IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Services and service-related functions > Access external services with adapters > Configure and using adapters > IBM WebSphere Adapters > Flat Files

Plan for adapter implementation

To implement WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files, you must plan for inbound and outbound processing and consider security and performance requirements. Also, if you are migrating from an earlier version of WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files, perform any migration tasks.

1. Before you begin
   Before you begin to set up and use the adapter, you must possess a thorough understanding of business integration concepts, the capabilities, and requirements of the integration development tools and runtime environment you are going to use, and the environment where you are going to build and use the solution.
2. Security
   WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files relies on the permissions of the user that starts the IBM BPM.
3. Support for protecting sensitive user data in log and trace files
   

   You can configure the adapter to prevent sensitive or confidential data, in the log and trace files, from being viewed by users without authorization.

4. Deployment options
   There are two ways to deploy the adapter. You can either embed it as part of the deployed application, or you can deploy it as a stand-alone RAR file. The requirements of your environment affect the type of deployment option you choose.
5. WebSphere Adapters in clustered environments
   

   You can improve adapter performance and availability by deploying a module on a clustered server environment. Clusters are groups of servers that are managed together to balance workloads and to provide high availability and scalability.

6. Migrating to version 7.5.0.3 of WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files
   By migrating to version 7.5.0.3 of WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files, you automatically upgrade from the previous version of the adapter. Additionally, you can migrate your applications that embed an earlier version of the adapter, so that the applications can use features and capabilities present in version 7.5.0.3.
7. Migrating WebSphere Business Integration applications
   

   You need to migrate the WebSphere Business Integration applications so that they become compatible with Version 7.5.0.3 of your adapter.

WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files documentation

Next topic: Configure the module for deployment