Configuring Database Connections Using Native ODBC Drivers

Oracle BI EE bundles UNIX ODBC drivers for some data sources, but not all.

For these data sources, including Teradata and Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database, you must install your own ODBC driver, then update the obis.properties and odbc.ini files to configure the data source.

If you are using Teradata, see also Avoiding Spool Space Errors for Queries Against Teradata Data Sources for related information.

To configure a database connection using a native ODBC driver:

Open the obis.properties file. You can find this file at:
```
BI_DOMAIN/config/fmwconfig/bienv/obis
```
Locate the LD_LIBRARY_PATH variable. Note the following:
- For Solaris, Linux, and HP-UX, the library path variable is LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
- For AIX, the library path variable is LIBPATH.
For example, to set the library path variable for the driver on Linux:
```
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/opt/teradata/client/14.10/odbc_64/lib,
$ORACLE_HOME/bi/bifoundation/web/bin,
$ORACLE_HOME/clients/epm/Essbase/EssbaseRTC/bin,
$ORACLE_HOME/bi/bifoundation/odbc/lib,
$ORACLE_INSTANCE,
$ORACLE_HOME/lib 
```

If necessary, update the LD_LIBRARY_PATH variable to include the driver path. For example, to update the variable for the driver on Linux:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/opt/teradata/client/14.10/odbc_64/lib,
$ORACLE_HOME/bi/bifoundation/server/bin,
$ORACLE_HOME/bi/bifoundation/web/bin,
$ORACLE_HOME/clients/epm/Essbase/EssbaseRTC/bin,
$ORACLE_HOME/bi/bifoundation/odbc/lib,
$ORACLE_INSTANCE,
$ORACLE_HOME/lib

In obis.properties, locate the PATH variable and if necessary, include the DataDirect driver path.
Save and close the file.
Open the odbc.ini file. You can find this file at:
```
BI_DOMAIN/config/fmwconfig/bienv/core
```
Create an entry for the database, ensuring that the ODBC connection name is identical to the data source name specified in the connection pool defined in the repository. Ensure that you set the Driver parameter to the file name and location of the native ODBC driver for the database, with the library suffix that is appropriate for the operating system, for example, .so for Solaris and AIX, or .sl for HP-UX.
The following example provides details for a Teradata data source on Linux, with a data source name of Tera_Northwind.
```
[Tera_Northwind]
Driver=/opt/teradata/client/14.10/odbc_64/lib/tdata.so
Description=NCR 3600 running Teradata V2R6.2
DBCName=10.345.67.899
astUser=
Username=northwind
Password=northwind
Database=northwind
DefaultDatabase=northwind
NoScan=no
```
Note that the DefaultDatabase parameter can be left empty only if you have selected the option Require fully qualified table namesin the General tab of the Connection Pool dialog for this data source in the Administration Tool.
Still in the odbc.ini file, add an entry to the section [ODBC Data Sources] with the details appropriate for the data source. The following example provides details for a Teradata data source with a data source name of Tera_Northwind.
```
Tera_Northwind=tdata.so
```
Restart OBIS1.
Using the Administration Tool, open the repository and add the new DSN you created as the Connection Pool Data source name for the appropriate physical databases. See Creating or Changing Connection Pools for more information.