Assembling EJB modules

An enterprise bean is a Java component that can be combined with other resources to create Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) applications.

This article assumes that you have created and unit tested an enterprise bean (EJB file) that you want to assemble in an enterprise application and deploy onto an application server.

Assemble an EJB module to contain enterprise beans and related code artifacts. Group Web components, client code, and resource adapter code in separate modules. After assembling an EJB module, you can install it as a standalone application or combine it with other modules into an enterprise application.

To increase performance, break container-managed persistence (CMP) enterprise beans into several enterprise bean modules during assembly. The load time for hundreds of beans is improved by distributing the beans across several JAR files and packaging them to an EAR file. Load time is faster when the administrative server attempts to start the beans, for example, 8-10 minutes versus more than one hour when one JAR file is used.

Use an assembly tool such as the Application Server Toolkit (AST) or Rational Web Developer to assemble an EJB module in any of the following ways:

• Import an existing EJB module (EJB JAR file).

• Create a new EJB module.

• Copy code artifacts (such as entity beans) from one EJB module into a new EJB module.

1. Start an assembly tool.

2. If you have not done so already, configure the assembly tool for work on J2EE modules. Ensure that the J2EE and EJB capabilities are enabled.

3. Migrate enterprise bean (JAR) files created with the Assembly Toolkit, Application Assembly Tool (AAT) or a different tool to an assembly tool. To migrate files, import your enterprise bean files to the assembly tool.

4. Create a new EJB module.

5. Copy code artifacts (such as entity beans) from one EJB module into a new EJB module.

ResultAn EJB module is migrated or created, reflecting the J2EE folder structure that specifies the location of enterprise bean content files, class files, class paths, the deployment descriptor, and supporting metadata. Files for the EJB module are shown in the Project Explorer view under Enterprise Applications and EJB Projects.

What to do next

You can generate EJB deployment code and deploy the module to a target server in one step. In the Project Explorer view, right-click on the EJB project and click Deploy .

Related concepts
EJB modules

Related tasks
Creating EJB modules
Assembling applications