The Java EE 6 Tutorial, Volume I

Life cycle Management

The Connector Architecture specifies a life cycle management contract that allows an application server to manage the life cycle of a resource adapter. This contract provides a mechanism for the application server to bootstrap a resource adapter instance during the deployment or application server startup. It also provides a means for the application server to notify the resource adapter instance when it is undeployed or when an orderly shutdown of the application server takes place.