VB.NET: How to connect to IBM DB2 Database

For the past days, I already discussed some articles on how to connect to database server outside Microsoft platform such as Oracle and MySQL. On this entry, I will show you how to connect on another database platform called IBM DB2. DB2 is one of IBM's families of relational database management system (RDBMS) software products within IBM's broader Information Management Software line. Although there are different "editions" and "versions" of DB2, which run on devices ranging from handhelds to mainframes, most often DB2 refers to the DB2 Enterprise Server Edition, which runs on Unix (AIX), Windows, Linux and z/OS servers

To connect to a IBM DB2 Database, follow these steps.
1. First Install IBM Data Server Provider for .NET
2. Then add a reference to "IBM.Data.DB2.dll" by right-clicking your project on solution explorer then choose "Add Reference".
3. Include IBM.Data.DB2 namespace on our code as shown below

Imports IBM.Data.DB2

4. Then on your main function, add the code that connects to IBM DB2 server.

    Sub Main()
        Dim connString As String = "DATABASE=SAMPLE;"

        'Create connection
        Dim con As New DB2Connection(connString)

        Try
            con.ConnectionString = connString
            con.Open()
            Console.WriteLine("Connected to IBM DB2.")

        Catch ex As OracleException
            Console.WriteLine("Error: " & ex.ToString())
        Finally
            ' Close Connection
            con.Close()
            Console.WriteLine("Connection Closed")

        End Try

    End Sub

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