# Installing Netezza Client and ODBC Driver In CentOS 7

[IBM Netezza](https://ibm.co/2yUQlX4) is a data warehouse appliance. It [partially supports](https://ibm.co/3cxizpo) SQL-92 (SQL/2). Unfortunately the software is proprietary. Besides the limited articles on [IBM Knowledge Center](https://ibm.co/35Jv5zi), it is quite hard to find help on the Stack Overflow. This is how I setup Netezza Linux client and ODBC driver in CentOS 7 (64-bit). Instruction for other Linux distribution should be similar. I use this driver in PHP applications.

# Install Netezza Linux Client

Obtain the client package from the IBM Fix Central site (mine is *nz-linuxclient-v7.2.1.3-P4.tar.gz*). Make sure you perform the installation as **root** user. I have been running into issues when I use *sudo*.

```bash
mkdir netezza
tar -xf nz-linuxclient-v7.2.1.3-P4.tar.gz -C netezza/
cd netezza/linux/
./unpack
cd ../linux64/
./unpack
```

Note: when asked where the client should be installed, type "/usr/local/nz". It will save you lots of trouble.

# Support 32-bit Binaries

All the executables (except `nzodbcsql`) are 32-bit. Install `glibc.i686` to support execution of 32-bit applications.

```bash
yum install glibc.i686
```

## Resolve 32-bit Dependencies

This is a 2-step process. First, determine missing dependencies. Lastly, install those dependencies.

![Screenshot 2020-05-14 at 17.48.12.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1589449798030/U3jLcLeKb.png)

Navigate to `/usr/local/nz/bin`. Use `ldd` to list dependencies. Look out for "not found" as shown in picture above. Use `yum provides` to determine which package resolve a dependency and install it.

![Screenshot 2020-05-14 at 17.56.41.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1589450212449/752uUDSto.png)

Repeat the steps above to resolve all dependencies.

Test your setup: `/usr/local/nz/bin/nzsql -h HOSTNAME -u USERNAME -d DBNAME -pw PASSWORD`

This concludes installation of Linux client. Now we shall proceed with setting up Netezza ODBC driver.

# Setup Environment Variables

Add the following to *~/.bashrc*. I personally add it to a new file in */etc/profile.d/* (e.g. */etc/profile.d/netezza.sh*).

```bash
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/lib46:/usr/local/nz/lib64
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/nz/bin64:/usr/local/nz/bin
```

Setting `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` is considered a bad practice, and it might break some applications but it is needed for this driver to work.

# Install unixODBC

I have not tried iODBC. Let me in the comment if it works.

```bash
yum install unixODBC
```

# Configure ODBC Driver

Append the following to the end of `/etc/odbcinst.ini`. Create this file if it does not exist.

```ini
[NetezzaSQL]
Driver           = /usr/local/nz/lib64/libnzodbc.so
Setup            = /usr/local/nz/lib64/libnzodbc.so
APILevel         = 1
ConnectFunctions = YYN
Description      = Netezza ODBC driver
DriverODBCVer    = 03.51
DebugLogging     = false
LogPath          = /tmp
UnicodeTranslationOption = utf8
CharacterTranslationOption = all
PreFetch         = 256
Socket           = 16384
``` 

That's it. You can start using Netezza ODBC driver in whatever programming language that supports ODBC. Remember to set "**NetezzaSQL**" as driver name in DSN string.

## Creating odbc.ini

This step is optional. If you like to predefine data sources you can get a copy from my Gist (https://bit.ly/2At1MWn) and save it as `~/.odbc.ini`. Make sure you set `Driver` to `NetezzaSQL` or `/usr/local/nz/lib64/libnzodbc.so`.

# PHP ODBC

This is only applicable for PHP.

```bash
yum install php-odbc
```

Sample code

```php
$conn = odbc_connect('DRIVER={NetezzaSQL};SERVER=127.0.0.1;DATABASE=DBNAME', 'USERNAME', 'PASSWORD');
```

# [01000][unixODBC][Driver Manager]Can't open lib '/usr/local/nz/lib/libnzsqlodbc3.so'

Netezza Linux client package comes with sample odbcinst.ini, and it does not work for 64-bit environment. These are steps to resolve this issue:

- Make sure correct path (**/usr/local/nz/lib64**) is exported in `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` environment variable.
- In odbcinst.ini, make sure the value for both `Driver` and `Setup` is "/usr/local/nz/lib64/libnzodbc.so".
- In odbc.ini, make sure the value for `Driver` is "NetezzaSQL" (preferred) or "/usr/local/nz/lib64/libnzodbc.so".