NetSuite provides a read-only ODCB driver (common way to access a databases) to connect to its platform. We are interested in this because we offer Secure Remote SQL Reporting Services which closes the gap for businesses that wish to fully leverage Cloud Computing but have discovered that NetSuite’s built-in report tools are not quite good enough.
Setup of the NetSuite ODBC Driver requires the following:
- Module Add-on Package purchased from NetSuite.
- Get the ODBC driver installed on client machines. The ODBC Driver is available for download on the NetSuite Settings Dashboard. In our case, we configured this with our Remote SQL Reporting services integrated with Windows SharePoint Services. For the purposes of this discussion, we will use Microsoft Access to illustrate connectivity. The driver is available for download from the NetSuite dashboard Setting Portlet.
- Download and Install OpenSSL offered from Shining Light Productions. Additional C++ distributables may be required.   These are clearly referenced on the site. Be sure to donate to help further the cause to keep software costs low.
- Configure the Windows ODBC Driver.
- Provide your NetSuite user name and password.
- Link to interested tables and provide reference to the respective primary key(s). Use the NetSuite “Table of ODBC Views” guide for reference within the Help system.
- Optionally, setup relationships to let the tools help you during the development of your queries.
- Retrieve data into your application.
Below are screen shots of the configuration basic steps:
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- Download NetSuite ODBC Driver
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- Windows ODBC Administrator Utility
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- Advanced ODBC Administration
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- Access: New Database
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- Access: Link Data
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- Access: Select NetSuite ODBC
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- Access: Select your NetSuite ODBC Data Source
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- Login with NetSuite Credentials
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- Access: Available Link Tables
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- Access: Assign Primary Key
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- Access: Relationship Manager
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- Access: Get data from query
6 Comments
Where can this driver be downloaded? I see it mentioned in the docs. Yet I cannot find it.
Found it: Once ODBC feature is enabled, go to the Home page, and in the Settings portlet, click the Download ODBC Driver link.
Hi Mr Marty,
I have a sql server 2008 dabaase containing a Datewarehouse. the user would liket to directly conenct to netsuite CRM and join the DW tables with CRM tables.
1. how to go about it?
2. should the ODBC driver be installed on client machine or inthe SQL server 2008 server?
3. can we access the nwetsduite DB from sql management studio?
4. do we really rewuire the wind32open ssl as in your posting?
5. any other info i need to take care of?
Hello. Let me answer those questions:
1. You need to get that add-on directly from NetSuite. I believe if you have a development account, they may be able to turn that on. But you are required to pay if it is on a production account.
2. Where you install the driver depends on your integration approach. Assuming that you will be using SSIS, yes, you will want to install it on the Database Server.
3. Yes, you will be able to connect to NetSuite and it will look like a regular database.
4. Yes, as part of the installation, you may need to install some other “connection plumbing”. I believe the latest release, since this first post, has optimized this element.
5. If you are nervous about the driver, I recommend installing it on a workstation and then connecting with a simple tool like MS Access. This will help you get comfortable with the installation process and the way it works before you touch a Production database.
Let me know if this makes sense.
Marty
Hi Marty, Thanks for the quick response . Much appreciated.
1. what is the addon you r talking about ?
i thought just installing the driver would be sufficient enough.
BTW, Great job your posts.just to compliment on your posts. they were really clear, concise ,simple and fast to understand
Yes, there are a number of add-ons that require NetSuite to throw switches. To determine what you have provisioned, go to: Setup, Company, View Billing Information, Add-On Modules. This will help clarify what capacities you have active and what you need to turn on.
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