# JDBC database connections

To connect to databases, install the driver for your database, as well as define the access protocol and settings now. You can choose from these access protocols:

* **Native (**[**JDBC**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Database_Connectivity)**)**

  This is a commonly used access protocol. Please see details in the Database Access Protocol Decision Table to ensure you make an informed choice.
* [**JNDI**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Naming_and_Directory_Interface)

  This also is a commonly used access protocol. Please see details in the Database Access Protocol Decision Table to ensure you make an informed choice.
* [**ODBC**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ODBC)

  We do not support ODBC, but we make it available in case you need it. If you must use ODBC, contact [Pentaho Support](https://support.pentaho.com) to ensure you are successful.
* [**OCI**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Call_Interface)

  If you are connecting to an Oracle database, click this link to install the appropriate [OCI driver and add the OCI connection](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/configure-the-pentaho-server/specify-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server/jdbc-database-connections/set-up-native-jdbc-or-oci-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server.md) now.

| Explore Considerations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Choose Options                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Native (JDBC)](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/configure-the-pentaho-server/specify-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server/jdbc-database-connections/set-up-native-jdbc-or-oci-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server.md) | [JNDI](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/configure-the-pentaho-server/specify-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server/jdbc-database-connections/set-up-jndi-connections-for-the-pentaho-server.md)                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Summary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | <p>Native (JDBC) connections are the easiest way to get going quickly. You specify the connection information in PUC. The connections are controlled by the Pentaho Server.</p><p>If the connection information changes, you change it in PUC for each connection you have defined.</p> | <p>JNDI connections are maintained in the application server, offering more advanced configuration options. One typical use case is you may want to hide security credentials from administrators of the Pentaho system. You specify the connection information by editing the context.xml file and selecting JNDI as the access type in PUC.</p><p>If the connection information changes, you change the <code>context.xml</code> file.</p> |
| Expertise                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Knowledge of the JDBC driver and options for your RDBMS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Knowledge of Tomcat or JBoss JNDI connection procedures and options                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Recommendation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Use for the Pentaho Trial Download and evaluation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Use for production, when the work environment is distributed in a network, or if you want to hide security credentials from Pentaho administrators.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

To learn how to specify data connections, see the articles below:

* [Set up native (JDBC) or OCI data connections for the Pentaho Server](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/configure-the-pentaho-server/specify-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server/jdbc-database-connections/set-up-native-jdbc-or-oci-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server.md)
* [Set up JNDI connections for the Pentaho Server](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/configure-the-pentaho-server/specify-data-connections-for-the-pentaho-server/jdbc-database-connections/set-up-jndi-connections-for-the-pentaho-server.md)

To learn how to define data connections, see [Define data connections](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-a-pentaho-administrator/define-data-connections.md).


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