Portaldomosphere

You Got your JDBC Driver Stuck in My iSeries!


Whenever I run in to an issue like this, I try to remember and blog it. This is one of those issues that was not obvious and quite honestly, I came by the answer completely by accident.

In the Websphere admin console, you can set up JDBC resources to use in your applications. When I am working on my local portal, I just use Cloudscape Network Server as a data source. But in this case, my customer has an iSeries that the Portal application will be reading. Specifically, DB2 UDB for iSeries.

BACKGROUND

For years, users and administrators alike have enjoyed querying the iSeries for data without having to specify a library, just as long as the username on the iSeries has the library in their default list. You would easily query the iSeries server and specify the table that you needed access to. This is very helpful when going from a development box to a test box or a production box. On the other servers, you may not have the table in the same library as your dev server so if your SQL statements only have the table specified, you will not have to change your code.

When my customer let me know about this, I had to make changes across my SQL calls considering I was specifying the schema in cloudscape. (BTW - schema and library - when it comes to SQL - are fairly synonymous). I DID have to move the tables in cloudscape to a schema with the same name of the user I was using in my cloudscape database. That way I could create SQL calls without specifying a schema or a library. We changed the advanced parameters on the JDBC library for the parameter "libraries" and added the library the table resided in.

THE ISSUE

Using the JDBC Driver in that comes with Websphere 6, we were able to connect to the iSeries. The problem was that everytime we tried to make a call to the iSeries with just the table, it would come back stating that there was no table in library *QTEMP. This made it appear that the calls were specifying the QTEMP library.

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. The fact that I am using Portlet Factory was considered as the first culprit. Although improbable, God know what kind of code it is generating against the iSeries. We disassembled the code being generated by Portlet Factory and found no evidence of the library QTEMP.
2. We looked at the advanced property "libraries" again and read the instructions for the property. In the instructions it stated that you can separate the libraries with commas or spaces. We had both in between each of the libraries, so we changed this parameter so we just had commas and one HUGE line of libraries. After a restart of the WAS server and Portal, this did not fix the issue.
3. After this, I refocused my efforts on the driver itself. There are three possibilities for JDBC iSeries drivers in WAS : "JDBC iSeries Toolbox Driver for DB2", "JDBC iSeries Toolbox Driver for DB2 (XA)", JDBC iSeries Driver Native. After trying each of these drivers, and searching through them, I noticed instructions in the Native driver's advanced properties that did not exist in the Toolbox drivers.

THE SOLUTION

In the Native iSeries DB2 driver, there is a advanced property called "naming". The property is in the toolbox drivers as well but the instructions are different. The native driver stated that when using the "libraries" property, this "naming" property should be set to system so that the jdbc driver uses the native database calls for the iSeries. This property is valued by default as sql. If left as sql the jdbc driver ignores the "libraries" property. So we changed the naming property to system and restarted the server. This allowed everything to work and the portlets started working.

CONCLUSION

When using the "libraries" advanced property in the jdbc driver for iSeries toolbox, making sure you set the "naming" parameter to system instead of sql.

 Great - I am ok. Phew 51%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

 Yes - I used to HATE Websphere - and to some extent Portal. And I wondered today - why did I not like these products? (And you are asking why I ask myself question like this on the weekend) The more I thought about this, I came up with many answers.

 

My first answer came from the marketing that IBM and Lotus subjected us to from some years back. I think the biggest fears about Websphere taking over the Domino arena came with Workplace. Workplace was seen and marketed as the next big thing. Since Lotus was pushing this and just coasting around with Lotus Notes the community felt very much like I did - rejected. We have made Lotus Notes our friend and now the rules were completely changing. Luckily for us, the focus turned back on Lotus Notes. (And lucky for us that Workplace took so long to set up and configure that is was basically not worth the effort to mess with)

 

My second answer - I LOVE Lotus Notes. I am a yellow-bleeder for sure. I know this down in my heart that this software is like the perfect canvas for me to create something wonderful. So the thought of letting go of that turned my stomach and angered me. How dare they change everything I have been doing...

