On Jun 8, 2007, at 11:25, mspencewasunavailable wrote:

> --- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Richard Wesley
> <hawkfish@...> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for the reply.
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2007, at 16:28, Adam wrote:
>>
>>> --- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Richard Wesley
> <hawkfish@>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Is there an API (service?) for enumerating the names of the
> databases
>>>> listed in the aliases.conf file?
>>>
>>> No.
>>>
>>> If there was, I for one would hope it would be disabled by
> default.
>>> There is a real security concern to publicise the database list.
>>
>> Yeah, I had a feeling that was going to be the answer. Some
>> databases (e.g. SQL Server and MySQL) publish this list via ODBC;
>> others (e.g. Postgres, Firebird) view it as a security risk.
>> Postgres actually uses the database name as one of the
> authentication
>> parameters.
>>
>>> I would like to use it to drive a
>>>> remote connection GUI. I have heard rumours, but I can't find
>>>> anything.
>>>
>>> It would be trivial to write one yourself.
>>
>> Tableau is a db client, so I am not in a position to mess with
>> customer servers.
>
> Heh. Actually, you don't really need to write anything. All you
> have to do is get them to change firebird.conf:
>
> ExternalFileAccess = Restrict C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_2_0
>
> Then do this:
>
> CREATE TABLE aliases
> external 'c:\program files\firebird\firebird_2_0\aliases.conf'
> (
> txt char(1)
> );
>
> 'Select * from aliases' will get you the contents of the aliases file
> and also help you understand why the ExternalFileAccess directive is
> a really good idea. Of course you have to reassemble the lines, but
> that's trivial.

That's a cute trick!

Sadly, though, when I said Tableau is a client, I meant "Tableau is a
general purpose horizontal market client" so I can't rally make nay
assumptions about the server other than requiring it to be 2.0 or
later...
________________________________________________________
Richard Wesley Senior Software Developer Tableau
Software
Visit: http://www.trytableau.com/now.html