About EIS Connectivity

Enterprise information system (EIS) refers to any system that holds the data of an organization. It can be a mainframe, a messaging system, a database system, or an application. Connection resources are used by applications and modules to access EIS software.)

The key elements of EIS connectivity are the following:

• Connector Module. A connector module, also called a resource adapter, is a Java EE component that enables applications to interact with EIS software. A connector module is used by Enterprise Server to implement Java Message Service (JMS). Like other Java EE modules, a connector module is installed when it is deployed. For instructions on creating a connector module, see Chapter 12, Developing Connectors, in Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Application Development Guide

• Connector Connection Pool. A connector connection pool is a group of reusable connections for a particular EIS. A connector connection pool is created when you specify the connector module that is associated with the pool. For administration procedures, see Administering Connector Connection Pools.

• Connector Resource. A connector resource is a program object that provides an application with a connection to an EIS. A connector resource is created when you specify its JNDI name and its associated connection pool. The JNDI name of a connector resource for an EIS is usually in the java:comp/env/eis-specific subcontext. For administration procedures, see Administering Connector Resources.

• Connector Module Configuration. A connector module configuration is the information that resides in the domain configuration file (domain.xml) for the particular connector module (resource adapter). For administration procedures, see Administering the Resource Adapter Configuration.

• Connector Security Map. A connector security map associates the caller identity of the application (principal or user group) to a suitable EIS principal or group. For administration procedures, see Administering Connector Security Maps.

• Connector Work Security Map. A connector work security map associates the caller identity of the work submitted by the connector module (resource adapter) EIS principal or EIS user group to a suitable principal or user group in the Enterprise Server security domain. For administration procedures, see Administering Connector Work Security Maps.

• Administered Object. An administered object provides specialized functionality for an application, such as providing access to a parser that is specific to the connector module and its associated EIS. For administration procedures, see Administering Administered Objects.

At runtime, the following sequence occurs when an application connects to an EIS:

1. The application gets the connector resource (data source) associated with the EIS by making a call through the JNDI API.

   Using the JNDI name of the connector resource, the naming and directory service locates the resource. Each EIS resource specifies a connector connection pool.

2. Using the connector resource, the application gets an EIS connection.

   Enterprise Server retrieves a physical connection from the connection pool that corresponds to the EIS resource. The pool defines connection attributes such as the EIS name, user name, and password.

3. After the EIS connection is established, the application can read, modify, and add data to the EIS.

   The application accesses the EIS information by making calls to the JMS API.

4. When the application is finished accessing the EIS, the application closes the connection and returns the connection to the connection pool.