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Informix Error -926: The database server is not licensed for distributed data access.

Cause and resolution

The database server is not licensed for distributed data access.

This statement refers to a database in a different database server (for example, by qualifying the name of a table with dbname@sitename:table). However, this version is not licensed for such use. With this version, you can refer only to tables in databases that are all on the same database server.

Contact your IBM representative about upgrading this database server to full Informix STAR status. If you believe that you have Informix STAR installed, check the contents of the INFORMIXDIR environment variable. If you are using IBM Informix OnLine for NetWare, you cannot access tables or databases on remote systems unless you have IBM Informix NET PC.

Oninit® Troubleshooting Guidance

Reasons / Common Causes

-926 fires when a statement references a table in a different database server (for example, qualifying a name as dbname@sitename:table) but this server version isn't licensed for Informix STAR (distributed) access — per the official guidance, without that license, references must stay within tables on the same database server.

  1. A cross-server table reference on a server not licensed for Informix STAR, per the official guidance — the direct, only cause.
  2. A belief that Informix STAR is installed, when INFORMIXDIR actually points elsewhere, per the official guidance's specific suggested check.
  3. On IBM Informix OnLine for NetWare specifically, lacking IBM Informix NET PC, per the official guidance — a required additional component for remote table/database access on that platform.
Solutions / Resolution
  1. Contact your IBM representative about upgrading this database server to full Informix STAR status, per the official guidance — this is a licensing decision.
  2. If you believe Informix STAR is already installed, check INFORMIXDIR, per the official guidance:
    echo "$INFORMIXDIR"
  3. On IBM Informix OnLine for NetWare, confirm IBM Informix NET PC is installed, per the official guidance, if remote table/database access is needed on that platform.
Examples
Checking INFORMIXDIR if STAR is believed to be installed
$ echo "$INFORMIXDIR"

Confirm this points at the Informix STAR-licensed installation, not a different, non-STAR one.

Diagnostic Checks
  1. Check INFORMIXDIR, per the official guidance, if Informix STAR is believed to already be installed.
  2. On IBM Informix OnLine for NetWare, confirm IBM Informix NET PC's presence.
Related Errors / Related Topics
  • -923 — "IBM is licensed to access the current database server only." A related licensing restriction, on the client side lacking network licensing entirely.
  • -924 — "IBM is not licensed to access the specified database server." A related licensing restriction, on a station-package client's local-access limitation.

This server version lacks Informix STAR licensing for distributed access — check INFORMIXDIR first in case a STAR-licensed installation exists but isn't currently referenced.