[Radiant] Can extensions use a different database?

[Colin Nederkoorn]

We're almost done with our radiant site, but have a few remaining  
things. I asked a question previously about embedding another RoR app  
in Radiant. The solution I have right now is to use an iFrame. What's  
not good about this is you define the size for the iFrame and the  
screen real-estate used is not dynamically updated - not to mention  
maintaining another ruby on rails app!

My requirements for this app are pretty basic and I should be able to  
port it to an extension:
- take one text box of input (autofilled based on an external database*)
- Query the external database* based on the chosen input
- Pass part of the result to a c++ console app
- Parse the output from the c++ app and display in a table.

Where I am uncertain is - Can you query a different database from an  
extension? If so, how?

Thanks!
Colin

P.S. Since a pic is worth 1000 words... here is a mockup of what I am  
trying to do. The side and the top menus are rendered in radiant. The  
input field and result are what my extension needs to handle. My  
extension needs two pages - an index and a view. The mockup is of the  
view.
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