Configuring connections in Amazon Redshift

In the following section, learn how to configure JDBC, Python, and ODBC connections to connect to your cluster from SQL client tools. This section describes how to set up JDBC, Python, and ODBC connections. It also describes how to use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and server certificates to encrypt communication between the client and server.

JDBC, Python, and ODBC drivers for Amazon Redshift

To work with data in your cluster, you must have JDBC, Python, or ODBC drivers for connectivity from your client computer or instance. Code your applications to use JDBC, Python, or ODBC data access API operations, and use SQL client tools that support either JDBC, Python, or ODBC.

Amazon Redshift offers JDBC, Python, and ODBC drivers for download. These drivers are supported by AWS Support. PostgreSQL drivers are not tested and not supported by the Amazon Redshift team. Use the Amazon Redshift–specific drivers when connecting to an Amazon Redshift cluster. The Amazon Redshift drivers have the following advantages:

• Support for IAM, SSO, and federated authentication.

• Support for new Amazon Redshift data types.

• Support for authentication profiles.

• Improved performance in conjunction with Amazon Redshift enhancements.

For more information about how to download the JDBC and ODBC drivers and configure connections to your cluster, see Configuring a connection for JDBC driver version 2.1 for Amazon Redshift, Amazon Redshift Python connector, and Configuring a connection for ODBC driver version 2.x for Amazon Redshift.

For more information about managing IAM identities, including best practices for IAM roles, see Identity and access management in Amazon Redshift.