificing the capabilities of an enterprise-level database server.