Technical data

20 Managing the WebLogic J2EE Connector Architecture
20-2 Administration Guide
Overview of WebLogic J2EE Connector
Architecture
BEA WebLogic Server continues to build upon the implementation of the Sun
Microsystems J2EE Platform Specification, Version 1.3. The J2EE Connector
Architecture adds simplified Enterprise Information System (EIS) integration to the
J2EE platform. The goal is to leverage the strengths of the J2EE platform—including
component models, and transaction and security infrastructures—to address the
challenges of EIS integration.
The J2EE Connector Architecture provides a Java solution to the problem of
connectivity between the multitude of application servers and EISes. By using the
J2EE Connector Architecture, it is no longer necessary for EIS vendors to customize
their product for each application server. An application server vendor (such as BEA
WebLogic Server) that conforms to the J2EE Connector Architecture also does not
need to add custom code whenever it wants to extend its application server to support
connectivity to a new EIS.
The J2EE Connector Architecture enables an EIS vendor to provide a standard
resource adapter (also referred to as a connector) for its EIS; the resource adapter plugs
into an application server such as WebLogic Server and provides the underlying
infrastructure for the integration between an EIS and the application server.
An application server vendor (BEA WebLogic Server) extends its system only once to
support the J2EE Connector Architecture and is then assured of connectivity to
multiple EISes. Likewise, an EIS vendor provides one standard resource adapter and
it has the capability to plug in to any application server that supports the J2EE
Connector Architecture.