Welcome
Installing
These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® database servers, client products, and DataBlade® modules.
Client products
These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® client products.
Open source drivers
You can use open source languages to write applications for HCL Informix® database servers.
Ruby
HCL Informix® supports database access for client applications that are written in the Ruby programming language with two open source packages. Each package, which is known as a ruby gem, is a precompiled file that combines the Ruby driver and the Ruby on Rails adapter in a standard framework for the Ruby runtime environment.

HCL Informix® V15.0 documentation
Welcome to the documentation for HCL Informix® 15.0 and related client tools and products.
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.
Installing
These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® database servers, client products, and DataBlade® modules.
- HCL Informix® server
  These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® database servers.
- Client products
  These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® client products.
  - Informix® Client SDK
    This topic describes how to install Informix® Client SDK on UNIX™, Linux™, and Windows™ operating systems.
  - Open source drivers
    You can use open source languages to write applications for HCL Informix® database servers.
    - PHP
      HCL Informix® supports database access for client applications that are written in the PHP programming language by using a PDO (PHP Data Object) extension that functions as a database extraction layer. Two open source PDO extensions are available for Informix: the PDO for Informix and the PDO for Data Server clients.
    - Ruby
      HCL Informix® supports database access for client applications that are written in the Ruby programming language with two open source packages. Each package, which is known as a ruby gem, is a precompiled file that combines the Ruby driver and the Ruby on Rails adapter in a standard framework for the Ruby runtime environment.
- DataBlade modules
  These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® DataBlade® modules.
- Informix® warehouse accelerator
  These topics describe how to install HCL Informix® warehouse accelerator.
Administering
In addition to administering the database server, you can tune performance, replicate data, and archive data.
Migrating and upgrading
You can upgrade to the 15.0 release of HCL Informix® or migrate from other database servers to Informix. Upgrading is an in-place migration method that uses your existing hardware and operating system software. Some changes to the Informix database server can affect upgrading from a previous release.
Client APIs and tools
You can use the HCL Informix® implementation of client APIs to develop applications for Informix database servers.
Embedding Informix®
When you embed HCL Informix®, you can use enterprise-class high-availability and high performance with embeddability features such as easy programmability, a small disk and memory footprint, and silent deployment.
Extending Informix®
Beyond standard relational database objects, HCL Informix® can be extended to handle specialized data types, access methods, routines, and other objects. Informix includes many built-in extensions that are fully integrated in the database server. Informix also provides DataBlade® modules, which are packages of extended database objects for a particular purpose and that are installed separately from the database server. Alternatively, you can create your own user-defined objects for Informix.
Data warehousing
In addition to designing and implementing Informix® dimensional databases, you can use tools to create data warehouse applications and optimize your data warehouse queries.
Designing databases
The first step in creating a relational database is to construct a data model, which is a precise, complete definition of the data you want to store. After you prepare your data model, you must implement it as a database and tables. To implement your data model, you first select a data type for each column and then you create a database and tables and populate the tables with data. You can also implement fragmentation strategies and control access to your data.
JSON compatibility
You can use the popular JSON-oriented query language created by MongoDB to interact with data stored in HCL Informix®.
Security
You can secure your Informix® database server and the data that is stored in your Informix databases. You can encrypt data, secure connections, control user privileges and access, and audit data security.
SQL programming
You can use the HCL Informix® implementation of the SQL language to develop applications for Informix database servers.
Troubleshooting HCL Informix®
Several troubleshooting techniques, tools, and resources are available for resolving problems that you encounter in your HCL Informix® database server environment.

Ruby

HCL Informix® supports database access for client applications that are written in the Ruby programming language with two open source packages. Each package, which is known as a ruby gem, is a precompiled file that combines the Ruby driver and the Ruby on Rails adapter in a standard framework for the Ruby runtime environment.

Ruby/Informix® Gem

Ruby/Informix® is the Ruby gem for connections to Informix® database servers.

To use Ruby/Informix®, you must install the HCL Informix® ODBC Driver, which is part of the HCL® Informix® Client Software Development Kit (Client SDK).

Ruby Gem for IBM® Data Servers

The IBM_DB gem is the Ruby gem for IBM® Data Servers. The IBM_DB gem is supported on HCL Informix® 11.10 or later. Based on the DRDA® protocol, it allows Ruby applications to access both Informix® and IBM® DB2® data servers.

To use the IBM_DB gem, you must install the IBM® common CLI driver. The CLI driver is a component in the following clients and drivers:

HCL® Informix® Client Software Development Kit (Client SDK)
HCL Data Server Client
HCL Data Server Runtime Client
HCL Data Server Driver for ODBC, CLI, and .NET (Windows™ only)
HCL Data Server Driver for ODBC and CLI