Ignition includes an IBM DB2 driver, however, it will not work for all IBM databases. This article explains how to create a custom driver in order to successfully connect to IBM AS400 iSeries database (QAS).

Background

If you try to connect to an IBM AS400 iSeries database using the IBM DB2 driver included with Ignition, the connection will either report as "Faulted", or be stuck in the "Connecting" status. You may also see error like the following  posted in the log:

org.apache.commons.dbcp.SQLNestedException: Cannot create PoolableConnectionFactory 
([jcc][t4][10109][10354][4.7.85] The version of the IBM Universal JDBC driver in use 
is not licensed for connectivity to QAS databases.
To connect to this server, please obtain a licensed copy of the IBM DB2 
Universal Driver for JDBC and SQLJ.
An appropriate license file db2jcc_license_*.jar for this target platform 
must be installed to the application class path
Connectivity to QAS databases is enabled by any of the following license 
files: [ db2jcc_license_cisuz.jar ]. ERRORCODE=-4472, SQLSTATE=42968)

To connect to a database, Ignition uses a JDBC driver. JDBC drivers are specific to the particular database(s), so it is important to use the driver that works with the particular database you are trying to connect to. To connect to a QAS database, Ignition needs the JTOpen driver (jt400.jar).  The steps below will walk you through downloading, installing, and configuring this driver to work with Ignition.

Steps

1. Download the driver file

   Download the latest driver from the JTIOpen project page. 
   Extract the zip archive and locate the jt400.jar file. You will need the path to this file in the next step.

2. Create a new driver in Ignition
   Follow the steps for adding a JDBC driver outlined in the Ignition user manual. Use the following settings:
   

   Name	Use a descriptive name for your new driver, for example AS400
   Description	This is optional; you can add a description of your choice
   Class name	com.ibm.as400.access.AS400JDBCDriver
   Jar File(s)	Navigate to the jt400.jar file you obtained in step 1.
   Driver Type	Generic
   URL Format	jdbc:as400://IPorHOSTNAME/Schema
   URL Instructions	This is optional; you can add instructions of your choice
   Default Connection Properties	This is optional, but the following are helpful: naming=sql;errors=full
   Connection Properties Instructions	This is optional; you can add instructions of your choice
   Default Validation Query	select 1 from sysibm.sysdummy1
   Default Translator	DB2
   URL Instructions	This is optional; you can add instructions of your choice

3. Create a new database connection using your new driver
   Follow the steps described in the user manual to create a new database connection. Make sure to select your new driver when prompted.

Your new IBM AS400 database connection is now ready to use.