Creating multiple instances of the connector

Creating multiple instances of a connector is in many ways the same as creating a custom connector. You can set your system up to create and run multiple instances of a connector by following the steps below. You must:

Create a new directory

You must create a connector directory for each connector instance. This connector directory should be named:

ProductDir\connectors\connectorInstance

where connectorInstance uniquely identifies the connector instance.

If the connector has any connector-specific meta-objects, you must create a meta-object for the connector instance. If you save the meta-object as a file, create this directory and store the file here:

ProductDir\repository\connectorInstance

Create business object definitions

If the business object definitions for each connector instance do not already exist within the project, you must create them.

  1. If you need to modify business object definitions that are associated with the initial connector, copy the appropriate files and use Business Object Designer to import them. You can copy any of the files for the initial connector. Just rename them if you make changes to them.
  2. Files for the initial connector should reside in the following directory:
    ProductDir\repository\initialConnectorInstance
    Any additional files you create should be in the appropriate connectorInstance subdirectory of ProductDir\repository.

Create a connector definition

You create a configuration file (connector definition) for the connector instance in Connector Configurator. To do so:

  1. Copy the initial connector's configuration file (connector definition) and rename it.
  2. Make sure each connector instance correctly lists its supported business objects (and any associated meta-objects).
  3. Customize any connector properties as appropriate.

Create a start-up script

To create a startup script:

  1. Copy the initial connector's startup script and name it to include the name of the connector directory:

    dirname

  2. Put this startup script in the connector directory you created in Create a new directory.
  3. Create a startup script shortcut (Windows only).
  4. Copy the initial connector's shortcut text and change the name of the initial connector (in the command line) to match the name of the new connector instance.

You can now run both instances of the connector on your integration server at the same time.

For more information on creating custom connectors, refer to the Connector Development Guide for C++ or for Java.

Copyright IBM Corporation 2003, 2005. All Rights Reserved.