Server User Manual

Table Of Contents
Chapter 12: Integrating with Enterprise Information Systems 105
Chapter
12
Chapter 12Integrating with Enterprise
Information Systems
The J2EE Connector architecture addresses the problem of integrating Java enterprise
applications with existing Enterprise Information Systems (EIS). An EIS can be a
system such as ERP, CRM, and supply chain management applications and database
systems. Previously, if an enterprise application had to access information in an EIS,
some one had to build a custom connection between the application server and the
EIS.
Now the J2EE Connector architecture defines a uniform way to integrate J2EE
application servers with existing information systems. Each EIS vendor creates a
resource adapter using this architecture. A resource adapter is much like a JDBC
driver, as both provide a standard API through which an application can access a
resource that is outside the J2EE server. This resource adapter plugs into a J2EE
compliant application server. As long as the resource adapter follows the Connector
specification, it provides a scalable, secure, and transactional connection to an
application server.
To use a resource adapter for an application server, you can use JBuilders Connector
Module wizard, which creates the deployment descriptors for the resource adapter.
Then you use the Connector Module DD Editor to provide the information the resource
adapter needs to make the connection to the EIS.
Creating a connector module node in the project pane
To create a connector module, you use JBuilders Connector Module wizard. Besides
creating a new empty connector module, the Connector Module wizard also gives you
the option to copy an existing connector module to your project instead of creating a
new one. You can also use the wizard to create a module node in the project pane that
represents an existing module directory outside your project. Or you can use it to
create a module node that represents an archive (.rar) outside your project; you can
view the archive using the Connector Module DD Editor, but you wont be able to edit it.