Download FrontBase JDBC Driver

Download the FrontBase JDBC driver, copy the JDBC URL into DbSchema, and start designing schemas with ER diagrams — free Community Edition.

About the FrontBase JDBC driver

A JDBC driver is a Java .jar library that lets applications connect to FrontBase. DbSchema uses JDBC to reverse engineer schemas, run SQL, and generate documentation. Driver files are usually published by the database vendor or an open-source project.

JDBC URL format

Host, port, database name, and SSL options are passed in a URL starting with jdbc:. Each FrontBase driver uses its own syntax — see the connection details below.

The FrontBase JDBC driver

FrontBase is a relational database server for macOS and Linux, developed by FrontBase Inc. and known for its support of advanced SQL standards, multi-threaded architecture, and strong consistency guarantees. It is used in academic and scientific computing environments.

The FrontBase JDBC URL

• Required File(s): frontbasejdbc.jar
• Java Driver Class: com.frontbase.jdbc.FBJDriver
• JDBC URL: jdbc:FrontBase://HOST:PORT/DB
• Website: FrontBase

Download FrontBase JDBC Driver

The driver archive is a zip file. Extract it and load the .jar files using DbSchema's Driver Manager.

Connecting to FrontBase

FrontBase runs one process per database, and clients find it by name rather than by port — which is why the URL has no port in it.

1. Name the database, not a port. jdbc:frontbase://host/mydb. A name server on the host maps that name to the process serving it, so each database gets its own listener without you tracking the numbers.
2. Start the database before connecting. A FrontBase database that has not been started is not registered with the name server, and the connection fails with an unknown-database error rather than a network one.
3. Open the ports the server actually uses. DbSchema prefills 20020, but because each database gets its own listener a firewall usually needs a range rather than one port. Check what the installation was configured with.
4. Open port 20020 in the server's firewall. The database listens on port 20020 unless it was installed with a different one. A host firewall on the server blocks incoming connections on that port until a rule allows them. The firewall guide has the commands for Windows, ufw, firewalld and iptables.
5. Connect from DbSchema. In the Connection Dialog choose Remote computer or custom port, fill in the server host and the port, then press Test Connection to check that the server answers before you connect.

DbSchema and FrontBase

DbSchema connects to FrontBase using the FrontBase JDBC driver and renders schemas and relationships as interactive ER diagrams. Use the Schema Documentation feature to generate reference docs for your FrontBase schema.