Product overview
HCL Informix® is a fast and scalable database server that manages traditional relational, object-relational, and dimensional databases. Its small footprint and self-managing capabilities are suited to embedded data-management solutions.
The HCL Informix® database server runs on UNIX™ and operating systems.
All editions of contain the following client tools in addition to the database server:
- HCL® Informix® Client Software Development Kit (Client SDK) includes the application-programming interfaces (APIs) for developing applications and providing client connectivity.
- contains tools to develop and package modules, which are software packages that extend the functionality of the database server.
Other editions of Informix® include extra functionality, such as warehousing tools or cloud capabilities.
The following descriptions summarize Informix® capabilities in different functional areas.
- Installation
- You install Informix® and client tools with a simple installation program. After a typical installation, the server is created, configured, and started.
- Database design
- You can design relational databases that support online transaction processing (OLTP) applications. Informix® supports ANSI databases and complies with industry standards for the SQL language.
- Administration
- You configure the database server by setting configuration parameters in the onconfig file and by setting environment variables. You administer Informix® with command-line utilities and SQL statements.
- Data replication
- You can replicate the data that you want between heterogeneous servers by configuring Enterprise Replication. You can also propagate SQL statements and files between servers.
- Application development
- You can write applications with the ODBC, JDBC, .NET, ESQL/C, Object Interface for C++, or OLE/DB APIs that are included in HCL® Informix® Client Software Development Kit (Client SDK). Language support includes, but is not limited to, SQL, SPL, C, C++, .NET, Java™, and PHP.
- Embedding Informix®
- You can easily embed Informix® in your application. You can use command-line utilities and SQL statements to script every aspect of database server administration.
- Extending Informix®
- You can use built-in extensions of Informix® to handle specialized types of data and perform other functions that are not available in traditional relational databases.
- Security
- You can encrypt data, secure connections, control user privileges and user access, and audit data security.
- Data warehousing
- You can design data marts or dimensional databases that support decision-support system applications.