Install ServiceNow SQL API ODBC driver on client machine

Install the ServiceNow ODBC driver on your Windows client machine to enable connectivity between your Business Intelligence (BI) tools and ServiceNow data through the SQL API.

Before you begin

• ServiceNow SQL API ODBC driver can only be installed on a Windows client machine.
• Verify that JDK 17 is installed on your client machine.

Role required: local administrator on client machine for installation, admin on ServiceNow instance for server-side configuration.

Procedure

1. Locate the downloaded ODBC driver installation file on your client machine.
2. Select and hold (or right-click) the appropriate installation file based on your BI tool's architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and select Run as administrator.
3. In the ServiceNow ODBC Driver Setup wizard, review the welcome screen and select Next.
   
4. Read and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA), and then select Next.
5. Select the installation directory or accept the default location, and then select Next.
   The default installation path is typically C:\Program Files\ServiceNow\ODBC.
6. When prompted for the Service Name, enter a name to identify the service (for example, ServiceNow_ODBC) and select Next.
7. When prompted for the Java Virtual Machine Location, do the following actions:
   1. Browse to and select the directory where the jvm.dll file is located (usually C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17\bin\server).
   2. To skip entering the JDK location during installation, select Next.
   Note:

   You must enter the jvm.dll file location for the ServiceNow SQL API ODBC driver to work.

8. Add the JDK location now or later.
   In the pop-up window,
   • To enter the JDK location now, select Yes.
   • To enter the JDK location later, select No.

   To enter the JDK location later, access the Management console as an administrator and navigate to Services > (Service_Name) > Service Settings > IP Parameters and enter the jvm.dll file location in the ServiceJVMLocation property.

9. When prompted for the ODBC Data Source details, specify the following parameters to create an ODBC data source that can be used to create a Data Source Name (DSN).
   This DSN will be used to connect your ODBC driver to the ServiceNow instance.

   Table 1. ODBC Data Source

   Field	Description
   Data Source Name	Short name to identify this data source
   Description	Short description of the driver
   Service Name	Enter the same Service Name as entered in step 6
   Service Data Source	This name will be entered in the Service Data Source field when setting the System DSN in the ODBC Data Source Administrator window

   Usually, the default values are appropriate.

   
10. Select the Program Folder to create links for the driver, and select Next.
    
11. Start copying driver files to the client machine by selecting Next.
12. When prompted, select Finish and complete the installation.

Result

The installation creates a ServiceNow SQL API – ODBC folder in the Start menu with these links:

• Interactive SQL(ODBC): An interactive SQL command window for directly testing SQL statements.
• Management Console: A Microsoft MMC snap-in for configuring default properties for the ODBC driver.
• ODBC Administrator: A Microsoft ODBC Administrator program. Searchable by the name ODBC Data Sources (32-bit/64-bit).

The ServiceNow ODBC driver is installed on your client machine and registered with the Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator. You can proceed to configure the driver with your ServiceNow instance connection details.

What to do next

After completing the installation, configure the ODBC driver to connect to your ServiceNow instance. For configuration instructions, see Configure ServiceNow SQL API ODBC driver on client machine.