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Who is this page for?

Instructions designed for IBM i developer learning PHP starting from ground zero …

• … installing PHP on a laptop
• … little control over IBM i machine (can’t install Zend Server on IBM i)
• … but have a Client Access ODBC connection to IBM i (good enough)

Prerequisites

On IBM i …

• recent IBM i {DB2 PTFs} or clobs will fail (PHP ODBC drivers)

On laptop …

• {iAccess ODBC} connection to IBM i (Client Access ODBC)
• {Zend Download site} - Zend Server Community Edition

Check your odbc configuration

Walk before we run … check if client access ODBC is working from command line.

Q: How do I test my odbc connection?
A: use odbc tool isql
>isql myibmi MYID MYPASSWORD

If isql is working there is a good chance that PHP odbc will be working.

<?php
$conn = odbc_connect("myibmi","MYUID","MYPWD");
?>

odbc configuration (if you need help)

If you need iAccess drivers DBC instructions {Linux ODBC}.

odbc running on IBM i

Most IBM i configurations will already have ODBC running for various other iAccess products, but if you need STRHOSTSVR SERVER(*DATABASE) is the command to start the ODBC IBM i server.

Run to IBM i

On your laptop create these files for testing via Zend Studio (or Apache, or command line)..

• download (click to download)
  • {lugsample.zip}
• Common files (click to view)
  • lugconnect.php - connection to IBM i (odbc.ini)
  • lugencrypt.php - encrypt/decrypt password
• A test (click to view)
  • lug1stodbc.php - using PHP odbc

Author(s)

Tony “Ranger” Cairns - IBM i PHP / PASE