Installing a resource adapter archive

The application server uses the classes and other code that comprise a resource adapter archive (RAR) to support the resource adapters that you configure.

Before you begin

A RAR file, which is often called a Java™ EE Connector Architecture (JCA) connector, must comply with the JCA Specification. You can meet these requirements by using a supported assembly tool to assemble a collection of Java archive (JAR) files, other runnable components, and utility classes into a deployable resource adapter archive (RAR). You can then install the RAR file in the application server.

[z/OS]When you are using optimized local adapters, set up your server environment in the daemon group before installing the ola.rar file in the application server. The ola.rar file is located in the WAS_HOME/installableApps directory.

[z/OS]You can also use the wsadmin scripting file, olaRar.py, to install the RAR file.

[z/OS]To read about setting up your server environment, see the topic, Enabling the server environment to use optimized local adapters. You can read about the olaRar.py script in the topic, olaRar.py scripting file.

About this task

A resource adapter archive provides the classes and other code to support a resource adapter for access to a specific EIS, such as the Customer Information Control System (CICS®). Therefore, you can only configure resource adapters for an EIS after you install the appropriate RAR file.
Important: When you use the Install RAR dialog to install a RAR file, the scope you select on the Resource Adapters collection page has no effect on where the RAR file is installed. You can install RAR files only at the node level, which you specify on the Install RAR page. To create a resource adapter instance at a scope other than node, after you install the RAR file on each node, create a new resource adapter instance from the RAR file with the desired scope.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to the Resource adapter panel.
    Click Resources > Resource Adapters > Resource adapters.
  2. Install a new resource adapter archive.
    1. Click Install RAR.
      A dialog opens for installing a RAR file and configuring the associated resource adapter. Only click New if you want to configure a new resource adapter for a previously installed RAR file.
    2. Browse to find the appropriate RAR file.
      • If your RAR file is located on your local workstation, select Local path, and browse to find the file.
      • If your RAR file is located on your server, select Remote file system, and specify the fully qualified path to the file.
    3. Click Next.
  3. Configure the resource adapter name and any other properties needed under General Properties.
    For more details on the settings that you can configure, such as the J2C connection factories, see the topics Installing resource adapters within applications and Configuring resource adapters.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Optional: Create a new resource adapter instance from the installed RAR file with a different scope level.
    After you install the RAR file on each node, you can create another resource adapter from it with any valid scope other than node.
    Note:
    • If you do not create a resource adapter instance from the installed RAR at the cluster scope, then you must create identical factories (connection factories, admin object, and activation specifications) at the node level on each of the nodes in the cluster. By creating a cluster-scoped resource adapter instance from the RAR, you provide a placeholder for your factories and circumvent the need to create identical factories at the node level for each of your nodes in the cluster.
    • You must install the RAR on each node using the Install RAR procedure in order for the cluster-scoped resource adapter to function properly on each node.
    1. Click Resources.
    2. Click Resource Adapters.
    3. Select the scope level and then click NEW.
    4. Choose the RAR file from the installed archive path.
    5. Click OK.

Results

You have installed a resource adapter archive that provide access to the EIS when it is properly configured. If you must configure more settings, or change some settings that were configured during the installation process, refer to the topic on configuring a resource adapter in the administrative console for more information.