 

But the real reason - well, I did not know nor understand or really want to know anything about the Websphere brand. Even in all the training and early working with Websphere products - I still got a bad feeling about it. But in all of this I realized that IBM/Lotus did itself a horrible disjustice. The main reason is that Domino products and Websphere products are completely different. I mean this on all levels. Neither could do the others job - and I mean this in total. Totally from technical to the type of customer who would purchase each for each reason.

 

So - for all of you who felt this way before - have an open mind and try not to get caught up in the bad feeling you had before.

 Well, as you can probably imagine I am either up late or awake early. If you can believe it, it is the latter. So I have had my cat nap and now it is time to pound back on this code that I am trying to frantically finish. Don't get me wrong, I love developing and administering (that word is a topic for another post) - but I start to get this sense of blurriness between reality and whatever this is. I see it no different than I would imagine an accountant sees his ledger or "The Fake Steve Jobs" sees a bottle of Midol and a cosmo. (I imagine the real Steve Jobs would not order froo froo drinks but.. ehhh) - see, things get blurry

 

Ok so I need to jump away from the paragraph - and I will not sit here and talk about any of this code until a time where I have not been bangin this stuff out. So, to break montony of my typical confsuing dreck - I give you some rap - from the HP.

 

Harry Potter in the Hood

 

 Although I must admit that Alton had a point in his closing session keynote, I truly wonder if we are really that socially retarded. Is it that we are different than most of the population, or are most of us truly recluse?

 

From my own personal experience, I can open up like a damn flower around other techie people but when it comes to being around people, say at a bar or some other social gathering - I CHOKE. What do I talk about? Am I going to say something stupid? Am I going to be ignored when talking? But when I am at Lotusphere, or on a design call, I open up and become more comfortable with myself.  I used to feel bad about being this way - feeling like I need to change this part of me - but recently I feel much better about being this way. Sure, I may not be getting to know a lot of people, but I think that is ok.

 

So what I am trying to say is, we are not necessarily socially retarded but maybe just work better within our "people". And no, we are not always talking about techie stuff. But the fact that we have similar background and current experiences makes us all more compatible to be around each other. And is this so different than the rest of society?

 

We interface with like-minded people. And our lives expand beyond computers so those other parts of our lives are other "interface points". Much like a web service with multiple functions, each function adds a sense of commonality with another application of service. The more functions in common, the more alike the apps are. We, as humans, are no different. Each interest we have gives us another link of commonality to another person.

 

Don't get me wrong, I am not slamming on Alton in any way shape or form. Please note that many times, my posts are very much internal discussions that I have had and writing them down makes it easier for me to understand and disseminate them. So to all my fellow geeks - "Howdy - let's talk!"

I cannot believe I am writing this post but I guess I am just picky.

 

Ok so - the software is sexy. But is sexy? Is sexy visually hot? Is it something really new? What exactly are we talking about here? Something can be new and visually hot and that is what I see as "sexy". I cannot see say embedding something on the Domino server as sexy because it is not a visual element.

 

Now - I know transferring this to the other version of sexy - referring to a sexy (insert sexual preference of mate here), this does not always have to do with the beauty on the outside. Sometimes, they can be somewhat mediocre visually but there is something about them that just make you crazy - thus makes you feel they are sexy. If this is what you are talking about as backend sexy then I understand that too.

 

So what do we call something that is implemented absolutely superbly but not necessarily new? Is it "sexy" or is it "hot" or maybe it just a "little hottie element". Not sure - of course part of this is tongue-in-cheek - but another part of this is truly trying to figure out the mnemonic to this new sexual side of software and code. Or is it defined? Or is this just cool slang? My problem is a usually insert the wrong thing when using new terms. I know this stems from noticing people using incorrect words and how much I feel embarrassed for them. I am sure I have even picked some some incorrect words for this post. It is nice when speaking to non-IT people that I use something that is universal across the industry.

