Set Database Connection Properties for the Content Store 

For all installations not using Cognos Content Database, you must specify the database server information to ensure that Content Manager can connect to the database you use for the content store. Content Manager uses the database logon to access the content store. After you set the database connection properties, you can test the connection between Content Manager and the content store.

If you are upgrading from ReportNet or an earlier version of IBM Cognos 8, configure IBM Cognos 8 to point to the existing content store. After you save the configuration and start the IBM Cognos 8 service, the content store is automatically upgraded and cannot be used by the earlier version. If you keep ReportNet or the earlier version of IBM Cognos 8 running, you must configure IBM Cognos 8 to point to a new content store.

Ensure that you used one of the supported database servers to create the content store.

Steps for DB2

1. In the location where you installed Content Manager, start IBM Cognos Configuration.

2. In the Explorer window, under Data Access, Content Manager, click Content Store.

3. In the Properties window, for the Database name property, type the name of the database or the database alias.

4. Change the logon credentials to specify a valid user ID and password:

   • Click the Value box next to the User ID and password property and then click the edit button when it appears.

   • Type the appropriate values and click OK.

5. To use type 4 JDBC connectivity, for the Database server and password property, type a value, using host:port syntax.

   If you leave this property blank, type 2 JDBC connectivity is used.

   For more information about the differences between the driver types, see JDBC Driver Options for Using DB2 Database as a Content Store.

6. From the File menu, click Save.

   The logon credentials are immediately encrypted.

7. Test the connection between Content Manager and the content store.

   Tip: In the Explorer window, right-click the new database and click Test.

   Content Manager connects to the database, checks the database permissions, and creates and populates a table. The table is not deleted and is used each time that the test is repeated.

Steps for Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Sybase

1. On the computer where you installed Content Manager, start IBM Cognos Configuration.

2. In the Explorer window, under Data Access, Content Manager, right-click Content Store and click Delete.

   This deletes the connection to the default resource. Content Manager must be configured to access only one content store.

3. Right-click Content Manager, and then click New resource, Database.

4. In the Name box, type a name for the resource.

5. In the Type box, select the type of database and click OK.

   If you are upgrading and want to use an existing content store, ensure that you select the type of database you use for the older version.

   If you installed more than one version of IBM Cognos 8, you must use a different content store for each version. When a content store is used by a new version of IBM Cognos 8, it cannot be used by an older version.

   Tip: If you want to use Oracle Net8 keyword-value pair to manage the database connection, select Oracle database (Advanced).

6. In the Properties window, provide values depending on your database type:

   • If you use a Microsoft SQL Server database, type the appropriate values for the Database server with port number or instance name and Database name properties.

     For a Microsoft SQL Server database, you can choose to use a port number, such as 1433, or a named instance as the value for the Database server with port number or instance name property.

     To connect to a named instance, you must specify the instance name as a JDBC URL property or a data source property. For example, you can type localhost\instance1. If no instance name property is specified, a connection to the default instance is created.

     Note that the properties specified for the named instance, along with the user ID and password, and database name, are used to create a JDBC URL. Here is an example:

     jdbc:JSQLConnect://localhost\\instance1/user=sa/more properties as required

   • If you use an Oracle database, type the appropriate values for the Database server and port number and Service name properties.

   • If you use an advanced Oracle database, for the Database specifier property, type the Oracle Net8 keyword-value pair for the connection.

     Here is an example:

     (description=(address=(host=myhost)(protocol=tcp)(port=1521)(connect_data=(sid=(orcl)))))

     When you select the advanced Oracle database, IBM Cognos 8 uses enterprise-oriented Oracle features to select a listener, switch to another listener if the first listener fails, automatically reconnect to the database if the connection fails, balance connection requests among listeners, and balance connection requests among dispatchers.

   • If you use a Sybase database, type the appropriate values for the Database server and port number and Database name properties.

7. If you want to change the logon credentials, specify a user ID and password:

   • Click the Value box next to the User ID and password property and then click the edit button when it appears.

   • Type the appropriate values and click OK.

8. From the File menu, click Save.

   The logon credentials are immediately encrypted.

9. Test the connection between Content Manager and the content store.

   Tip: From the Actions menu, click Test to test the connection between Content Manager and the content store.

   Content Manager connects to the database, checks the database permissions, and creates and populates a table. The table is not deleted and is used each time that the test is repeated.

Content Manager can now create the required tables in the content store when you start the IBM Cognos 8 service for the first time. If the connection properties are not specified correctly, you cannot connect to IBM Cognos Connection.

If you are upgrading from ReportNet or an earlier version of IBM Cognos 8, Content Manager can now access the required tables in the content store that you used for the older version.