Enabling the strict virtualization mode (Data Virtualization)

Last updated: May 07, 2021

Data Virtualization administrators can determine the virtualization mode of the service.

About this task

The virtualization mode determines whether to enforce use of business terms in virtual table and column names. Use the strict virtualization mode if you want virtual objects to map to existing business terms only.

In this virtualization mode, users can virtualize only assets that were:

Discovered by using the Governance > Data discovery option.
Additionally, users can virtualize an asset from data sources that are supported by Data Virtualization. This asset must be added to the default catalog as a connected asset. For details, see Adding a data asset from a connection.
Published to the catalog with business terms that were assigned as a part of the data discovery.
Additionally, users can virtualize a connected asset from a data source, which is supported by Data Virtualization. The asset must have business terms assigned to itself and its columns.

You can enable the strict virtualization mode by using the Data Virtualization API. For details see, the Data Virtualization REST API reference.

When you disable the strict virtualization mode, you set Data Virtualization to the default virtualization mode.

Required role: To complete this task, you must have the Data Virtualization Admin role.

Procedure

To enable the strict virtualization mode:

Log in to IBM® Cloud Pak for Data.
You must have the Cloud Pak for Data data steward role and the Data Virtualization Admin role. Data Virtualization Stewards can see the configured virtualization mode only.
To check the status of the strict virtualization mode, enter the following GET request on your browser:
```
https://OpenShift_URL/icp4data-databases/dv/Project/dvapiserver/v1/dv/security/strict/status
```

To enable the strict virtualization mode, enter the following GET request on your browser:

https://OpenShift_URL/icp4data-databases/dv/Project/dvapiserver/v1/dv/security/strict/on

Replace the following values:

Required information Description

Required information	Description
`OpenShift_URL`	The URL to use when logging in to your Red Hat® OpenShift® cluster. Ensure that you have the appropriate credentials to log in to the cluster by using `oc login`. Your cluster administrator should tell you whether your cluster is connected to the internet or is air-gapped.
`Project`	The project (namespace) where the IBM Cloud Pak for Data control plane is installed.

OpenShift_URL

The URL to use when logging in to your Red Hat® OpenShift® cluster.

Ensure that you have the appropriate credentials to log in to the cluster by using oc login.

Your cluster administrator should tell you whether your cluster is connected to the internet or is air-gapped.

Project The project (namespace) where the IBM Cloud Pak for Data control plane is installed.

What to do next

Before virtualizing data in the strict virtualization mode, ensure to delete objects that you virtualized before you enabled the strict virtualization mode.

Disabling the strict virtualization mode

Disable the strict virtualization mode to enable users to discover data sources and to virtualize objects without automatically using business terms for table and column names.

Procedure

To disable the strict virtualization mode:

Log in to IBM Cloud Pak for Data.
You must have the Cloud Pak for Data data steward role and the Data Virtualization Admin or Data Virtualization Steward role.

Enter the following GET request on your browser:

https://OpenShift_URL:port/icp4data-databases/dv/Project/dvapiserver/v1/dv/security/strict/off