 In response to Dan Lyons on his nom de plume blog FakeSteveJobs post "Oxymoron of the week" (WARNING: This blog post  has quite a bit of profanity in it - thus my response). I am unsure if my comment will be posted, but vile garbage like this should be pointed out as the wrong way to blog... even if you disagree with something. In my opinion, if you would not get in front of a crowd of people and say the same words, you should re-write it,

 

--------------- My Response -------------------

 

Well, I have never visited this blog before so I guess you can thank Ed Brill for a momentary reader - and I do mean momentary.

So - looks like you have a mouth only a septic-tank technician could love. That's nice and all but this makes you irrelevant. Your thoughts are about as relevant as Lisa Lamponelli slamming on a celebrity during a celebrity roast. Using profanity may be funny, but utterly pointless.

 

So, to get to the point of my comment. The fact that you have this nom de plume does not detach you from Forbes in my opinion. Luckily, I no longer subscribe to Forbes and will remember not to subscribe as long as you are attached to them.

 

As a qualification of my comments, I am a Lotus Software supporter. I was driven to this vile attempt at forming English words by Ed Brill's blog. Simply put, if I had run across this garbage against any other software, my post would read somewhat similar.

True, you do have a right to your own opinion. We live in the United States so that is your right and I do not take that away from you. My objection to the existance of this, dare I say "blog", is you offer nothing but a place to flame and spew profanities. You offer the toilet of the IT world for all to vomit and deficate in.

 

As for your blatent attack on Mr Brill, you are subject to your opinion of others, but personal attacks are so childish. When you decide that your blog needs to be cleaned up and you wish to post an entry that would create a true discussion, let me know. I have no problem having an intelligent discussion - just leave your filth to yourself and state some type of facts and opinions that would be worth my time to read.

 The one thing that I am seeing all over the place is this let down revolving around Lotusphere being over. Sure, we are not around 9000 fellow yellow-bleeding geeks, but who is to say Lotusphere is truly over. As an event - yes - we are not at the Swan and Dolphin and killing our normally dormant bodies - but is the idea of Lotusphere truly over.

 

So - what am I getting at? It is this -

 

The messages you heard, felt, blogged about, wrote notes on... etc etc... this is now YOUR time to turn in to the speaker. You have many people in your organization that did not here or see what you did as 'Sphere attendees. Pass the message along of what IBM/Lotus has given us. Get people excited about what speakers gave you.

 

We are Lotus Professionals. Argueably some of the most staunch supporters of our own products and craft. You have a drum - beat it. You have the message - shout it out. The energy you got from Lotusphere - drive it home. (And if you have Microsoft Professionals - make sure you rub it in their faces how cool your stuff is)

 

And last - but DEFINATELY not least - remember this site. Bleedyellow is not going ANYWHERE. It is here. It is NOT like Lotusphere Online that disappears after awhile. Keep blogging, keep checking, keep talking, keep up the message!

 

Thanks everyone for a great Lotusphere 2008!

هذا هو الدخول بالعربيه. 

这是一个华人入境。 

 

 

 Ok this is completely non-technical but as Karl-Henry come up to our booth as was talking to us. He says, "I have a friend that was asking me if Scott was single." She was apparently asking because she saw Scott's picture on his Lotus Connections Profile.

 

I replied, "Nope - sorry - you'll have to tell your friend he is a taken man." (Your welcome Mrs.Hooks )

 

It's just amazing what this software can do for you. It can even now get you blind dates if you are available.

 There were SO many new announcements today.

 

First off - OGS -

The big deal announcements have to be :

 

Lotus Foundations - this is a server, about the size of a 300 baud modem from back in the day. This server will be outfitted with collaboration and directory services software ready to configure and go with. Lotus has finally realized the importance of the SMB marker and is delivering on it.

 

Lotus Mashups - I heard about this a few days ago but had no idea that they had made it very easy to use. I would personally like to get my hands on it and maybe I still can - who knows.

 

I have enjoyed speaking with many of you who have come to our booth and spokenj to us about your needs. I look forward to the next two days finding out what else to expect.

 

- D

 I have posted an activity for to query all of you as to whom you think the guest speaker will be. Go ahead and create a message and lets see if anyone gets it.

 

Guest Speaker Activity