How to Configure Teradata Database in Struts

August 15, 2025

Struts is a classic Java web framework, and if you're building enterprise-grade applications that need Powerhouse analytics, integrating Teradata makes a lot of sense. While there's no official Teradata Docker image for the full database, you can simulate local development using Teradata’s free Vantage Express VM, containerized JDBC layers, or a remote test tier. This guide focuses on setting it up in Struts—using Docker or dev-tier for dev, Kubernetes for production—keeping everything clean, configurable, and environment-specific.

1. Add Dependencies in `pom.xml`

Start by updating your pom.xml to include Struts, Teradata JDBC, and Kubernetes client support:

<dependencies>
  <!-- Struts core framework -->
  <dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.struts</groupId>
    <artifactId>struts2-core</artifactId>
    <version>${struts.version}</version>
  </dependency>

  <!-- Teradata JDBC driver -->
  <dependency>
    <groupId>com.teradata.jdbc</groupId>
    <artifactId>terajdbc4</artifactId>
    <version>${teradata.jdbc.version}</version>
  </dependency>

  <!-- Kubernetes client for production config -->
  <dependency>
    <groupId>io.fabric8</groupId>
    <artifactId>kubernetes-client</artifactId>
    <version>${fabric8.version}</version>
  </dependency>
</dependencies>

This gives you Struts for your web layer, Teradata connectivity, and optional Kubernetes integration for managing prod settings.

2. Set Up Teradata for Development

Teradata doesn’t provide a full database Docker image so for development, you have a few options:

Teradata Vantage Express VM on your local machine (free tier)
Remote Dev/Sandbox Teradata instance
Container running Teradata clients to connect to a hosted instance

For example, run the official Vantage Express image or your hosted Teradata instance on localhost:1025, with credentials like devuser/devpass.

3. Create Dev Config: `teradata-dev.properties`

Add this under src/main/resources:

db.driver=com.teradata.jdbc.TeraDriver
db.url=jdbc:teradata://localhost/DATABASE=mydb
db.user=devuser
db.password=devpass
db.validationQuery=SELECT 1

Load it in your Struts helper or DAO:

Properties props = new Properties();
props.load(getClass().getResourceAsStream("/teradata-dev.properties"));

Class.forName(props.getProperty("db.driver"));
try (Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection(
        props.getProperty("db.url"),
        props.getProperty("db.user"),
        props.getProperty("db.password"));
     Statement stmt = conn.createStatement()) {
  stmt.executeQuery(props.getProperty("db.validationQuery"));
}

This simulates a Teradata workflow during development.

4. Prepare Kubernetes Configs for Production

In production, hold credentials outside your code using ConfigMaps and Secrets:

kubectl create configmap teradata-config \
  --from-literal=DB_URL=jdbc:teradata://teradata-service/DATABASE=proddb \
  --from-literal=DB_DRIVER=com.teradata.jdbc.TeraDriver \
  --from-literal=DB_VALIDATION_QUERY=SELECT 1

kubectl create secret generic teradata-secret \
  --from-literal=DB_USER=produser \
  --from-literal=DB_PASSWORD=prodSecret123

5. Add Production Config: `teradata-prod.properties`

Include this in your application's resources:

db.driver=${DB_DRIVER}
db.url=${DB_URL}
db.user=${DB_USER}
db.password=${DB_PASSWORD}
db.validationQuery=${DB_VALIDATION_QUERY}

At runtime, environment variables supplied by Kubernetes will be automatically substituted.

6. Kubernetes Deployment Snippet

Make sure your deployment manifest provides these environment variables:

env:
  - name: DB_DRIVER
    valueFrom:
      configMapKeyRef:
        name: teradata-config
        key: DB_DRIVER
  - name: DB_URL
    valueFrom:
      configMapKeyRef:
        name: teradata-config
        key: DB_URL
  - name: DB_VALIDATION_QUERY
    valueFrom:
      configMapKeyRef:
        name: teradata-config
        key: DB_VALIDATION_QUERY
  - name: DB_USER
    valueFrom:
      secretKeyRef:
        name: teradata-secret
        key: DB_USER
  - name: DB_PASSWORD
    valueFrom:
      secretKeyRef:
        name: teradata-secret
        key: DB_PASSWORD

Your Struts app will automatically load appropriate values at startup.

7. Struts Action for Health Check

Here’s a clean example to test connectivity:

public class DbHealthAction extends ActionSupport {
  public String execute() {
    String url = System.getenv("DB_URL");
    String user = System.getenv("DB_USER");
    String pass = System.getenv("DB_PASSWORD");
    String validation = System.getenv("DB_VALIDATION_QUERY");
    try (Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection(url, user, pass);
         Statement stmt = conn.createStatement()) {
      stmt.executeQuery(validation);
      addActionMessage("Connected to Teradata successfully!");
      return SUCCESS;
    } catch (SQLException e) {
      addActionError("Connection failed: " + e.getMessage());
      return ERROR;
    }
  }
}

Same code works for both dev and prod—only properties change.

Why This Setup Works

Quick local iteration: VM or hosted instance simulates real Teradata
Secure production: Credentials never in code—managed by Kubernetes
Consistent codebase: One single connection logic for all environments
Clean config separation: .properties files reduce cross-env errors

Even without an official Teradata Docker image, you can still develop locally with Vantage Express, and deploy securely with Kubernetes. Combining Struts, JDBC, and environment-managed configs gives you a clean, maintainable approach to connecting with Teradata—whether you're learning, prototyping, or going full production. Good luck building your scalable, enterprise-ready Struts app!

1. Add Dependencies in pom.xml