Resource adapters
A resource adapter is a system-level software driver that a Java application uses to connect to an enterprise information system (EIS). A resource adapter plugs into an appserver and provides connectivity between the EIS, the appserver, and the enterprise application.
WAS supports JCA versions 1.0 and 1.5 including additional, configurable features for JCA 1.5 resource adapters with active specifications that handle inbound requests.
Data access for container-managed persistence (CMP) beans is managed by the WebSphere Persistence Manager indirectly. The JCA specification supports persistence manager delegation of the data access to the JCA resource adapter without knowing the specific backend store. For the relational database access, the persistence manager uses the relational resource adapter to access the data from the database.
You can find the supported database platforms for the JDBC API at the WAS prerequisite Web site.
J2EE Connector Architecture resource adapters
An appserver vendor extends its system once to support the J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) and is then assured of seamless connectivity to multiple EISs. Likewise, an EIS vendor provides one standard resource adapter with the capability to plug into any appserver that supports the connector architecture.
WAS supports any resource adapter that implements version 1.0 or 1.5 of this specification. IBM supplies resource adapters for many enterprise systems separately from the WAS package, including (but not limited to)...
- Customer Information Control System (CICS)
- Host On-Demand (HOD)
- Information Management System (IMS)
- Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP) R/3
The general approach to writing an application that uses a JCA resource adapter is to develop EJB session beans or services with tools such as Rational Application Developer. The session bean uses the javax.resource.cci interfaces to communicate with an enterprise information system through the resource adapter.
WebSphere Relational Resource Adapter
WAS provides the WebSphere Relational Resource Adapter implementation. This resource adapter provides data access through JDBC calls to access the database dynamically. The connection management is based on the JCA connection management architecture and provides connection pooling, transaction, and security support. The WebSphere RRA is installed and runs as part of WAS, and needs no further administration.
The RRA supports both the configuration and use of JDBC data sources and J2EE Connection Architecture (JCA) connection factories. The RRA supports the configuration and use of data sources implemented as either JDBC data sources or J2EE Connector Architecture connection factories. Data sources can be used directly by applications, or they can be configured for use by container-managed persistence (CMP) entity beans. For more information about the WebSphere Relational Resource Adapter, see the following topics:
- For information about resource adapters and data access, see Data access portability features
- For RRA settings, see WebSphere relational resource adapter settings
- For information about enterprise beans, see EJB applications
Sub-topics
WebSphere relational resource adapter settings
Data access portability features
Related concepts
Connection pooling
Related tasks
Configure connection factories for resource adapters within applications
Configure J2EE Connector connection factories in the administrative console
Installing resource adapters within applications
Installing a Resource Adapter Archive (RAR) file
Configure data access with scripting
Accessing data using J2EE Connector Architecture connectors
Related Reference
Configure administered objects
Related information
WebSphere Application Server prerequisite Web site