INFORMIX
Informix JDBC Driver Programmer's Guide
Chapter 3: Troubleshooting
Contents Index

Browser Security Issues

 When you use the JDBC API in a Java applet, you can only connect to the computer that is running the Web server that originally delivered the applet. This limitation, along with other security limitations, is often referred to as Java's sandbox.

The JDBC API code in the applet must reference the same computer as the Web server in the URL passed to the DriverManager.getConnection() method. Any attempt to connect to an Informix database or database server on a computer different from the computer that delivered the applet causes a security exception and results in an SQLException error similar to the following message:

This security limitation is imposed by the browser used to view the Java applet. The exception does not occur if you use the JavaSoft appletviewer command to view the Java applet.

Informix recommends the following two strategies for handling this browser-imposed security limitation; the best strategy depends on how you are planning to use your Java applet:

    This is a good solution for intranet use, since putting the database server and Web server on the same computer is not necessarily a security risk. This strategy, however, might be too risky for Internet use.

    In this strategy, the middle-