A resource adapter archive (RAR) file contains code that
implements a library for connecting with a backend Enterprise Information
System (EIS).
Before you begin
This topic assumes that you have created and unit tested a
resource adapter RAR file that you want to assemble in an enterprise
application and deploy onto an application server.
A Resource Adapter
Archive (RAR) file is a Java™ archive
(JAR) file used to package a resource adapter for the Java 2 Connector (J2C) Architecture for the
product.
A RAR file can contain the following:
- Enterprise information system (EIS) supplied resource adapter
implementation code in the form of JAR files or other runnable components,
such as dynamic link lists.
- Utility classes.
- Static documents, such as HTML files, images, and sound files.
The standard file extension of a RAR file is .rar.
About this task
In an assembly tool, RAR files are called
connectors and
assembled resource adapters are called
connector modules.
A connector is
a Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
component that provides access to Enterprise Information Systems (EIS),
and must comply with the Java EE Connector Architecture (JCA). An
example of an EIS is a transaction manager such as the Customer Information
Control System (CICS®).
You might see the terms resource
adapter modules, resource adapter connectors and resource
adapter archive files used interchangeably.
Use an assembly
tool to assemble a connector in either of the following ways:
- Import an existing RAR file.
- Create a new connector module.
For information on assembling connectors, refer to the online
documentation or the information center for your assembly tool.
Procedure
- Start an assembly tool.
- If you have not done so already, configure the assembly
tool for work on J2EE modules. Ensure that Java EE and EJB capabilities
are enabled.
- Migrate RAR files created with the Assembly Toolkit, Application
Assembly Tool (AAT) or a different tool to an assembly tool. To
migrate files, import your RAR files to the assembly tool.
- Create a new connector module.
Results
A connector project is migrated or created. Files for the
connector project are shown in the Project Explorer view under Enterprise
Applications and Connector Projects.
What to do next
After creating a connector project, you can edit the connector
deployment descriptor if default properties are not sufficient. In
the Connector Deployment Descriptor editor, you can view and edit
source code.
After assembling the connector project, deploy the
module or its application onto a server. After deployment, to ensure
that the connector module finds the classes and resources that it
needs, check the Classpath setting for the RAR on the console
Resource adapter settings page.