Integrating the JDBC Driver

To use JDBC features, you must choose a JDBC driver to work with the Enterprise Server, then you must set up the driver. This section covers these topics:

• Supported Database Drivers

• Making the JDBC Driver JAR Files Accessible

• Automatic Detection of Installed Drivers

Supported Database Drivers

Supported JDBC drivers are those that have been fully tested by Sun. For a list of the JDBC drivers currently supported by the Enterprise Server, see the Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Release Notes. For configurations of supported and other drivers, see Configuration Specifics for JDBC Drivers in Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Administration Guide.

Because the drivers and databases supported by the Enterprise Server are constantly being updated, and because database vendors continue to upgrade their products, always check with Sun technical support for the latest database support information.

Making the JDBC Driver JAR Files Accessible

To integrate the JDBC driver into an Enterprise Server domain, copy the JAR files into the domain-dir/lib directory, then restart the server. This makes classes accessible to all applications or modules deployed on servers that share the same configuration. For more information about Enterprise Server class loaders, see Chapter 2, Class Loaders.

If you are using an Oracle database with EclipseLink extensions, copy the JAR files into the domain-dir/lib/ext directory, then restart the server. For details, see Oracle Database Enhancements.

Automatic Detection of Installed Drivers

The Administration Console detects installed JDBC Drivers automatically when you create a JDBC connection pool. To create a JDBC connection pool using the Administration Console, open the Resources component, open the JDBC component, select Connection Pools, and click on the New button. This displays the New JDBC Connection Pool page.

Based on the Resource Type and Database Vendor you select on the New JDBC Connection Pool page, data source or driver implementation class names are listed in the Datasource Classname or Driver Classname field when you click on the Next button. When you choose a specific implementation class name on the next page, additional properties relevant to the installed JDBC driver are displayed in the Additional Properties section.