Using Mainframe Oracles' Gateway to access VSAM files in mainframe.

Greetings and salutations oh' benevolent benefactors!

My shop is currently looking for a way to access their VSAM databases directly from their mainframe Oracle 9i implementation.

It is not currently feasible to convert the VSAM databases due to size and scope considerations, thus a more lasse-faire approach is being entertained.

I have come to the understanding that a product / feature (still unclear if it operates under a separate licence.) I should be investigating is the Transparent or Procedural Gateway. However the exact nature of this product / feature is still in question since there is no listing on Oracles own site (I despise discovering "features" through back-ally conversations!).

I have been informed that this gateway, not itself developed / supported by Oracle defines a template / super-class by which the actual interface can either be written or purchased from 3rd party retailers. I have yet however to locate, identify, or hear of a retailer (With a web site which works and actually identifies the product in question and not just the ambiguous "solutions" hoodwink.) which has developed such a product for accessing VSAM files via SQL.

I have heard; however, that there are other 3rd party applications (Not necessarily aligned with Oracle.) which can enable SQL's "Select" statements (Or in other words READ-ONLY access.) to dredge VSAM files for content; however there does not seem to be a single instance of either a fully implemented SQL interface or one that even supports the rudiments of I/O in SQL ("UPDATE", "DELETE", "INSERT", "SELECT") which could meet our requirements.

I would greatly appreciate any input on these concerns from you the Oracle Aficionado, since attempts to contact Oracle directly with such queries have proven futile or theoretically expensive (The fact that a company wants to charge someone to get information on which of their products one wishes to buy never ceases to amaze me, if the local variety store did that he'd be lynched.).

Thank you for your time and patience. Received on Tue Jun 04 2002 - 21:48:00 CEST