6.10 J2EE Connector Architecture

The J2EE Connector architecture is an API under development to define a standard for connecting the J2EE platform to heterogeneous enterprise information systems such as enterprise resource planning, mainframe transaction processing, and database systems. This API defines a set of scalable, secure, and transactional mechanisms to support the integration of enterprise information systems with J2EE servers and enterprise applications.

The Connector architecture enables an enterprise information system vendor to provide a standard connector for its enterprise information system. This connector is plugged into a J2EE server to provide the underlying infrastructure for integration with an enterprise information system. The J2EE server that is extended to support the Connector architecture is then assured of connectivity to multiple enterprise information systems. Likewise, an enterprise information system vendor provides one standard connector that will plug into any J2EE server supporting the Connector architecture.

The J2EE server and enterprise information system collaborate through the connector to keep all system-level mechanisms--transactions, security, connection management--transparent to the application components. This enables an application component developer to focus on the business and presentation logic for the application components without getting involved in the system-level issues related to enterprise information system integration. This leads to an easier and faster cycle for the development of scalable, secure, and transactional enterprise applications that require integration with multiple enterprise information systems. The Connector architecture will be supported in the J2EE platform, version 1.3.