System and Product Requirements

For hard disk space requirements, refer to the product README text file.

Installing the data providers requires .NET Framework 4.6 or higher.

The DataDirect Connect ADO.NET Entity Framework data providers are supported on the ADO.NET Entity Framework supplied in the Microsoft .NET Framework Versions 3.5 SP1, 4.5.2, 4.6.x and 4.7. The data provider is compatible with Visual Studio 2015 and Visual Studio 2017.

Supported Operating Environments

The following table lists the supported operating environments for the data providers.

Note: Refer to driver-specific support matrix for Entity Framework Support

Operating Environments Supported

1 Includes HPC Server 2008 and Web Server 2008.

Existing code written for earlier versions of the .NET Framework and earlier versions of DataDirect Connect for .NET is compatible with the 4.3 version of the data providers. Note that the applications built using .NET 1.1 or applications built with .NET 2.0 and directly referencing DataDirect provider assemblies must be recompiled. If recompiling is not an option, then you can use .NET facilities to redirect references to the older assemblies to the newer assemblies.

Development Environment

If you purchased a Developer’s license, you must install the data provider on a development machine that has Microsoft Visual Studio installed. Developer’s licenses cannot be used in a production environment.

The following versions of Microsoft Visual Studio are supported:

• Visual Studio 2017
• Visual Studio 2015

Note: The Developer’s license for the DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET data providers is designed for use with Microsoft Visual Studio. If you create .NET applications with another .NET development tool, contact your sales representative for the appropriate license.

ADO.NET Entity Framework

The DataDirect Connect ADO.NET Entity Framework data providers have the following requirements:

• .NET Framework Version 3.5 Service Pack 1, 4.5.2 or higher
• Visual Studio 2015 and/or Visual Studio 2017
• Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4. Note that you must install the 32-bit redistributable package on a 32-bit machine, and install both 32-bit and 64-bit redistributable packages on a 64-bit machine. This is becasue the 64-bit machine can host both 32bit and 64bit applications.
• One of the following data stores:
  • Oracle 9.2.0.4 or higher
  • DB2 UDB V7R1, V7R2 and V7R3 and V6R1 for iSeries
  • SAP ASE 15.0.x, 15.5, 15.7, 15.9 and 16

DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET Entity Framework data providers can be used with applications that use the standard ADO.NET features or with the ADO.NET Entity Framework.

• The DB2 and Oracle ADO.NET Entity Framework data provider can be used with applications that use the features of the standard .NET Framework 4.0 or higher and the ADO.NET Entity Framework 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.0 or 6.0. To use Plain Old CLR Objects (POCO) entities or Model First, you must use .NET Framework 4.0 or higher. To use Code First, you must use ADO.NET Entity Framework 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, or 5.0. To use Code First Migrations, you must use ADO.NET Entity Framework 4.3 or higher. To use Table Valued Functions and Enumerated Type features, you must use ADO.NET Entity Framework 5.0 and higher.
• The SAP ASE ADO.NET Entity Framework data providers can be used with applications that use the features of the standard .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, including ADO.NET Entity Framework funcionality. This means that these data providers support the Database First approach. To use Plain Old CLR Objects (POCO) entities, you must use .NET Framework 4.0 or higher.

Using Distributed Transactions

The DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET data providers support distributed transactions using the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC). The MS DTC is provided through System.Transaction.

Kerberos Authentication

Kerberos authentication is a trusted third-party authentication service. Kerberos authentication can take advantage of the user name and password maintained by the operating system to authenticate users to the database or use another set of user credentials specified by the application.

The DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET data providers support Kerberos authentication.

Verify that your environment meets the requirements listed in the following table before you configure your data provider for Kerberos authentication.

Kerberos Authentication Requirements for the Data Providers

To use Kerberos authentication, some configuration is required after installation of DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET. Refer to the DataDirect Connect Series for ADO.NET Help for more information.

NTLM Authentication

NTLM authentication is a single sign-on OS authentication method. This method provides authentication from Windows clients only and requires minimal configuration.

The DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET SQL Server and Oracle data providers support NTLM authentication.

Verify that your environment meets the requirements listed in the following table before you configure the data provider for NTLM authentication.

NTLM Authentication Requirements for the Data Providers

To use NTLM authentication, minimal configuration is required after installation of DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET. Refer to the DataDirect Connect Series for ADO.NET User’s Guide for more information.