ASNA DataGate

High Performance Data Access and Integration

Fast, secure database access is the key to creating successful enterprise applications.  DataGate works directly with the most popular database platforms to ease application creation, extension, and migration—and to help developers get the most out of widely dispersed or closely managed enterprise databases.

DataGate is available as a host server for connectivity to DB2/400; as an IBM System i (formerly known as iSeries, AS/400)-like database for Microsoft Windows Servers and desktops; and, as a host server for connectivity to Microsoft's SQL Server.

DataGate works with .NET applications created with ASNA Visual RPG for .NET, and with any other .NET language (such as Visual Basic .NET or Visual C#) to provide fast, seamless access to System i data.

DataGate Solves System i Database Access Problems

DataGate for System i is a native OS/400 program that provides the fastest and most secure System i database access from Windows and .NET applications.

DataGate Provides Cross-Platform Database Access

DataGate is designed to present database access to applications with a single, integrated view.  Applications written to access the System i through DataGate can later be connected to Microsoft SQL Server without change!  DataGate provides several options for implementing cross-platform database access.  For example, a single application can connect to both platforms concurrently, or an application can switch, automatically, from one platform to the other in the case of a fail over situation.  The cross-platform transparency enabled through DataGate increases application access to multiple databases.

DataGate is Fast and Scales Well

DataGate serves as its own native System i host server.  DataGate provides superb, immanently scalable speed of access to any UDB DB2/400 database; supporting many thousands of users

DataGate is Secure

DataGate, for both UDB DB2/400 and Microsoft SQL Server, obeys all server-imposed user authorities and security.

DataGate is Easy

Installation is simple, straightforward and can be up and running immediately.  There is no need to build large, complex repositories or intermediate database definitions.  With DataGate, connectivity is literally point and click.

DataGate Provides a System i-Like Windows-Based Database

DataGate for Windows enables you to easily copy System i data to Windows Servers and desktops.  Physical and logical files, file members, open query file and many System i-like features are supported on Windows with DataGate.  Not only does DataGate for Windows allow developers to create System i applications without being connected to the System i, but field employees gain access to System i databases locally without needing to dial in to the System i.

ASNA DataGate Component Suite

The ASNA DataGate Component Suite for .NET (DCS) offers Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET a robust .NET assembly that provides fast, reliable and scalable access to System i physical and logical files.  It also provides a high-speed program call, allowing Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET programmers to easily call OS/400 program objects.

High Performance Access from .NET Applications

Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET offer superb facilities for connecting to databases through ADO.NET.  Unfortunately, most developers find that connecting to the System i through an ADO connection is slow and doesn't scale well.  Although Microsoft SQL performance has improved on the System i slightly over the years, ADO rarely supports the level of performance and robustness required for transaction-based, high volume database access.  This leaves Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET programmers with the challenge of connecting their language to the System i to create enterprise-worthy applications.

ASNA DataGate Component Suite for .NET (DCS) offers the solution to this problem.  DCS offers Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET a robust .NET assembly that provides fast, reliable and scalable access to any physical and logical file associated with a System i.  DCS also provides a high-speed program call, allowing Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET programmers to easily call OS/400 program objects.

Security and Performance is Possible

For Web-based and Windows applications, security, and response times are critical issues.  DCS provides Web and Windows developers secure and fast database access to any System i.

End users benefit from reliable and secure access to mission critical data; programmers benefit from a simple but powerful programming interface, superb performance and robust security.

100% .NET Managed Code

The ASNA DataGate Component Suite for .NET (DCS) is delivered as a set of classes, packaged in a set of .NET managed assemblies.  These assemblies provide several namespaces as well as the functionality programmers need to get to the System i.  The DCS classes provide a look and feel similar to that of classes offered intrinsically by the .NET framework.

Full support for Intellisense is provided to help improve programmer productivity.  In addition, DCS includes an extensive help file and coding examples.  A Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET programmer can become proficient with the ASNA DataGate Component Suite in a matter of hours.

Capabilities provided by the ASNA DataGate Component Suite for .NET include:

• read/write record level access
• ability to call any OS/400 program object
• full support for all server-imposed security and user authorities
• the ability to dynamically create and copy physical and logical files
• full access to database metadata such as field names, key fields, and library contents
• the ability to dynamically create database connections

Rest Assured: It's Secured

The ASNA DataGate Component Suite obeys all System i-imposed security and user authorities.  It does not use any "backdoor" tricks and is impervious to hacker attacks.  For the System i, the ASNA DataGate Component Suite also provides a superb interface to the 400's program call (i.e., through the Component Suite, you can call OS/400 program objects from your Web and Windows applications-with full CPF error message reporting). These program calls also obey all System i-imposed user authorities.

Windows, the Web and Web Services

Regardless of the user interface, be it Windows clients, browser-based UIs for Web applications or Web Services, DCS for .NET connects Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET programmers to the System i line-of-business databases.  It is a scaleable database management system designed to provide the performance, reliability and security needed by today's Windows, Web and Web Services.

Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET programmers will love how effortlessly and effectively it makes getting work done on the System i.