INF: Macintosh Connectivity to SQL Sever for OS/2

ID: Q89077

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server for OS/2, version 4.2

SUMMARY

A Macintosh client can access Microsoft SQL Server for OS/2. Currently, there are two ways of implementing this connectivity. One is through the use of Microsoft SQL Bridge, which is a two-way protocol gateway software that connects Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase SQL Server environments, enabling clients and servers to communicate across different networks. The other option is to use TechGnosis SequeLink.

The text below describes the various ways of implementing Macintosh-SQL Server connectivity.

MORE INFORMATION

SQL Bridge Solution

As a protocol gateway, SQL Bridge allows Macintosh-based applications that use Sybase's Macintosh Open Client DB-Library (DB-Lib) for TCP/IP to communicate with SQL Server for OS/2 using named pipes. Because Sybase's DB-Lib for Macintosh uses TCP/IP protocol support, existing Macintosh DB-Lib applications that can connect to Sybase SQL servers on VMS and UNIX using TCP/IP can communicate with SQL Server through SQL Bridge and Microsoft LAN Manager's TCP/IP stack.

SQL Bridge is a protocol converter. In the case of Macintosh connectivity, it converts TCP/IP and named pipes back and forth, thereby establishing communication between the TCP/IP client and the named pipes server.

To implement this connectivity, SQL Bridge must be installed on LAN Manager version 2.1 or later with TCP/IP support. On the Macintosh client side, some third-party products such as Omnis 5, 4th Dimension, Clear Access, or Deft can be used as the front-ends. MacTCP, the TCP/IP stack for Macintosh, is available from Apple. TCPort, Novell's implementation of the TCP/IP stack for the Macintosh, can also be used in place of MacTCP. Unlike on PCs, there are no Network Library (Net-Library) modules for the Macintosh to connect to SQL Server. If Apple's Macintosh Programmer's Workbench (MPW) is installed on the client, a Macintosh version of ISQL by Sybase can be used to access SQL Server.

TechGnosis SequeLink Solution

TechGnosis has developed a version of SequeLink that allows a Macintosh user on a LAN Manager network to access SQL Server from many existing Macintosh applications. It uses the AppleTalk stack in the LAN Manager services for the Macintosh to gain connectivity to SQL Server on OS/2.

SequeLink consists of two parts: One is the server-side software called SequeLink Router/Server for OS/2, and the other is the Macintosh client- side software called SequeLink Client for Macintosh. The server-side software is responsible for the communications between Macintosh clients and SQL Server using DB-Lib. It has two pieces: One is called Server for OS/2, which is a really a DB-Lib application; the other is called Apple Data Stream Protocol (ADSP) Listener, which handles ADSP communication from Macintosh clients. The client-side software has three parts in general: the network file (similar to SQL Server's network library), the core files (similar to SQL Server's DB-Lib), and application link, which consists of application-dependent macros.

To use this solution, install LAN Manager 2.1 with the Macintosh services. A third-party application is usually needed unless you intend to interface to SequeLink using programming languages such as C or Pascal. TechGnosis provides the application links for HyperCard, Microsoft Excel, 4th Dimension, and Wingz.

To contact TechGnosis, call (407) 997-6687.

Additional query words: 4.20 dblib connectivity


Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbtool 
Version           : 4.2
Platform          : MACINTOSH OS/2 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: March 12, 1999