SQL Native Client ODBC Data Sources
A SQL Server data source name (DSN) identifies an ODBC data source containing all of the information that an ODBC application needs to connect to a SQL Server database on a specific server. There are two ways you can define an ODBC data source name:
- On a client computer, open Administrative Tools in Control Panel, and double-click Data Sources (ODBC). This will open the ODBC Data Source Administrator, which you can use to create a DSN.
- In an ODBC application, call SQLConfigDataSource.
A SQL Server data source contains:
- The name of the data source.
- Any information needed to connect to a specific instance of SQL Server.
- The default database to use on a specific instance of SQL Server (optional).
- Settings such as which ANSI options to use, whether to log performance statistics, and so on (optional).
An ODBC application is not required to connect through a data source. However, the application must provide the same connectivity information to an ODBC connect function that the driver would otherwise find in a DSN.