dbd::informix::techsupport(3)
NAME
DBD::Informix::TechSupport - Obtaining Technical Support
for DBD::Informix
SYNOPSIS
use DBD::Informix::TechSupport;
DESCRIPTION
This document describes how to obtain technical support
for IBM Informix Database Driver for Perl Version 1.00.PC2
(2002-02-01) (which is also known as DBD::Informix). It
also describes how to use the Perl module to report infor
mation to any of technical support channels.
INFORMIX TECHNICAL SUPPORT
IBM Informix Database Driver for Perl Version 1.00.PC2
(2002-02-01) is a supported product of Informix Software,
Inc., provided that you are using a supported configura
tion.
You can send your problem reports to either
dbd-informix@informix.com (up to 2002-06-30) or to
dbd-informix@us.ibm.com (from 2002-07-01, though you may
try this address now if you wish). Under normal circum
stances, you will receive a response by the end of the
next working day (California time).
OTHER SUPPORT
You can also submit questions by subscribing to the
dbi-users@perl.org mailing list (use http//dbi.perl.org/
to sign up), and email your questions to
dbi-users@perl.org. This may provide quicker support,
especially over holiday weekends.
CONFIGURATIONS SUPPORTED BY INFORMIX
Informix Technical Support will only support IBM Informix
Database Driver for Perl Version 1.00.PC2 (2002-02-01) if
you are using certain supported versions of ESQL/C or
Client SDK:
· ESQL/C Version 5.1x
· ESQL/C Version 7.24
· Client SDK Version 2.30 (ESQL/C 9.21) or later
You may use Perl Version 5.004_04, but you should be using
Perl Version 5.005_03 or a later, stable version of Perl.
Note that Perl Version 5.005_50 and above are unstable
development versions of Perl.
You must be using DBI Version 1.13 or later.
If you are using some other version of ESQL/C, or some
other version of Perl or DBI, you must use the other sup
port channels documented above.
OTHER CONFIGURATIONS WHICH PROBABLY WORK
IBM Informix Database Driver for Perl Version 1.00.PC2
(2002-02-01) is believed to work with all versions of
ESQL/C and ClientSDK from ESQL/C 5.00.UC1 upwards. How
ever, you may run into problems with shared libraries if
you use versions of ESQL/C which are not explicitly sup
ported. This is sometimes because of problems with the
way ESQL/C handles either its own shared libraries or
other (system) libraries. If you run into such problems,
you can consider editing the library list (see the
fix_hpux_syslibs and fix_aix_netstub functions in Make
file.PL for illustrations), or you can build a statically
linked Perl executable (see Notes/static.build).
It is known that versions of ESQL/C earlier than 5.00.UC1
will not work; if you cannot upgrade from ESQL/C 4.x, then
consider using DBD::Informix4, also obtainable from CPAN.
At various times, DBD::Informix has been tested with both
OnLine and SE at most versions from 5.00 upwards.
DBD::Informix will probably work with most versions of
Perl from 5.004 upwards, but you should aim to use
5.005_03 until there is a later stable version (such as
5.6) available.
DBD::Informix will probably work with most versions of DBI
from 1.02 upwards, but there is no reason not to use DBI
Version 1.13 or some later version.
USING THE DBD::Informix::TechSupport Module
The script InformixTechSupport illustrates how to use the
various functions described here.
Using bug_report
- The Notes/bug.report file describes in detail the various
classes of bug report (A, B, C or D). You specify the bug
class and optionally (for a class D bug) a list of tests
to run. - bug_report("A");
- bug_report("D", @test_list);
- You should trap both the standard output and standard
error output into a file and use that as the basis of your
bug report. You will also need to describe the symptoms
of any detailed failure you have if the tests pass.
Although you would often use the distributed tests, you
can substitute your own test provided you include the
source code with the bug report and it is cribbed from one
the distributed tests. - The bug_report function reconfigures DBD::Informix (all
classes), then builds it (classes B, C, D) and tests it
(classes C, D). - Using it_works
- This generates the information needed for a report that
you have managed to get IBM Informix Database Driver for
Perl Version 1.00.PC2 (2002-02-01) working.
it_works;- Using print_versions
- This function is called with a string containing the names
of the items for which you need the version.
print_versions("Perl DBI DBD::Informix ESQL/C Li- cence");
- The valid items are:
- · Perl
- · DBI
- · DBD::Informix
- · ESQL/C
- · Licence
- Using set_licence_number
- By default, the licence number associated with the product
will is ACN#J334912, and this does not have any support.
If you buy support for IBM Informix Database Driver for
Perl Version 1.00.PC2 (2002-02-01), then you will be given
a new licence number and you should install that number in
the software so that bug reports will contain a valid
licence number. Normally, you'd do this with the
InformixTechSupport script, but that uses the
set_licence_number method. The set_licence_number method
can be used by a suitably privileged user to record this
new number:
set_licence_number($new_number);
AUTHOR
- Jonathan Leffler