Oracle8 JDBC Drivers Section 2

Common Features of Oracle JDBC Drivers The server-side and client-side Oracle JDBC drivers provide the same basic functionality. They all support the following standards and features: Either JDK 1.2.x / JDBC 2.0 or JDK 1.1.x / JDBC 1.22 (with Oracle extensions for JDBC 2.0 functionality). These two implementations use different sets of class files. Either JDK 1.2.x / JDBC 2.0 or JDK 1.1.x / JDBC 1.22 (with Oracle extensions for JDBC 2.0 functionality). These two implementations use different sets of class files.

Continued The same syntax and APIs The same syntax and APIs The same Oracle extensions The same Oracle extensions Full support for multi-threaded applications Full support for multi-threaded applications Generally speaking, the only differences between the drivers are in how they connect to the database and how they transfer data.

Supported JDK & JDBC Versions Oracle's JDBC drivers, release 8.1.5, support the JDK versions and 1.1.x. They also comply with JDBC version and, in addition, implement most of the features of JDBC version 2.0.

Oracle8 JDBC Client-side Drivers Oracle provides two categories of JDBC Client-side drivers: JDBC Thin for Java applets and applications JDBC Thin for Java applets and applications JDBC OCI for Java applications JDBC OCI for Java applications

JDBC Thin Oracle’s JDBC Thin driver is a Type 4 driver that uses Java sockets to connect directly to Oracle. It provides its own implementation of a TCP/IP version of Oracle’s Net8. Oracle’s JDBC Thin driver is a Type 4 driver that uses Java sockets to connect directly to Oracle. It provides its own implementation of a TCP/IP version of Oracle’s Net8. It connects to any Oracle database of version or higher. It connects to any Oracle database of version or higher. This driver is written entirely in Java, so it is platform-independent. It doesn’t require Oracle software in the client side This driver is written entirely in Java, so it is platform-independent. It doesn’t require Oracle software in the client side

Continued The driver supports only TCP/IP protocol and requires a TNS listener on the TCP/IP sockets from the database server. The driver supports only TCP/IP protocol and requires a TNS listener on the TCP/IP sockets from the database server. The JDBC Thin driver does not require Oracle software on the client side; it can be downloaded into a browser simultaneously with the Java applet being run. From the client (usually a browser), you select a URL from an HTML page that contains a Java applet tag. The web server downloads the

Java applet and the JDBC Thin driver to the client. The JDBC Thin driver then establishes a direct connection to the database server using Java Sockets. However, firewall issues limited its use in applets for general distribution via the World Wide Web.

JDBC OCI Oracle’s JDBC driver is Type2 JDBC driver. It uses the OCI (Oracle Call Interface) to interact with an Oracle database and requires an Oracle client installation Oracle’s JDBC driver is Type2 JDBC driver. It uses the OCI (Oracle Call Interface) to interact with an Oracle database and requires an Oracle client installation It is platform-specific. The supported platforms are: It is platform-specific. The supported platforms are: --- Solaris: version 2.5 and above --- Solaris: version 2.5 and above --- Windows: 95 and NT 3.51 and above --- Windows: 95 and NT 3.51 and above The OCI drivers provide the highest compatibility with the different Oracle 7, 8, and 8i versions. They also support all installed Net8 adapters. The OCI drivers provide the highest compatibility with the different Oracle 7, 8, and 8i versions. They also support all installed Net8 adapters.

Continued OCI drivers, because they are platform specific, are not suitable for use in applets intended to be downloaded into browsers running on unknown platforms. They are, however, excellent choices for Java application or Java middle tiers like the Oracle Web Application Server 3.0 Java Cartridge. OCI drivers, because they are platform specific, are not suitable for use in applets intended to be downloaded into browsers running on unknown platforms. They are, however, excellent choices for Java application or Java middle tiers like the Oracle Web Application Server 3.0 Java Cartridge.

Continued You can use the JDBC OCI driver in these configurations: --- with a Java application running on a client machine in a two-tier configuration --- with a Java application running on a middle tier in a three-tier configuration ---with a Java servlet running on a middle tier in a three-tier configuration

Oracle8 JDBC Server Driver Oracle's JDBC Server driver is for server- side use only. The Server driver provides server-side JDBC support for any Java program used in the database, Java stored procedure, Enterprise Java Beans (EJB) and for communication with SQL and PL/SQL programs. The Server driver is fully consistent with, and supports the same features and extensions as the client-side drivers.

Continued The JDBC Server driver allows Java programs that use the Oracle Java Virtual Machine (VM) and run inside the database to communicate with the SQL engine. The Server driver, the Java VM, the database, the C library, and the SQL engine all run within the same address space. There are no network round-trips involved. The programs access the SQL engine by using function calls.

Driver-Database Architecture

Choosing the Appropriate Driver Four main considerations that you must bear in mind when choosing which JDBC driver to use for your application or applet are: If you are writing an applet, you must use the JDBC Thin driver. JDBC OCI-based driver classes cannot be downloaded to a Web browser, because they call native (C language) methods.

If you desire maximum portability, then choose the JDBC Thin driver. You can connect to an Oracle8 data server from either an application or an applet using the JDBC Thin driver. If you desire maximum portability, then choose the JDBC Thin driver. You can connect to an Oracle8 data server from either an application or an applet using the JDBC Thin driver. If you are writing an application and need maximum performance, then choose the JDBC OCI driver. If you are running in the Oracle database server using the Oracle Java VM, then choose the JDBC Server driver.