Connector Resources; An Overview Of Connectors - Sun Microsystems GlassFish Enterprise Server 2.1 Administration Manual

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C H A P T E R

Connector Resources

This chapter explains how to configure connectors, which are used to access enterprise
information systems (EISs). This chapter contains the following sections:
"An Overview of Connectors" on page 81
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"Managing Connector Connection Pools" on page 82
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"Managing Connector Resources" on page 88
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"Managing Administered Object Resources" on page 90
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An Overview of Connectors

Also called a resource adapter, a connector module is a Java EE component that enables
applications to interact with enterprise information systems (EISs). EIS software includes
various types of systems: enterprise resource planning (ERP), mainframe transaction
processing, and non-relational databases, among others. Like other Java EE modules, to install a
connector module you deploy it.
A connector connection pool is a group of reusable connections for a particular EIS. To create a
connector connection pool, specify the connector module (resource adapter) that is associated
with the pool.
A connector resource is a program object that provides an application with a connection to an
EIS. To create a connector resource, specify its JNDI name and its associated connection pool.
Multiple connector resources can specify a single connection pool. The application locates the
resource by looking up its JNDI name. (For more information on JNDI, see the section JNDI
Names and Resources.) The JNDI name of a connector resource for an EIS is usually in the
java:comp/env/eis-specific subcontext.
The Enterprise Server implements JMS by using a connector module (resource adapter). See the
section, The Relationship Between JMS Resources and Connector Resources.
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