Type Four Driver: Direct-to-database pure Java driver

This style of driver converts JDBC calls into a network protocol that sends the converted packets--in a proprietary format--to be used directly by DBMSs, thus allowing a direct call from the client machine to the DBMS server and providing a practical solution for intranet access. This type of driver has become very popular recently and is supported by most database software vendors. All JDBC drivers from Data Direct Technologies (driver vendor) are Type 4 drivers.

Pros: Better performance than Types 1 and 2. No need to install special software on client or server.

Cons: Not optimized for server operating system, so the driver can’t take advantage of operating system features. (The driver is optimized for the database and can take advantage of the database vendor’s functionality.) User needs a different driver for each different database.

A native-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver converts JDBC technology calls into the network protocol used by DBMSs directly. This allows a direct call from the client machine to the DBMS server.

Advantages for using this type of driver include the following:

• Allows access to almost any database since the databases ODBC drivers are readily available

• Offers significantly better performance than the JDBC/ODBC Bridge and Type 2 Drivers

• Scalable

• Caching

• Advanced system administration

• Superior performance

• Advance Java feature set

• Does not require applicable database client libraries

The disadvantage for using this type of driver is that each database will require a driver