A database gateway allows clients using one communication protocol to connect with data servers that use a different protocol.
The Sybase DirectConnect product line consists of database gateway servers that allow clients using the Sybase Open Client/Server protocol (such as Replication Server) to connect with non-Sybase data servers, using either the data server’s native communications protocol or the standard, ODBC protocol.
Sybase DirectConnect products also allow for the retrieval of metadata from non-Sybase replicate data servers.
For more information about DirectConnect database gateways and replicate data servers, see “Replicate data servers”.
Sybase also provides the MainframeConnect for DB2 UDB product that allows “gatewayless” connections to DB2 Universal Database data servers on OS/390 platforms. In some environments, a gatewayless connection to the DB2 data server may be more efficient than a gateway server connection.
