DB2 ODBC Connection String without Database Name - db2

Question

I am trying to connect DB2 Server with ODBC, which is working fine if I specify Database in connection string.
driver = 'IBM DB2 ODBC DRIVER'
server = '10.30.30.114'
port = '50000'
protocol = 'TCPIP'
database = 'SAMPLE'
user = 'administrator'
pass = 'password'
DBI.connect("DBI:ODBC:Driver=#{driver};HostName=#{server};Port=#{port};Protocol=#{protocol};Database=#{database};Uid=#{user};Pwd=#{pass};")
The issue is I will not be knowing the database name in advance at the time of connecting to the server. I want the list of databases on the server and then tables in those databases, how should I approach?

Answer 1

You cannot "connect to a DB2 server" via ODBC; you can only connect to a database, for which you obviously need to specify the database name. You could use the DB2 C/C++ API calls db2DbDirOpenScan and db2DbDirGetNextEntry to list the database directory, but this code will need to be executed on the server itself, otherwise it will attempt to list the database catalog on the client machine.

Answer 2

IF you are connecting to DB2 for i server (formerly DB2 UDB on OS/400) --
Initially connect using hostname, allowing database to default. You can then get a list of databases in the DB2 for i SYSCATALOGS view. Your query might look like this:
SELECT catalog_name, -- database name
catalog_text -- DB description
FROM QSYS2.SYSCATALOGS
WHERE catalog_type='LOCAL' -- local to that host
AND catalog_status='AVAILABLE' -- REMOTE catalogs are 'UNKNOWN' status
You could then connect to that database if . Once connected to the appropriate database, you could query other DB2 for i catalog views such as SYSSCHEMAS and SYSTABLES. ODBC/JDBC Catalog views and ANS/ISO Catalog views would also be available.
Other API's are available outside of an ODBC connection via IBM i Access, if you prefer.