[TYPO3] accessing TYPO3_DB in ext_localconf.php

[Martin Kindler]

Is it possible to access the data base using $GLOBALS['TYPO3_DB'] in the
configuration of an extension, i. e. in ext_localconf.php?

I need some information from a data base (not the T3 db) for configuration.
As I do want to stick to T3 programming practices I always access my DB
using the T3 functions through TYPO3_DB, but when I try to do so in
ext_localconf.php the object is not defined.

Is there a recommended way to access a db in this phase or do I have to use
standard PHP db functionality?

Martin