How to Query IBM Informix Data in MySQL Workbench

You can use the SQL Gateway from the ODBC Driver for IBM Informix to query IBM Informix data through a MySQL interface. Follow the procedure below to start the MySQL remoting service of the SQL Gateway and work with live IBM Informix data in MySQL Workbench.

Connect to IBM Informix Data

If you have not already done so, provide values for the required connection properties in the data source name (DSN). You can use the built-in Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to configure the DSN. This is also the last step of the driver installation. See the "Getting Started" chapter in the help documentation for a guide to using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure a DSN.

Set the following properties to connect to IBM Informix

• Server: Set this to the name of the server running IBM Informix.
• Port: Set this to the port the IBM Informix server is listening on.
• Database: Set this to the name of the IBM Informix database.
• User: Set this to the username of a user allowed to access the database.
• Password: Set this to the password of a user allowed to access the database.

Configure the SQL Gateway

See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up connectivity to IBM Informix data as a virtual MySQL database. You will configure a MySQL remoting service that listens for MySQL requests from clients. The service can be configured in the SQL Gateway UI.

Query IBM Informix from MySQL Workbench

The steps below outline connecting to the virtual IBM Informix database created in the SQL Gateway from MySQL Workbench and issuing basic queries to work with live IBM Informix data.

Connect to IBM Informix through the SQL Gateway

1. In MySQL Workbench, click to add a new MySQL connection.
2. Name the connection (CData SQL Gateway for IBM Informix).
3. Set the Hostname, Port, and Username parameters to connect to the SQL Gateway.
4. Click Store in Vault to set and store the password.
5. Click Test Connection to ensure the connection is configured properly and click OK.

NOTE: When we refer to Username and Password, we mean the credentials for the user(s) created for the SQL Gateway.

Query IBM Informix Data

1. Open the connection you just created (CData SQL Gateway for IBM Informix).
2. Click File -> New Query Tab.
3. Write a SQL query to retrieve IBM Informix data, like SELECT * FROM `CData Informix Sys`.Books;

With access to live IBM Informix data from MySQL Workbench, you can easily query and update IBM Informix, just like you would a MySQL database. Get started now with a free, 30-day trial of the CData ODBC Driver for IBM Informix and the CData SQL Gateway.