Configuring ODBC Data Sources

An ODBC application uses a data source to connect to a server running Microsoft® SQL Server™. A data source is a stored definition that records:

• The ODBC driver to use for connections specifying the data source.
• The information used by the ODBC driver to connect to a source of data.
• Driver-specific options to be used for the connection. For example, a SQL Server ODBC data source could record the SQL-92 options to use, or whether the drivers should record performance statistics.

Each ODBC data source on a client has a unique data source name (DSN). An ODBC data source for the SQL Server ODBC driver includes all the information used to connect to a SQL Server, plus any essential options.

The most common way to configure SQL Server ODBC data sources is to use the ODBC Data Source Administrator, available through ODBC in Control Panel.