To connect to a database through PEAR::MDB, you have to create a valid DSN - data source name. This DSN consists in the following parts:

• phptype: Database backend used in PHP (i.e. mysql , odbc etc.)
• dbsyntax: Database used with regards to SQL syntax etc.
• protocol: Communication protocol to use ( i.e. tcp, unix etc.)
• hostspec: Host specification (hostname[:port])
• database: Database to use on the DBMS server
• username: User name for login
• password: Password for login
• proto_opts: Maybe used with protocol

The format of the supplied DSN is in its fullest form:

phptype(dbsyntax)://username:password@protocol+hostspec/database

Most variations are allowed:

phptype://username:password@protocol+hostspec:110//usr/db_file.mdb
phptype://username:password@hostspec/database_name
phptype://username:password@hostspec
phptype://username@hostspec
phptype://hostspec/database
phptype://hostspec
phptype(dbsyntax)
phptype

The currently supported database backends are:

mysql  -> MySQL
pgsql  -> PostgreSQL
ibase  -> InterBase
mssql  -> Microsoft SQL Server
oci8   -> Oracle 7/8/8i
fbsql  -> FrontBase

With an up-to-date version of MDB, you can use a second DSN format

phptype(syntax)://user:pass@protocol(proto_opts)/database

mysql://user@unix(/path/to/socket)/pear

pgsql://user:pass@word@tcp(localhost:5555)/pear

Please note, that some features may be not supported by all database backends. Please refer to the PEAR MDB extensions status document located at: <pear base dir>/MDB/STATUS to get a detailed list about what features are supported by which backend.