Comparison of redirection methods

The following tables summarize the differences among redirection mechanisms:

Table 1. Redirection methods for DBPATH connectivity

DBPATH	Automatic redirection	User redirection
When is a client redirected?	When the client next tries to connect with a specified database	When the client next tries to connect with a specified database
Do clients require being restarted to be redirected?	No	Yes
What is the scope of the redirection?	Individual clients redirected	Individual clients redirected
Are changes to environment variables required?	No	No

Table 2. Redirection methods for Connectivity information

Connectivity information	Automatic redirection	User redirection
When is a client redirected?	After the administrator changes the connectivity information, when the client next tries to establish a connection with a database server	After the administrator changes the connectivity information, when the client next tries to establish a connection with a database server
Do clients require being restarted to be redirected?	No	Yes
What is the scope of the redirection?	All clients that use a given database server redirected	Individual clients redirected
Are changes to environment variables required?	No	No

Table 3. Redirection methods for INFORMIXDIR connectivity

INFORMIXDIR	Automatic redirection
When is a client redirected?	When the client restarts and reads a new value for the INFORMIXSERVER environment variable
Do clients require being restarted to be redirected?	Yes
What is the scope of the redirection?	Individual clients redirected
Are changes to environment variables required?	Yes

Table 4. Redirection methods for Connection Manager connectivity

Connection Manager	Automatic redirection
When is a client redirected?	When the configured service level agreement (SLA) is attained.
Do clients require being restarted to be redirected?	No
What is the scope of the redirection?	Individual clients redirected
Are changes to environment variables required?	No