Resource adapter settings

Use this page to specify settings for a resource adapter.

A resource adapter is an implementation of the Java™ Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) Connector Architecture (JCA) specification that provides access for applications to resources outside of the server, provides access for applications to an enterprise information system (EIS), or provides access for an EIS to applications on the server. Resource adapters provide applications access to resources such as DB2®, CICS®, SAP and PeopleSoft. Resource adapters can provide an EIS with the ability to communicate with message driven beans that are configured on the server. Some resource adapters are provided by IBM®; however, third party vendors can provide their own resource adapters. A resource adapter implementation is provided in a resource adapter archive file (RAR); this file has an extension of .rar. A resource adapter can be provided as a stand alone adapter or as part of an application, in which case the resource adapter is referred to as an embedded adapter.

The JCA Version 1.6 specification adds support for Java annotations in RAR modules. For more information on annotation support see the topic, JCA 1.6 support for annotations in RAR modules.

To view this administrative console page, click one of the following paths:
  • Resources > Resource Adapters > Resource adapters > New.
  • Resources > Resource Adapters > Resource adapters > resource_adapter.
  • Applications > WebSphere enterprise applications > enterprise_application > Manage Modules > connector_module > Resource Adapter.
  • Install a new resource adapter archive:
    1. Click Resources > Resource Adapters > Resource adapters > Install RAR.
    2. Specify a full path for the local file system or remote file system, and click Next.

Scope

Specifies the highest topological level at which application servers can use this adapter.

The Scope field is a read-only string field that specifies where the particular definition for a resource adapter is located. The Scope field is set when the resource adapter is installed, which can only be at the node level, or when a new resource adapter definition is added.

Name

Specifies the name of the resource adapter definition.

This property is a required string that is a meaningful text identifier for the resource adapter. See the Object names: What the name string cannot contain topic for limitations on the contents of this string.

Description

Specifies a text description of the resource adapter.

This description is a free-form text string to describe the resource adapter and its purpose.

Archive path

Specifies the path to the installed resource archive file that contains the module for this resource adapter.

You can only select RAR files that are installed on the nodes within the selected scope, preventing you from configuring a selection that might fail for some of your nodes.
Note: For resources at the cell scope, the RAR files that are available are those that are installed on each individual node in the entire cell. For resources at a cluster scope, the RAR files that are available are those that are installed on each individual node in that particular cluster.

This property is required.

Information Value
Data type String

Class path

Specifies a list of paths or Java archive file (JAR) names that together form the location for the resource adapter classes.

Class path entries are separated by using the ENTER key and must not contain path separator characters like ';' or ':'. Class paths can contain variable (symbolic) names that can be substituted using a variable map. Check your driver installation notes for specific JAR file names that are required.

Native library path

Specifies an optional path to any native libraries, which are .dll or .so files.

Native path entries are separated by using the ENTER key and must not contain path separator characters like ';' or ':'. Native paths can contain variable (symbolic) names that can be substituted using a variable map.

Isolate this resource provider

Specifies that this resource provider will be loaded in its own class loader. This allows different versions of the same resource provider to be loaded in the same Java Virtual Machine. Give each version of the resource provider a unique class path that is appropriate for that version.

Ensure that all copies of a resourcfe adapter have the same value for this option. For example, if you create a resource adapter at the cluster scope, the value of this option will be taken from the resource adapter archive (RAR) that you copy. When you create the copy, you cannot modify the value for any instances of that RAR, which would be the copies at the node or cluster scope in this example. If you need to modify the value, you have to delete the copies of the RAR until there is only one instance of that particular RAR that remains.

Note: You cannot isolate a resource provider if you specify a native library path.
[AIX Solaris HP-UX Linux Windows][IBM i]

Thread pool alias

Specifies the name of a thread pool that is part of the server configuration for this resource adapter. Set this property only if the resource adapter uses the work manager service.

If you enter a thread pool name that does not exist in the server configuration, the application server uses the name DEFAULT.