Policy Server Guides › Policy Server Configuration Guide › User Directories › User Directory Connections Overview › ODBC Database Overview

ODBC Database Overview

SiteMinder can use a proprietary schema in an ODBC-compatible database as a user directory for authentication and authorization purposes. This option is useful at sites where user information, such as a user name, password, and group membership is stored in an ODBC database. At such sites, this feature allows the Policy Server to view a proprietary database schema as a user directory.

The Policy Server supports connections to the following types of ODBC-compatible databases:

• Microsoft SQL Server—Windows Policy Servers only
• Oracle RDBMS

Note: If your user directory data is stored in an Oracle database, we recommend that you use OCI, instead of ODBC, to connect to that user directory.

For the most current information about supported database versions, check the CA Support Site.

To configure the Policy Server to use a database as a user directory you must:

• Type the SQL query information in the fields on the SiteMinder SQL Query Scheme pane. This pane is accessible from the SiteMinder User Directory pane. It contains fields for mapping information required by the Policy Server to fields in the ODBC-compatible database.

  Note: Don't use the same data source with different query schemes. Create a unique data source for each query scheme.

• Define an ODBC data source that points to the database containing user information.

  Note: Configure the ODBC data source as a System DSN. The data source must point to a Microsoft SQL Server database or an Oracle database. For information on configuring an ODBC data source, see your Windows operating system documentation.