INFORMIX
Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows Environments
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Preparing to Install Informix Client Products

You install Informix products for Windows environments with an installation program that copies files to your client computer.

You can install Informix products only as licensed by Informix. You cannot transfer software from one computer to another, or to another portion of your network, without reregistration and the written consent of Informix.

These instructions assume that you are familiar with your computer operating procedures and your Windows environment.

If you encounter problems, contact your Informix Technical Support department. In North America, call toll-free (800) 274-8184 or send a fax to (913) 599-8590. Outside North America, contact your distributor or the nearest Informix subsidiary.

System Requirements

The following table outlines the system requirements for Informix client products for Windows environments.
Requirement Windows 95 Windows NT

Hardware

80486 or higher microprocessor

80486 or higher microprocessor

Windows version

Windows 95

Version 4.0

RAM

12 MB

16 MB

Hard-disk storage

20 MB
(or less, depending on the products and components you install)

20 MB
(or less, depending on the products and components you install)

Providing a Database Server

Client SDK Version 2.0 and INFORMIX-Connect Version 2.0 can be used on client computers connecting with Informix databases. See the on-line release notes for each client component for a list of compatible Informix servers.

The DataBlade Developers Kit and Database Administration Kit require Informix Dynamic Server with Universal Data Option.

Providing a Protocol

Informix client products work with any TCP/IP protocol that complies with Windows Sockets 1.1.

You select a protocol through Setnet32. See "Setting Server Information" for instructions.

Supported Compilers

C and C++ applications should be compiled using Microsoft Visual C++ version 5.0.

Java applications should be compiled using JavaSoft JDK version 1.1.

Installing Microsoft ODBC Driver Manager

To use INFORMIX-CLI or INTERSOLV DataDirect ODBC Driver, you must first install a Microsoft ODBC Driver Manager.

The Client SDK and INFORMIX-Connect products include two versions of Driver Manager:

You can use a version of Driver Manager greater than Version 2.5 with INFORMIX-CLI, but some applications may experience errors if Driver Manager Version 3.0 is installed. Therefore, Version 2.5 is recommended.

Driver Manager may already have been installed on your computer by another product. You do not have to install a new Driver Manager unless you want to use a different version.

Finding the Version of the Installed Driver Manager
To find out what version of Driver Manager is installed on your computer, double-click the ODBC icon in the Control Panel, then double-click the About tab to display the installed ODBC components.

If there is no About tab on the ODBC Control Panel, you have a Driver Manager lower than Version 3.0. To find the specific version number, use Windows Explorer to browse your Windows system directory (SYSTEM on Windows 95 or SYSTEM32 on Windows NT). Select the odbc32.dll file and then choose the Properties command from the File menu. Click the Version tab to find the version number of the driver.

Installing Driver Manager
You can use the Informix Setup program to install Driver Manager.

If you want to install an older version of Driver Manager than is currently installed on your computer, first uninstall the newer version using the uninstall program for the package that installed it.

When you run Setup you must choose the Custom installation type and then choose the Driver Manager version you want to install. See "Installing Informix Client Products" for Setup instructions.

Supported Configurations

Informix client products use a two-process architecture that is suited for client/server networks, which Figure 1 illustrates. Your database application runs as one process on a PC workstation and communicates across a network with a separate Informix database server process on a host computer.

Figure 1
Client/Server Architecture



Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows Environments, version 2.0
Copyright © 1998, Informix Software, Inc. All rights reserved.