How to integrate Apache Spark using Java

Learn how to quickly and efficiently connect Apache Spark with Java for smooth data access.

Read and write Apache Spark data effortlessly. Integrate, manage, and automate jobs and data processing — almost no coding required. You can do it all using the high-performance Apache Spark ODBC Driver for Java (often referred to as the Apache Spark Connector). How is this possible? You will connect to the ZappySys Data Gateway, which acts as a seamless bridge between the ODBC and JDBC layers. We'll walk you through the entire setup.

Ready to dive in? Download the product to jump right in, or follow the step-by-step guide below to see how it works.

Apache Spark ODBC Driver Powering this integration

High performance
Bidirectional
Low-code / No-code
Easy to use

Built on the ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver, the Apache Spark ODBC Driver is a high-performance, low-code / no-code solution. It enables you to connect to Apache Spark data without any coding right in your SQL Server, or any ODBC/JDBC application. Part of the ODBC PowerPack.

Documentation

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you meet the following prerequisite: Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK) must be installed on your system.

Minimum required version: Java 8
- Amazon Corretto 8
- Oracle JRE 8
Recommended Java version: Java 21
- Amazon Corretto 21
- Oracle JRE 21

If your JDBC Driver targets a different Java version (e.g., 11 / 17 / 21), install the corresponding or newer Java version.

If you already have a JRE installed, you can try using it too. However, if you experience any issues, we recommend using one of the distributions mentioned above (you can install an additional JRE next to the existing one; just don't forget to configure the default Java in the Windows Environment Variables).

Download Apache Spark JDBC driver

To connect to Apache Spark in , you will have to download JDBC driver for it, which we will use in later steps. Let's perform these little steps right away:

Visit MVN Repository.
Download the JDBC driver, and save it locally, e.g. to D:\Drivers\JDBC\hive-jdbc-standalone.jar.
Make sure to download the standalone version of the Apache Hive JDBC driver to avoid Java library dependency errors, e.g., hive-jdbc-4.0.1-standalone.jar (commonly used driver to connect to Spark).
Done! That was easy, wasn't it? Let's proceed to the next step.

Create data source in ZappySys Data Gateway

In this section we will create a data source for Apache Spark in the Data Gateway. Let's follow these steps to accomplish that:

Download and install ODBC PowerPack (if you haven't already).
Search for gateway in the Windows Start Menu and open ZappySys Data Gateway Configuration:
Go to the Users tab and follow these steps to add a Data Gateway user:
- Click the Add button
- In the Login field enter a username, e.g., john
- Then enter a Password
- Check the Is Administrator checkbox
- Click OK to save
Now we are ready to add a data source:
- Click the Add button
- Give the Data source a name (have it handy for later)
- Then select Native - ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver
- Finally, click OK
ApacheSparkDSN

ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver
Now, we need to configure the JDBC connection in the new ODBC data source. Simply enter the Connection string, credentials, configure other settings, and then click Test Connection button to test the connection:

ApacheSparkDSN

jdbc:hive2://spark-thrift-server-host:10000

D:\Drivers\JDBC\hive-jdbc-standalone.jar

[]

Use these values when setting parameters:
- Connection string: jdbc:hive2://spark-thrift-server-host:10000
- JDBC driver file(s): D:\Drivers\JDBC\hive-jdbc-standalone.jar
- Connection parameters: []
You should see a message saying that connection test is successful:

Otherwise, if you are getting an error, check out our Community for troubleshooting tips.
We are at the point where we can preview a SQL query. For more SQL query examples visit JDBC Bridge documentation:
ApacheSparkDSN
```
-- Basic SELECT with a WHERE clause
SELECT
    id,
    name,
    salary
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'Sales';
```
```
-- Basic SELECT with a WHERE clause
SELECT
    id,
    name,
    salary
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'Sales';
```
You can also click on the <Select Table> dropdown and select a table from the list.

The ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver acts as a transparent intermediary, passing SQL queries directly to the JDBC driver, which then handles the query execution. This means the Bridge Driver simply relays the SQL query without altering it.

