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Questions about the MySQL, PostgreSQL, and most other databases, as well as using it with PHP can be asked here.

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Ramza
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What

Post by Ramza »

What is Database Server Hostname / DSN
?
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JAM
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Post by JAM »

DSN
Short for Data Source Name.
Data Source Name provides connectivity to a database through an ODBC driver. The DSN contains database name, directory, database driver, UserID, password, and other information. Once you create a DSN for a particular database, you can use the DSN in an application to call information from the database.

There are three types of DSNs:
(1) System DSN -- can be used by anyone who has access to the machine. DSN info is stored in the registry.
(2) User DSN -- created for a specific user. Also stored in the registry.
(3) File DSN -- DSN info is stored in a text file with .DSN extension.

DSN is often used by Active Server Pages (ASP) and Visual Basic programs when a query to a database is necessary to retrieve information. PHP can use this to, if for example MSSql is used as database.

There is also what is known as a "DSN-less connection." Instead of using a DSN to connect to a database, the developer specifies the necessary information right in the application. With a DSN-less connection the developer is free to use connection standards other than ODBC, such as OLE DB or PHP's inbuildt.
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