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JSON compatibility
You can use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB to interact with data stored in HCL Informix®.
HCL Informix® JSON compatibility
The Informix® JSON Compatibility Guide describes how applications that use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB can interact with data stored in HCL Informix.
JSON data sharding
You can shard data with HCL Informix®. Documents from a collection or rows from a table can be sharded across a cluster of database servers, reducing the number of documents or rows and the size of the index for the database of each server. When you shard data across database servers, you also distribute performance across hardware. As your database grows in size, you can scale up by adding more shard servers to your shard cluster.
Shard-cluster definitions for distributing data
A cluster of shard servers uses a definition to distribute data across shard servers.

JSON compatibility
You can use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB to interact with data stored in HCL Informix®.
- HCL Informix® JSON compatibility
  The Informix® JSON Compatibility Guide describes how applications that use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB can interact with data stored in HCL Informix.
  - About the Informix® JSON compatibility
    You can combine relational and JSON data into a single query by using the Informix® JSON compatibility features.
  - Wire listener
    The wire listener is a mid-tier gateway server that enables communication between MongoDB, REST API, and MQTT clients and the Informix® database server.
  - JSON data sharding
    You can shard data with HCL Informix®. Documents from a collection or rows from a table can be sharded across a cluster of database servers, reducing the number of documents or rows and the size of the index for the database of each server. When you shard data across database servers, you also distribute performance across hardware. As your database grows in size, you can scale up by adding more shard servers to your shard cluster.
    - Preparing shard servers
      You must prepare shard servers before you can shard data.
    - Shard-cluster definitions for distributing data
      A cluster of shard servers uses a definition to distribute data across shard servers.
      - Defining a sharding schema with a hash algorithm
        The shardCollection command in the MongoDB shell creates a definition for distributing data across the database servers of a shard cluster.
      - Defining a sharding schema with an expression
        The MongoDB shell db.runCommand command with shardCollection command syntax creates a definition for distributing data across the database servers of a shard cluster.
    - Shard cluster management
      You can display information about shard cluster participants and about the shard cache on each shard server. You can add or remove shard servers from a shard cluster.
  - MongoDB API and commands
    The Informix® support for MongoDB application programming interfaces and commands are described here.
  - REST API
    The REST API provides a method for accessing JSON collections in Informix® and provides driverless access to your data.
  - MQTT protocol
    The MQTT protocol provides a method for loading JSON data in Informix®.
  - Manage time series through the wire listener
    You can create and manage time series through the wire listener. You interact with time series data through a virtual table.
  - Troubleshooting Informix® JSON compatibility
    Several troubleshooting techniques, tools, and resources are available for resolving problems that you encounter with Informix® JSON compatibility.

Shard-cluster definitions for distributing data

A cluster of shard servers uses a definition to distribute data across shard servers.

You must create a shard-cluster definition to distribute data across the shard servers. The definition contains the following information:

The Informix® Enterprise Replication group name of each participating shard server.
The name of the database and collection or table that is distributed across the shard servers of a shard cluster.
The field or column that is used as a shard key for distributing data. Shard key values determine which shard server a document or row is stored on.
The sharding method by which documents or rows are distributed to specific shard servers. The sharding method is either a hash-based or expression-based.