DataBlade Modules and the Database Server

This section discusses the overall architecture of the Informix database server, how DataBlade modules affect database server processes, and the application programming interfaces you can use in your DataBlade modules and client applications.

Figure 1 illustrates the following components of Informix database server architecture when it includes DataBlade modules:

• DataBlade modules, which extend the capabilities of the database server
• DataBlade module application programming interfaces, which allow DataBlade modules access to data stored in a database
• The database server, which includes virtual processors that your Informix database server uses to process tasks, the shared memory that these virtual processors use, and the Java virtual machine to process routines written in Java
• The Client Software Developer's Kit, which includes client-side APIs that enable you to write client applications that access data stored in a database
• DataBlade module ActiveX and Java value objects, which enable you to provide client-side interfaces to extended data types and their support routines
• Client visualization tools, which enable you to view and manipulate data retrieved from DataBlade modules with third-party applications
• Client applications, which allow the user access to DataBlade module functions and data stored in a database
  Figure 1. IBM Informix Dynamic Server with DataBlade Modules

  

The close integration of DataBlade modules with the database server means that the database server treats new, extended data types in exactly the same way that it treats its own built-in data types.