25.2. .NET Data Provider Types

ADO.NET enables access to a variety of different data sources, including relational databases such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Microsoft Access, as well as other data sources such as Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and text files.

The two Data Providers shipped with the .NET Framework are :

1. OLEDB

2. Microsoft SQL Server

Other providers are also available-for example, Oracle has developed its own .NET data provider for Oracle.

Similarly EnterpriseDB has developed its own data provider to access an EnterpriseDB database. The provider named "EnterpriseDB .NET Connector" accesses the underlying EnterpriseDB data store directly and offers the best performance, broadest functionality, and support for EnterpriseDB-specific features.