Configuring data connections

This table shows the available types of data connection:

For all categories of data connection you specify a name and, optionally, a description of the connection on the General tab. The unique name is automatically derived from the name that you specify.

The options of the Connection tab vary according to the category of connection.

Connection tab for OLAP connections

For OLAP data connections, you select the OLAP data source to connect to, in the Data Connection field. This enables other fields on the tab.

In the Authentication Method field, select one of these options:

• Use Existing Connection: Use this option if the currently connected account of a user of Application Studio or another client is also used to connect to OLAP.
• Service Account: Some Application Studio reports and Application Engine processes require OLAP data access that is out of scope of the current user's permissions. For example, to copy or process data. In this case, you must create a data connection that impersonates a user with higher privileges, which are used by those Application Studio reports and Application Engine processes.
  Note: We recommend that you do not use service accounts in data connections in Self-Service and Office Integration

To configure a data connection to use a service account, perform these steps:

1. Import the service account to Infor EPM.

   See "Managing service accounts".

2. Register the user of the service account in the Users and User Groups dashboard and assign the required application or data roles, or both to the user.
3. On the Connection tab, in the Data Connections dashboard, select Service Account as the authentication method.
4. From the list of imported service accounts, select the required service account.

   A warning is displayed informing that the account that is used for the data connection may allow users to access data for which their assigned roles have no permission.

Connection tab for relational connections

For relational data connections, you can define a new connection, connect to the built-in staging database, connect to Data Lake, or link to an existing connection in another application. Linking to an existing connection is possible only if linking is enabled on the Usage tab of the existing application.

To define a new connection you select a data provider. The remaining fields of the Connection tab depend on the selected provider.

Microsoft SQL Server

In the Host field, select the machine on which the data source is located.

Select the database and specify the user name and password to access it.

Oracle Database Server

You can use an existing TNS and select the service name of the tnsnames.ora file. Or, you can define the connection manually. If you select Define manually you must specify the server name, port, and select one of these connection types:

• Default
• Dedicated
• Shared

Select one of these protocols:

• TCP/IP
• TCP/IP + SSL
• Named Pipes
• IPC

Specify the service name or service ID. Then specify the user name and password to connect to the data source.

PostgreSQL Server

In the Host field, select the machine on which the data source is located.

Specify the port.

Select the database and specify the user name and password to access it.

Amazon Redshift

In the Host field, select the machine on which the data source is located.

Specify the port.

Select the database and specify the user name and password to access it.

Infor Olap Server

You can authenticate with the existing connection or select Basic authentication. For Basic authentication, specify the user name and password for the data source.

External Infor OLAP

To connect to an External Infor OLAP server, specify the URL of where the data source is located.

Select Basic authentication and specify the user name and password for the data source.

Select the database.

Usage tab

On the Usage tab you specify which clients the connection can be used in, and whether the connection can be used in other Infor EPM applications.

Advanced tab for relational connections

You can specify a command timeout and connection timeout. For all providers other than Amazon Redshift, you can select one or more of these options:

Encrypt

The SQL Server uses SSL encryption for all data sent between the client and server.

Connection reset

Determines whether the database connection is reset when being removed from the pool.

Persist security info

Security-sensitive information, such as the password, is not returned as part of the connection.

Enable AlwaysOn Availability Groups support

Supports configuration of multiple primary databases and multiple secondary databases for failover.

Enlist

Enlists the connection in the creation thread's current transaction context.

SSL Mode

For PostgreSQL providers you can select one of these SSL modes:

• Disable
• Allow
• Prefer
• Require

Other Connection String Parameters

Any properties of the connection string can be used as parameters.

Fingerprint

Click Get Fingerprint to retrieve the certificate of the remote server and populate the Fingerprint field. The data connection will not accept connections from any server that provides a different certificate.

Advanced tab for OLAP connections

Optionally, select the format to use for element unique names. By default, the format that is specified in the database is used.