Hi,
Recently we purchased and installed a Pervasive.SQL V8 database server on a Novell 6.0 server. I also installed the Pervasive OLE DB Provider.

Today I tried to play with some sample VB6/VB.NET apps I downloaded from the Pervasive Web site, but I was unable to establish an OLE DB connection with the server. I tried VB6 apps on Win98 client and VB.NET apps on Win2K client, but I keep on getting the same message: "Unable to connect to the relational engine (is Database Name and Server available?)." The target database is the usual Demodata and security is turned off. I tried to set the new Location parameter to the name of the target server, but with the same result.

I used the following connection string:

Provider=PervasiveOLEDB;Data Source=demodata;Location=testserver

Using the Pervasive System Analyzer, I tested my client installations, network connections and relational engine operation. Everything works OK, or at lest that is what the log files say. When I use the PCC, I have no problem of connecting and viewing the Demodata database.

Can anyone give me a clue what could the problem be? As I suppose it must be something really trivial, caused by my lack of experience with Pervasive, I wanted to post on this forum first, before I contact Pervasive technical support.

Thanks in advance.

You need to be able you can communicate with the relational engine using TCP/IP. THe V8 OLEDB seems to require TCP/IP. You can run the PSA Network communication test and the SRDE test to verify which protocol is being used.

Thank you for your answer.

I did run the PSA tests (I am not sure what SRDE stands for). The protocol is TCP/IP and I am able to perform the usual test operations against the Demodata database, so I conclude that the communication with remote engine should be OK.

I searched the Pervasive Knowledgebase on their site and found something I didn't like. They say that there is a known OLEDB connectivity issue with Wndows 98SE. The Ndis.Vxd file should be replaced with the older OEM version. I am not sure whether I can simply replace that file with the older version. (First I got to find one, because all the W98 clients in the house are SE). I need W98SE because the locale is not english american. Anyway, it may solve the OLEDB connectivity problem for W98SE clients, but I have the same issue also with W2000/XP machines.

Guess I will need to have a word with the Pervasive support people.

The SRDE is the Pervasive Relational engine. Basically, it's the SQL engine that both OLEDB and ODBC use.
If TCP/IP is working and ODBC work, then OLEDB should be working too. I would suggest a call to Pervasive support.

Looks like the Pervasive OLEDB provider doesn't work as it should when the database is located on our Novell server.

If I use the MS OLE DB provider for ODBC, everything works fine and I can connect to the database from my VB6 and VB. NET apps, no matter where the database is physically located. But when I switch to the Pervasive provider, I am able to connect to the database only when the database is on my local drive. In all other cases I get a "file locked" message even when the db files are in a network directory where I have all possible permissions and I am the only user.

I am going to have a nice cup of coffee, cool down, and write an e-mail to Pervasive support.