IBM has released the production version of its Data Server Provider for .NET including support for Microsoft’s Entity Framework allowing its users to create EDM schemas, and to execute EntitySQL and LINQ statements.
IBM Data Server Provider for .NET allows .NET applications to access these database management systems:
- DB2 Database for Linux®, UNIX®, and Windows®, Version 9
- DB2® Universal Database™ Version 8 for Windows, UNIX, and Linux-based computers
- DB2 Universal Database Version 6 (or later) for OS/390® and z/OS®, through DB2® Connect™
- DB2 Universal Database Version 5, Release 1 (or later) for AS/400® and System i™, through DB2 Connect
- DB2 Universal Database Version 7.3 (or later) for VSE & VM, through DB2 Connect
- IBM Informix® Dynamic Server, Version 11.10 or later
- IBM UniData®, Version 7.1.11 or later
- IBM UniVerse®, Version 10.2 or later
The provider works with the following clients:
- IBM Data Server Client (version 9.5.3 or later)
- IBM Data Server Runtime Client (version 9.5.3 or later)
- IBM Data Server Driver for ODBC, CLI, and .NET (version 9.5.3 or later)
The IBM Database Add-Ins enables the creation of .NET applications for IBM’s databases in Visual Studio. The provider has some limitations when it comes to LINQ support:
- Invocation of store specific functions is not supported.
- Invocation of Canonical functions other than the aggregates count, sum, min, max, avg is not supported.
- Other server specific limitations.
Useful links: DB2 and .NET FAQ. InfoQ’s ADO.NET Entity Framework news.