Some JDBC drivers don't support INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE statements, so you may get an error saying "action is not supported" or a similar one. Please, be aware, this is not the limitation of ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver, but is a limitation of the specific JDBC driver you are using.
Click OK to finish creating the data source.
Once done, go to the Network Settings tab and Add a firewall rule for inbound traffic:
- This will initially allow all inbound traffic.
- Click Edit IP filters to restrict access to specific IP addresses or ranges.
Crucial Step: After creating or modifying the data source, you must:
- Click the Save button to persist your changes.
- Hit Yes when prompted to restart the Data Gateway service.
This ensures all changes are properly applied:

Skipping this step may cause the new settings to fail, preventing you from connecting to the data source.

Read data in Java from the DSN

Java code to get the data:

"jdbc:sqlserver://localhost:5000;databasename=ApacheSparkDSN;user=john;password=test"
When you run the code it will make the API call and read the data:

Here is Java program's code in text format:


//Step-1: Install ZappySys ODBC PowerPack and Configure Data Gateway

//Step-2:Assuming the Microsoft SQL Server JDBC Driver is in below folder
//C:\Program Files\Microsoft Jdbc Driver 6.0 for SQL Server\sqljdbc_6.0\enu\auth\x64
package padaone;

import java.sql.*;

public class zappy {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        // Create a variable for the connection string.
        String connectionUrl = "jdbc:sqlserver://localhost:5000;databasename=ApacheSparkDSN;user=test;password=test";

        // Declare the JDBC objects.
        Connection con = null;
        Statement stmt = null;
        ResultSet rs = null;

            try {
                // Establish the connection.
                Class.forName("com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver");
                con = DriverManager.getConnection(connectionUrl);

                // Create and execute an SQL statement that returns some data.
                String SQL = "SELECT Country , SUM(UnitPrice * Quantity) Total " 
                           + "FROM value " 
                           + "GROUP BY Country "
                           + "WITH (SRC='https://services.odata.org/V3/Northwind/Northwind.svc/Invoices?$format=json')";
                stmt = con.createStatement();
                rs = stmt.executeQuery(SQL);

                // Iterate through the data in the result set and display it.
                while (rs.next()) {
                    System.out.println(rs.getString(1) + " " + rs.getString(2));
                }
            }

        // Handle any errors that may have occurred.
        catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        } 
        
        finally {
            if (rs != null) try { rs.close(); } catch (Exception e) {}
            if (stmt != null) try { stmt.close(); } catch (Exception e) {}
            if (con != null) try { con.close(); } catch (Exception e) {}
        }
    }
}

Troubleshooters & resources (JDBC Bridge Driver)

Below are some useful community articles to help you troubleshoot and configure the ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver:

How to combine multiple JAR files
Learn how to merge multiple .jar dependencies when your JDBC driver requires more than one file.
How to fix JBR error: “Data lake is not available / Unable to verify trust for server certificate chain”
Resolve SSL or certificate validation issues encountered during JDBC connections.
System Exception: “Java is not installed or not accessible”
Fix Java path or environment issues that prevent the JDBC Bridge from launching Java.
JDBC Bridge Driver disconnect from Java host error
Troubleshoot unexpected disconnection problems between SSIS and the Java process.
Error: Could not open jvm.cfg while using JDBC Bridge Driver
Resolve JVM configuration path errors during driver initialization.
How to enable JDBC Bridge Driver logging
Enable detailed driver logging for better visibility during troubleshooting.
How to pass JDBC connection parameters (not by URL)
Learn how to specify connection properties programmatically instead of embedding them in the JDBC URL.
How to fix JDBC Bridge error: “No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it”
Troubleshoot firewall or local port binding issues preventing communication with the Java host.
How to use JDBC Bridge options (System Property for Java command line, e.g., classpath, proxy)
Configure custom Java options like classpath and proxy using JDBC Bridge system properties.

Conclusion

In this article we showed you how to connect to Apache Spark in Java and integrate data without writing complex code — all of this was powered by Apache Spark ODBC Driver. It's worth noting that ZappySys JDBC Bridge Driver allows you to connect not only to Apache Spark, but to any Java application that supports JDBC (just use a different JDBC driver and configure it appropriately).

Download ODBC PowerPack now or ping us via chat if you have any questions or are looking for a specific feature (you can also reach out to us by submitting a ticket):

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