A connector mediates between an application (or other programmatic entity, such as a Web server) and one or more collaborations. A connector can be specific to an application--such as SAP R/3, version 4--or to a technology, such as a data format or protocol (XML or EDI). A connector's communications with collaborations can take two forms:
Connectors can be configured for applications that reside on the local network, and for remote applications that reside across an Internet firewall.
Most connectors share certain common behaviors, differing only in the manner in which they interact with applications and with application-specific business objects. This chapter is an introduction to both the common behavior of connectors and to the areas in which they differ. It contains the following sections:
Connectors for many applications and technologies are available as part of the WebSphere Business Integration Adapters product. A WebSphere Business Integration Adapter includes both a connector and its message files and configuration tool, and it may also include mechanisms for creating and handling business objects specific to that connector. If you need to create a custom connector or to modify an existing connector, however, you will need detailed knowledge of connector behavior. For more information on how to create a custom connector, see the Connector Development Guide for Java or the Connector Development Guide for C++.