Power BI connection to IBM DB2

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have a client who is using IBM DB2 on the mainframe and they would like to start using Power BI for their reporting needs.  So far, I was able to connect to their DB2 database schemas via SQL Squirrel, but when I attempt to use IBM DB2 Database connector, it doesn't seem to work.

Is the server name the actual value that starts with dbc:db2://zose.net.state.nn.nn:1518/XXXXXXXX and the database name being the XXXXXXXXX?

I'm able to connect through ODBC but I want to connect using the existing IBM driver so that the client can publish their reports to the cloud via gateway?

Thank you for your help

[pbl2024]

If anyone is having trouble with this, the lastest version of PowerBI Feb 2025 has a bug and the connection hangs instead of giving you a message that asks to connect without encryption. To get around this download and install an older version of PowerBI e.g. Sept 2024.

[Icey · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Generally, the server name is host name: port name.

Reference:

How to connect Power BI to IBM DB2 - Intellipaat;

Solved: Power BI Direct query connection to IBM DB2 - Microsoft Power BI Community.

And here are some conditions here that may help you later:

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I recently had to help a group of clients connect, and we found that the following conditions were necessary:

1) You must have the DB2 client installed on the machine from which you are trying to connect

2) Under Advanced Options in the Power BI connection dialog:

   a) You have to use the Microsoft driver (as you mention)

   b) You have to uncheck the "Navigate Using Full Hierarchy" option

3) You need to connect using the Database tab (not the Windows tab) and use your MF credentials

Without all of these in place, we had to use ODBC to connect.  

FWIW, the view provided form the MF was basically just a selection of tables -- no individual columns were selectable. 

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Solved: IBM DB2 Connection - Microsoft Power BI Community.

Best Regards,

Icey

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