Microsoft has released a new Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) driver for SQL Server 2005. Available as a download to all SQL Server users, at no additional charge, this type 4 JDBC driver provides access through any Java-enabled applet, application or application server.
New features in the Beta 2 driver include support for SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005, support for JDBC 3.0, improved XA transaction support, BLOB and CLOB support, integrated authentication support and updateable result sets.
A big change in the Beta 2 driver over Beta 1 is full SQL Server 2005 feature support. The Beta 2 driver interacts with the SQL Server 2005 native protocol level, exposing SQL Server 2005 features at the API level in the driver, now that the drivers 7.2 TDS work has been completed.
In addition, cursor constants have been added for users who want to access server cursor types not exposed in the JDBC APIs.
The Beta 2 driver requires JDK 1.4 or later, and installs on HP-UX, IBM AIX, Linux, Solaris, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, or Windows XP. SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 2005: Beta 2 or later is also required with SQL Server September 2005 Community Technology Preview recommended.
The release version of the driver is scheduled to launch in November.
Support for the beta is provided by the community newsgroup, (microsoft.public.sqlserver.jdbcdriver) and the MSDN Feedback Center.
Beta 2 of the SQL Server 2005 JDBC Driver can be downloaded at: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2005/jdbc.mspx.
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