A resource adapter archive (RAR) file contains code that implements a library for connecting with a backend Enterprise Information System (EIS).
A Resource Adapter Archive (RAR) file is a Java archive (JAR) file used to package a resource adapter for the Java 2 Connector (J2C) Architecture for WebSphere Application Server.
The standard file extension of a RAR file is .rar.
A connector is a J2EE component that provides access to Enterprise Information Systems (EIS), and must comply with the J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA). An example of an EIS is a transaction manager such as the Customer Information Control System (CICS).
You might see the terms resource adapter modules, resource adapter connectors and resource adapter archive files used interchangeably.
Use an assembly tool to assemble a connector in either of the following ways:
For information on assembling connectors, refer to the online documentation or the information center for your assembly tool. This topic points you to Application Server Toolkit documentation. The Application Server Toolkit information center accompanies this WebSphere Application Server information center.
For more information, see the online help for the assembly tool. Similar information is in the Application Server Toolkit information center available with this information center. Click Application Server Toolkit > J2EE applications > Working with projects > Connector projects.
After assembling the connector project, deploy the module or its application onto a server. When deploying the RAR file, WebSphere Application Server looks first for the connector module manifest (manifest.mf) in the _connectorModule.jar file and loads the manifest from the _connectorModule.jar file. If the class path entry is in the manifest from the _connectorModule.jar file, then the RAR uses that class path. After deployment, to ensure that the connector module finds the classes and resources that it needs, check the Classpath setting for the RAR on the console Resource adapter settings page.