A tool that simplifies data access to different kinds of data sources such as relational databases. Also known as the OLE DB Provider for AS/400 and VSAM, Data Provider is included with Microsoft SNA Server version 4.
It gives Web applications written with Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) technology the ability to access record-level mainframe AS/400 and VSAM file systems.
Using Data Provider, you can write applications that access legacy file data on mainframes and minicomputers running Systems Network Architecture (SNA).
You can also directly access AS/400 file structures and VSAM data sets using the IBM DDM protocol native to many IBM host systems without needing to install additional Microsoft software on the host system.
You can also integrate unstructured legacy file data on host systems with data stored in a Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000 networking environment.