IBM i Access for Windows .NET provider

IBM® i Access for Windows .NET provider allows .NET managed programs to access the IBM i database files using SQL.

Your IBM i Access for Windows .NET support is known by any of the following:
  • Managed Provider
  • DB2® for IBM i .NET Provider
  • IBM.Data.DB2.iSeries data provider

Regardless of the name that is referenced, this data provider allows development and support for your PC-to-IBM i SQL applications, when the .NET Data Access Framework on your IBM i connection. It consists of a set of classes and data types that provide access to connection, command, DataAdapter, and DataReader functions as defined and supported by the ADO.NET architectural model.

The IBM.Data.DB2.iSeries data provider complements the existing OLE DB database providers. It allows you to use Visual Basic and C# to develop your .NET client/server applications. You can use the Programmer's Toolkit along with this provider to make development of your .NET Windows client PC applications quicker and easier.

The Managed Provider follows the .NET Framework specifications for managed code, including the requirement to have the .NET Framework already installed on your PC. Once the framework is installed, see the User's Guide for information on installing or removing an IBM i Access for Windows feature.

See Microsoft Web site Link outside the Information Center for the architecture and details on Microsoft's .NET Framework, ADO.NET, Windows Installer, GAC, the CLR, and specifications for managed code.

To access technical details:

  • The DB2 for IBM i .NET Provider Technical Reference, which is shipped with the IBM i Access for Windows product, provides complete documentation of the Managed Provider's support. To access this information, use this path: Start > Programs > IBM i Access for Windows > Programmer's Toolkit > Start of change.NET Provider Technical ReferenceEnd of change.
  • Start of changeTechnical information about the .NET Provider is also available in Visual Studio 2005 and 2008, by filtering on "IBM i Access for Windows"End of change

.NET framework

See Microsoft Web site Link outside the Information Center for the architecture and details on Microsoft's .NET Framework, ADO.NET, Windows Installer, GAC, the CLR, and specifications for managed code.

To install Programmer's Toolkit :

  • You can optionally install the Programmer's Toolkit when you install the IBM i Access for Windows product or you can run a Start of changemodified setupEnd of change after the product is already installed. See Programmer's Toolkit.
Other .NET information resources:
Parent topic: IBM i Access for Windows: Database programming