Getting Started With ODBC Driver for Oracle

ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a widely used application programming interface (API) that allows client applications to access server-based data sources using SQL.

In an ODBC architecture, applications connect to an ODBC Driver Manager, which then uses a specific Devart ODBC Driver to access the target data source. The client-side component of the Driver communicates directly with the application and fully complies with the ODBC standard. Because of this standardization, the application can work with any database management system (DBMS) on the server without requiring DBMS-specific configuration. The server-side component of the Driver is tailored to a specific database. This architecture eliminates the need to modify the application for different DBMS platforms.

5 advantages of Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle

Native data connectivity

Our Oracle ODBC Driver fully supports standard ODBC API functions and data types and provides easy access to live Oracle data from anywhere. Also, the Driver is compatible with the Oracle API itself.

Real-time data access

The Driver allows accessing data directly from ODBC-compliant applications in real time, which provides a dynamic workspace that adapts and changes as quickly as your data.

Integration

The Driver is compatible with database management solutions, analytics and reporting tools, programming languages, and IDEs. That allows you to view, update, and edit your data with the tool you are using.

Platforms variety

You can use Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle with your 32-bit or 64-bit application on both x32 and x64 Windows, Linux, and macOS. No additional drivers or application configurations are required.

Support for RAC

Support for Oracle Real Application Cluster allows working with multiple interconnected Oracle servers as if they were a single database.

Windows

1. Download the executable file of ODBC Driver for Oracle and open it. You will be greeted by the wizard.

2. On the Select Components page, select the required version of the Driver. Optionally, select the checkbox to install Help and Manual.

3. In the License Information dialog, you should select the license type and activate the product.
• To evaluate the Driver without a key, choose Trial.
• If you have an activation key, select Activation Key and enter the key in the input field.

4. To complete the process, simply take these two final steps: click Next > Finish. That's it!

Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle can be installed using Silent Installation with an OEM license on Windows as well.

You can activate the Driver after installation if you didn’t complete activation during setup. For detailed instructions on how to do it on Windows, refer to Activate on Windows in our documentation.

Linux

You can install ODBC Driver for Oracle using one of two package types: DEB or RPM, depending on your Linux distribution.

• For Ubuntu or other Debian-based systems, download and install the DEB package that matches your system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
• For CentOS or other RPM-based systems, use the RPM package appropriate for your system.

Install the Driver on Ubuntu

You can install ODBC Driver for Oracle on Ubuntu either through the graphical user interface (GUI) or by using the command line, depending on your preference.

GUI installation

1. Download the DEB package of the required bitness from the Devart website.
2. Navigate to the folder with the downloaded package. The default download path is: /home/user/Downloads.
3. Right-click the package and select Open With > App Center.
4. In the window that opens, click Install.

5. Once the installation is successfully finished, the Install button will switch to an Installed state and its color will change from green to grey.

Command-line installation

1. After you've downloaded the corresponding package, open the terminal.
2. Navigate to the folder where the package is located by entering the following command:

cd ~/Downloads/

If you downloaded the package to a different folder, you need to navigate to that folder by specifying its path as a parameter in the cd command.

3. To install devartodbcoracle_amd64.deb on a 64-bit system, run the corresponding command:

sudo dpkg -i devartodbcoracle_amd64.deb

4. If the Driver is installed successfully, you will receive the following message:

Install the Driver on CentOS

Now, let's try to install ODBC Driver for Oracle on CentOS via the command line using the RPM distribution.

To begin the installation process, first, you should download the RPM package and follow the steps below.

1. Download the RPM package from the Devart website.
2. In the terminal, navigate to the folder where the package is located. By default, the package is downloaded into the /Downloads folder.

cd ~/Downloads/

If the package was downloaded to another directory, you must go to that directory by indicating its path in the cd command.

3. Run the following command to install the Driver:

sudo rpm -ivh devart-odbc-oracle.x86_64.rpm

4. When installed successfully, you will see the following notification:

Remember that you have the option to activate the Driver later, even if you skipped that step during installation. For detailed instructions on how to do it on Linux, refer to the Activate on Linux article of our documentation.

macOS

Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle is fully compatible with macOS, allowing you to connect Oracle databases to applications running on macOS systems. To operate correctly, ODBC Driver for Oracle requires an ODBC Driver Manager, such as iODBC, which is not distributed along with our Driver and must be installed separately.

1. Download the .pkg file from the Devart website.
2. Navigate to System Settings > Privacy & Security.
3. Select the App Store & Known Developers option and click the Open Anyway button underneath.


As a result, the .pkg installer will be run, and all you need to do is follow the instructions in the wizard.

4. Now, click Continue in the Install Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle wizard.

5. To proceed, click the Continue button in each of the two subsequent pages of the wizard.

6. After reading the license agreement, click Agree to continue installing the software.
7. In the License Information dialog, select the license type to activate the product, and click Continue.
• To evaluate the Driver without a key, choose Trial.
• If you have an activation key, select Activation Key and enter your key in the input field.

