title: Excel to IBM DB2 Connection
body: <p>I've been attempting to establish a connection with an IBM DB2 database with which I can extract the data.</p>
  
  <p>The details I have are:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Server Name</li>
  <li>Data Library</li>
  <li>Username/Password.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I've tried two different ways:</p>
  
  <p><strong>Using Excel:</strong> </p>
  
  <p>Within Excel, I have gone onto data-> From other sources -> From data connection wizard -> other/advanced -> Microsoft OLE DB Provider for DB2.</p>
  
  <p>I have entered the server name for the data source parameter and the username and password in the appropriate parameters. Whenever I click on the "test" button, the same error is returned: "Test connection failed because of an error in initializing the provider.- The parameter is incorrect"</p>
  
  <p><strong>Using SQL Server 2008:</strong> </p>
  
  <p>I have also attempted to connect to this DB2 database through SQL Server 2008 creating a new linked server and entering the server name in the data source parameter and username and password in the security page. </p>
  
  <p>The provider I've selected there is "IBM DB2 UDB for iSeries IBMDA400 OLE DB Provider". The error I get here is: "The linked server has been created but failed a connection test"</p>
  
  <p>Any advice on how to connect to the DB2 database from excel or SQL Server 2008 would be extremely helpful.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>