odbcinst

odbcinst [general_options] command target [target_options_and_arguments]

Commands/Actions:
    -i | --install: Install a driver or DSN.
    -u | --uninstall: Uninstall a driver or DSN.
    -q | --query: Query/list installed drivers or DSNs.

Targets:
    -d | --driver: Operate on an ODBC driver.
    -s | --system: Operate on a system DSN.

Examples of Usage:
    Install Driver: odbcinst -i -d -f <path/to/driver_template.ini>
    Uninstall Driver: odbcinst -u -d -n <driver_name>
    Query Drivers: odbcinst -q -d [-n <driver_name>]
    Install System DSN: odbcinst -i -s -n <DSN_name> -t <driver_name> [-r <description>] [...other_dsn_attributes...]
    Uninstall System DSN: odbcinst -u -s -n <DSN_name>
    Query System DSNs: odbcinst -q -s [-n <DSN_name>]

General Options:
    -v | --verbose: Enable verbose output.
    -l | --longlist: For query operations, show long list details.
    -h | --help: Display help message.
    --version: Display version information.

-i | --install
    Install or register an ODBC driver or a system DSN based on the specified target.

-u | --uninstall
    Uninstall or unregister an ODBC driver or a system DSN. Requires the name to be specified with -n.

-q | --query
    Query or list installed ODBC drivers or system DSNs. Can be filtered by name using -n.

-d | --driver
    Specifies that the operation should be performed on an ODBC driver.

-s | --system
    Specifies that the operation should be performed on a system Data Source Name (DSN).

-f <file> | --file <file>
    Used with -i -d to provide a template .ini file for driver installation. The file contains properties for the driver.

-n <name> | --name <name>
    Specifies the name of the driver or DSN for uninstall or query operations, or the name of the DSN for installation.

-t <drivername> | --tdriver <drivername>
    Used with -i -s to specify the name of the ODBC driver that the new DSN will use.

-r <description> | --rdesc <description>
    Used with -i -s to provide a descriptive remark for the new DSN.

-c <connectionstring> | --connection <connectionstring>
    Used with -i -s to specify connection attributes for the new DSN, e.g., 'SERVER=localhost;PORT=5432'.

-h <hostname> | --hostname <hostname>
    Used with -i -s, although less common, can be used to specify the hostname for certain DSN configurations.

-v | --verbose
    Enables verbose output, providing more detailed information about the operation's progress and potential issues.

-l | --longlist
    Used with -q to display more detailed information about drivers or DSNs, beyond just their names.

--help
    Displays the help message with command usage and options.

--version
    Displays the version information of the odbcinst utility.

odbcinst is a command-line utility provided by the unixODBC project. It's primarily used for administering ODBC drivers and Data Source Names (DSNs) on Unix-like operating systems. This tool allows users to register and unregister ODBC drivers, create and remove system DSNs, and list existing configurations. It interacts with the odbc.ini and odbcinst.ini configuration files, which define DSNs and installed drivers respectively. odbcinst simplifies the process of setting up database connectivity for applications that rely on ODBC, ensuring that applications can locate and connect to the correct database drivers. It's an essential tool for developers and administrators working with ODBC-enabled applications in a Linux environment.

• Changing system-wide ODBC configurations (drivers and system DSNs) typically requires root privileges (or sudo).
• odbcinst relies on the correct functioning and location of odbcinst.ini and odbc.ini configuration files. Incorrect permissions or syntax in these files can lead to errors.
• Error messages from odbcinst can sometimes be generic. Using the -v (verbose) option can help in diagnosing problems.
• odbcinst manages system DSNs only. User DSNs, which are defined in a user's home directory (e.g., ~/.odbc.ini), are not managed by this utility.

odbcinst primarily interacts with two crucial configuration files: odbcinst.ini and odbc.ini. The odbcinst.ini file stores information about installed ODBC drivers, including their path and associated setup libraries. The odbc.ini file defines Data Source Names (DSNs), which are aliases that provide connection parameters for specific databases using registered drivers. These files are typically located in system-wide directories like /etc/ or /usr/local/etc/.

It's vital to distinguish between managing drivers and managing DSNs with odbcinst. Installing a driver (using -i -d) registers the driver's shared library and its properties with the ODBC driver manager. Installing a DSN (using -i -s), on the other hand, creates a named set of connection parameters that an application can use to connect to a specific database instance. A DSN always relies on an already installed and configured driver.

odbcinst is an integral part of the unixODBC project, an open-source ODBC driver manager designed for Unix-like systems. The project emerged in the late 1990s to bridge the gap in ODBC connectivity on non-Windows platforms, adhering closely to the ODBC specification established by Microsoft. Since its inception, unixODBC, and by extension odbcinst, has been a critical tool for developing cross-platform database applications. It enables applications built with ODBC to connect seamlessly to various databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, eliminating the need for platform-specific coding. The development of unixODBC has consistently focused on strict adherence to ODBC standards and robust configuration management.

isql(1), odbc.ini(5), odbcinst.ini(5), drivermanager(7)