8. On the Destination Select page of the wizard, select the disk where you want to install ODBC Driver for Oracle, then click Continue.
9. Finally, click Install on the Installation Type page, and the Driver will be successfully installed on macOS.

10. After the installation finishes, click Close.

Remember that you have the option to enable the Driver later, even if you didn't set it up while installing. For detailed instructions on how to do it on macOS, refer to Activate on macOS in our documentation.

Configuring the ODBC data source name

After ODBC Driver for Oracle is installed, you should create a Data Source Name (DSN) for your ODBC connection and test whether it succeeds.

Windows

1. Open the ODBC Data Source Administrator and select the User DSN or System DSN tab. Most applications work with both types, but some require a specific one.
2. Click Add to proceed with the Driver configuration.
3. In the Create New Data Source dialog, select the recently installed ODBC Driver for Oracle and click Finish.
4. As a result, the configuration dialog opens, allowing you to enter the connection information in the appropriate fields.

5. Optionally, verify the connectivity by clicking Test Connection. Click OK to save the DSN.

Linux

After the successful installation of Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle on Linux, a DSN with the name DEVART_ORACLE is created automatically, so you can use it for testing the connection to the server.

For this purpose, perform the following steps:

1. Open the odbc.ini file located in the /etc folder.
2. Navigate to the DEVART_ORACLE section and specify the required connection settings:

[DEVART_ORACLE]
Driver=Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle
User ID=your_oracle_user_name
Password=your_oracle_password
Host=your_oracle_server_name
Port=your_oracle_listener_port
Database=your_oracle_database_name

3. Now, you can save and close the file.
4. To test the connection to the server, run the ODBC command-line tool and execute the command:

isql -v DEVART_ORACLE

Finally, the following message confirms a successful connection to the server:

macOS

Here, you'll find step-by-step instructions for creating a Data Source Name using Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle in the iODBC Administrator on macOS. A properly configured DSN allows applications to connect to Oracle databases through the ODBC interface.

1. To begin with, navigate to Applications > iODBC and launch the iODBC Administrator64 app of the required bitness.
   To create a new DSN, you should select the User DSN or System DSN tab. Most applications work with both User DSN and System DSN types, but some require a specific one.
2. In our case, we recommend selecting the User DSN tab and clicking Add.

3. Select Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle, then click Finish.

4. In the subsequent dialog, specify the required connection settings and click OK.

If the connection is successful, you will receive the appropriate notification.

Establishing secure connections

Here, you'll find an overview of establishing secure connections to Oracle databases using ODBC Driver for Oracle. We'll outline the three key methods to ensure secure data transmission: SSL connection, SSH connection, and HTTP tunneling.

SSL connection

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard protocol for secure access to a remote machine over untrusted networks. It runs on top of TCP/IP to secure client-server communications by allowing an SSL-enabled client to authenticate itself to an SSL-enabled server and vice versa. During server authentication, an SSL-enabled client application uses standard techniques of public-key cryptography to verify the server's identity by checking that the server's certificate is issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA) and proves the ownership of the public key.

Conversely, SSL client authentication allows the server to validate the client's identity. The client and server can also authenticate each other using self-signed certificates. However, you will rarely want to use a self-signed certificate, except for an Intranet or a development server. After establishing an SSL connection, the client and server can exchange messages that are symmetrically encrypted with the shared secret key. SSL is the recommended method for establishing a secure connection to Oracle due to its easier configuration and higher performance compared to SSH.

To see how to establish an SSL connection, refer to SSL Connection in our documentation.

SSH connection

Secure Shell (SSH) is a cryptographic network protocol for secure remote login, command execution, and file transfer over untrusted networks. SSH uses client-server architecture, connecting an SSH client with an SSH server. The client and server authenticate each other and pass commands and output back and forth. To secure the transmitted data, SSH employs forms of symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption, and hashing.

For more instructions on establishing an SSH connection, see SSH Connection in our documentation.

HTTP tunneling

If you need to connect to Oracle in conditions of restricted connectivity, e.g., when a database server is hidden behind a firewall, or you need to transmit private network data through a public network, you can set up an HTTP tunnel to create a direct network link between two locations. The tunnel is created by an intermediary called a proxy server.

When an Oracle server is hidden behind a firewall, the client is not able to connect to the server directly on a specified port. If the firewall allows HTTP connections, you can use the ODBC Driver with a properly configured web server to connect to the database server. Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle supports HTTP tunneling based on the PHP script. 

Refer to HTTP Tunneling in our documentation to obtain step-by-step instructions on establishing HTTP tunneling.

Conclusion

Experience seamless, secure, and real-time data access with Devart ODBC Driver for Oracle. Whether you're on Windows, Linux, or macOS, our Driver integrates effortlessly with your applications, offering native support, robust security, and compatibility across platforms. Download now from the Devart website and follow our simple installation steps to start accessing your Oracle data with ease. For detailed setup and activation guides, visit our documentation.

Start your free trial or activate your license today to experience powerful data integration!