Glossary

Application Programming Interface (API). Software that an application utilizes to carry out and request lower-level services by the operating system. In addition, a set of standard software data formats that application programs use to initiate contacts with other programs, computers, and systems.

Application Server. A generic term for a middle-tier component server that is compatible with the J2EE platform. It is a comprehensive solution that enables enterprises to easily develop, deploy, and manage business critical enterprise applications.

Connector . A standard extension mechanism for containers to provide connectivity to EISs. A connector is specific to an EIS and consists of a resource adapter and application development tools for EIS connectivity. The resource adapter is plugged in to a container through its support for system level contracts defined in the connector architecture.

Connector Architecture . An architecture for the integration of J2EE applications with EISs. There are two parts to this architecture: a EIS vendor-provided resource adapter and a J2EE server that allows this resource adapter to plug in. This architecture defines a set of contracts that a resource adapter has to support to plug in to a J2EE server, for example, transactions, security and resource management.

Deployment. The process whereby software is installed into an operational environment. Deploying an application includes installing all of the application's files, and registering all of its components on the destination server. An application must be deployed before it can be used.

Deployment descriptor . An XML file provided with each module and application that describes how they should be deployed. The deployment descriptor directs a deployment tool to deploy a module or application with specific container options and describes specific configuration requirements that a deployer must resolve.

Enterprise Information System (EIS). This can be interpreted as a packaged enterprise application, transaction systems or user applications. Often referred to as an EIS. Examples of EISs include: R/3, PeopleSoft, Tuxedo, and CICS.

Enterprise Java Beans (EJB). A server-side component architecture for writing reusable business logic and portable enterprise applications. They are written entirely in Java and run on any EJB compliant server. They are operating system, platform, and middleware independent, thereby preventing vendor lock-in.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) . A multi-module software system that supports enterprise resource planning. An ERP system typically includes a relational database and applications for managing purchasing, inventory, personnel, customer service, shipping, financial planning, and other important aspects of the business.

eXtensible Markup Language (XML). A markup language that allows you to define the tags or markup, needed to identify data and text in XML documents. It is the universal format used for structured documents and data.

iAS (iPlanet Application Server). The iAS provides the most robust e-commerce platform for delivering innovative and leading-edge application services to a broad range of servers, clients, and devices.

iWS (iPlanet Web Server). A web server from iPlanet that is ideally suited to the Java development community for use as the development and deployment platform for web applications.

Java. An object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. that can be characterized by the words - Simple, Object-oriented, Distributed, Interpreted, Robust, Secure, Portable, Architecture Neutral, High performance, Multi threaded and Dynamic.

JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface). is a standard extension to the Java platform, providing Java technology-enabled applications with a unified interface to multiple naming and directory services in the enterprise. As part of the Java Enterprise API set, JNDI enables seamless connectivity to heterogeneous enterprise naming and directory services.

Java Runtime Environment (JRE) . A subset of the Java Development Kit (JDK) consisting of the Java virtual machine, the Java core classes, and supporting files that provides runtime support for applications written in the Java programming language.

Library. A collection of subroutines and functions stored in one or more files, usually in compiled form, for linking with other programs.

Pooling. Algorithm used to enable efficient use of the scarce resources.

SOAP . The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) uses a combination of XML-based data structuring and the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to define a standardized method for invoking methods in objects distributed in diverse operating environments across the Internet.

Script. A program or sequence of instructions that is interpreted or carried out by another program rather than by the computer processor. Scripts do not need to be compiled into binary code to be executed.

Server . A computer or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on the same or other computers. The term can also refer to a particular piece of software, for example, iPlanet web server or iPlanet application server, or to the machine that the software is running on.

Servlet. A Java program that extends the functionality of a Web server, generating dynamic content and interacting with Web clients using a request-response paradigm.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) . An address for a resource or site (usually a directory or file) on the World Wide Web, and the convention that web browsers use for locating files and other remote services.

URN (Uniform Resource Name) . A unique identifier that identifies an entity, but doesn't tell where it is located. A system can use a URN to look up an entity locally before trying to find it on the Web. It also allows the Web location to change, while still allowing the entity to be found.

Wrapper . An object that encapsulates and delegates to another object to alter its interface or behavior in some way.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) . See eXtensible Markup Language (XML).