The method by which you choose to integrate host databases depends on how you want to provide access to the database systems. Often, choosing a method that provides the path of least resistance will be the best choice.
Enterprises that want to use ODBC-aware applications and SQL commands to access and manipulate tables on the host can use the ODBC/DRDA Drivers. The widespread support of ODBC in many desktop applications, such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access, makes it easy to create host-driven client/server solutions based on existing desktop applications.
In many environments, the OLE DB Provider for AS/400 and VSAM feature can be configured to perform the same functionality as the ODBC/DRDA Driver. In enterprises where little or no SQL expertise is present, however, OLE DB Provider is the better choice, because no SQL understanding is required to access and manipulate host tables. Support for the ADO interface in a wide variety of development environments, such as Visual Basic and Visual C++, also makes OLE DB Provider a good choice for highly customized client-server applications.