7.2.4 How to Create an Informix Database

These are the high-level steps to create an Informix database:

• Preparing the Informix environment

• Creating and customizing the $ONCONFIG file

• Creating Informix entries in the sqlhosts file

• Configuring the /etc/services file

These are the detailed steps to create an Informix database:

1. Prepare the Informix environment.

   Prepare the Informix environment using the following commands. In csh:

   # setenv INFORMIXDIR base_dir # setenv INFORMIXSERVER server_name # setenv ONCONFIG file_name # setenv INFORMIXSQLHOSTS $INFORMIXDIR/etc/sqlhosts

2. Create and customize the $ONCONFIG file, and copy it to all other nodes in the cluster.

   Place the $ONCONFIG file in the $INFORMIXDIR/etc directory. Customize the ROOTPATH, ROOTSIZE, and PHYSFILE variables in the $ONCONFIG file, and set DBSERVERNAME=$INFORMIXSERVER. Once the $ONCONFIG file is customized, copy it to the other nodes in the cluster, if $INFORMIXDIR is on the local disk of the physical host.

3. Create Informix entries in the $INFORMIXSQLHOSTS file.

   Entries in the sqlhosts file are composed of four fields:

   • DBSERVERNAME - This is the $INFORMIXSERVER.

   • NETTYPE - Select ONSOCTCP or ONTLITCP.

   • HOSTNAME - This is the logical host name.

   • SERVICENAME - This must match the SERVICENAME entry in the /etc/services file.

   If you are installing the Informix binaries on the multihost disks, replicate the sqlhosts file on both local disks and on the multihost disks under /var/opt/informix. If you are installing the Informix binaries on the local disks, replicate the sqlhosts file on both local disks.

4. Configure the /etc/services file.

   You must be root to perform this step. Edit the /etc/services file; add the SERVICENAME and listener port number. The listener port number must be unique.

   When you use the TCP/IP connection protocol, the SERVICENAME entry in the sqlhosts file must correspond to the SERVICENAME entry in the /etc/services file.