Assembling resource adapter (connector) modules

A resource adapter archive (RAR) file contains code that implements a library for connecting with a backend Enterprise Information System (EIS).

This article 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.

In the Application Server Toolkit (AST) and Rational Web Developer assembly tools, RAR files are called connectors and assembled resource adapters are called connector modules.

A connector is a J2EE component that provides access to Enterprise Information Systems (EIS), and must comply with the J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA). An Enterprise Information System (EIS) is a set of related classes that lets an application access a resource such as data, or an application on a remote server, often called a resource adapter.

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.

Start an assembly tool.
If you have not done so already, configure the assembly tool for work on J2EE modules. Ensure that the J2EE capability is 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 or connector modules to the assembly tool.
Create a new connector module.

ResultA 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.

For more information, see the online help for the assembly tool. Similar information is in the Application Server Toolkit information center available with this information center. Click Application Server Toolkit > J2EE applications > Working with projects > Connector projects .

After assembling the connector project, deploy the module or its application onto a server. When deploying the RAR file, WebSphere Application Server looks first for the connector module manifest (manifest.mf) in the _connectorModule.jar file and loads the manifest from the _connectorModule.jar file. If the class path entry is in the manifest from the _connectorModule.jar file, then the RAR uses that class path. 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.

Related concepts
Resource adapter archive file
Resource adapter