Manage Connections Tool

The Manage Connections tool enables you to make the SQL Server and DB2 connections needed to run your applications.

It includes the following key functionality:

• Creates ADO.NET connections to your mainframe DB2 database.
• Maintains a catalog of DSN connections, including the provider used to access the connection and the connection parameters used by the provider.
• Automatically creates both ADO.NET and ODBC connections to SQL Server using one set of connection parameters.
• Automatically creates and manages both CLR 2 (.NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5) and CLR 4 (.NET Framework 4.0) connections.
• Sets both 32-bit and 64-bit connections on 64-bit operating systems using one set of connection parameters.
• Enables you to define system, user, or Azure (SQL Database) connection types.
  Important: Azure connections enable you to run an application as a local application.
• Creates export XML files you can use to import connections into either the ADO.NET Connection Editor or the Manage Connections tool.
• Provides the option to upgrade the ODBC driver where appropriate.