IBM Data Virtualization connection

Last updated: Aug 14, 2025

To access your data in Data Virtualization, create a connection asset for it. A Data Virtualization connection is created automatically in a catalog or project when you publish a virtual object to a catalog or assign it to a project. The IBM Data Virtualization connection was formerly know as the Watson Query connection.

Data Virtualization integrates data sources across multiple types and locations and turns all this data into one logical data view. This virtual data view makes the job of getting value out of your data easy.

Supported versions

IBM Data Virtualization 1.1.

Create a Data Virtualization connection

To create the connection asset, you need these connection details:

Database name
Hostname or IP address of the database
Port number
Instance ID
Credentials information
Application name (optional): The name of the application that is currently using the connection. For information, see Client info properties support by the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ.
Client accounting information (optional): The value of the accounting string from the client information that is specified for the connection. For information, see Client info properties support by the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ.
Client hostname (optional): The hostname of the machine on which the application that is using the connection is running. For information, see Client info properties support by the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ.
Client user (optional): The name of the user on whose behalf the application that is using the connection is running. For information, see Client info properties support by the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ.
SSL certificate (if required by the database server)

Credentials

Connecting to a Data Virtualization instance in IBM Cloud

API key: Enter an IAM API key. Prerequisites:
1. Add the user ID as an IAM user or as a service ID to your IBM Cloud account. For instructions, see the Console user experience section of the Identity and access management (IAM) on IBM Cloud topic.
2. The Data Virtualization Manager of the Data Virtualization instance must add IAM users by selecting Data > Data Virtualization > Administration > User management from the Cloud Pak for Data as a Service navigation menu.

Connecting to a Data Virtualization instance in Cloud Pak for Data (on-prem)

User credentials: Enter your Cloud Pak for Data username and password.
API key: Enter an API key value with your Cloud Pak for Data username and a Cloud Pak for Data API key. Use this syntax: user_name:api_key
Use my platform login credentials. This option is available If you select Personal credentials and the User credentials authentication method. The Data Virtualization service must be deployed on the same instance of Cloud Pak for Data where you are creating the connection. With platform credentials, the connection to Data Virtualization is established by using your current session JSON Web Token (JWT).

For Private connectivity, to connect to a database that is not externalized to the internet (for example, behind a firewall), you must set up a secure connection.