Connecting to IBM zOS system/DB2 table with a PHP Cloud Foundry app

Question

Is it possible to connect from w3ibm.bluemix/PHP Cloud Foundry app to a bluezone zOS system and it's DB2 table?

I already connecting to a DB2 table on w3ibm.bluemix (using a db2 service and having a table there). It worked, but now I would like to connect to a zOS system.

When I try to connect locally I receive this error message:

An attempt to connect to the database server failed because of a licensing problem. SQLSTATE=42968 SQLCODE=-1598

I have a lincense file but its in jar format (db2jcc_license_cisuz.jar) and I have no idea how to add a jar to a php project..

When I try to connect from w3ibm.bluemix (Cloud) - I receive this error - using the same code:

The remote host "******.UK.IBM.COM" was not found. SQLSTATE=08001 SQLCODE=-1336

Thx in advance!

Answer 1

You need to find a Db2-connect gateway server (or secure gateway) that is located in a zone reachable from bluemmix with the relevant ports opened. There may be approvals required for such access, specific credentials, encryption/key-exchange requirements etc.

I suggest you engage the people who look after the target Db2-system, or the service owner(s) for the application(s) that manage the target data.

Answer 2

For connecting from IBM Bluemix to a blue zone zOS DB2 with a PHP Cloud Foundry app,

1. Deticated Secure Gateway ,
2. PHP buildpack with DB2 extension and
3. zOS DB2 license file copied to the right place

are needed.

For point 2, PHP buildpack, you just have to update your manifest.yml , adding or updating build-pack value to:

buildpack: https://github.com/ibmdb/php-buildpack

Then you have to set the version of PHP used to one that has DB2 extension pre-setted, so it's installed during build. For that you need a composer.json file in your project root folder - example with this value:

{
    "require": {
        "php": "7.0.16"
    }
}