J2EE and Connector architecture

[Mahesh Kulkarni]

Dear friends,
I've got Question on J2EE and Connector architecture.
As the Connector architecture is similar to JDBC why we have to use the Connector architecture.As the connector architecture requires resource adapter specific to ERP vendor,can we develop resource adapter for different vendors(low profile ERP solution providers).What is the so much hype about Conector architecture.
If anybody has answers please reply
Thx in advance,
Mahesh

[Kyle Brown]

JDBC is SPECIFIC to Relational databases. It expects you to do things like executing SQL Statements. Enterprise Systems like SAP and CICS aren't relational databases. They have a function-invocation style of interface, not a SQL interface. That's why you need a separate API.
Kyle

[Mahesh Kulkarni]

Thx Kyle for your reply.
But still I'm not clear about the resource adapter part of it. Can we develop a resource adapter for our own ERP(local) or can we get one downloadable from somewhere (not specific to any vendor).
Thx in advance,
Mahesh

[Jolly Prasad]

Hi
You get Resource adapter that are specific to the enterprise systems because they are developed mostly by these vendors only

[Kyle Brown]

Yes that's the point. You'll never be able to buy a "generic" resource adapter for multiple ERP systems because they are NOTHING alike. The API for CICS is totally and radically different in every way from the API for SAP. That's why only the vendors can provide the resource adapters -- it's quite a feat of engineering to even get everyone to agree on even the basic function call approach that JCA requires...
Kyle

[Jim Baiter]

But I have noticed a rigidity in previous adapter architectures that makes it difficult or impossible to reuse code. For example, I know of shops that developed a Tibco adapter for an Oracle database and the Tibco adapter/interface interacts with a couple tables. But when they wanted to interact with a couple different tables in the same database they had to write a totally new adapter. Their adapter architecture now consist of 50 different processes that must be managed. I hope we can get some genericity at least on a platform level from resource adapters.
I realize it is ridiculous to think of a single adapter functioning with SAP and some RDBMS both. But at least it would be nice to get some generalization within those platforms.

[Mahesh Kulkarni]

Hi all,
Thank you very much for your replies.We are developing a Forward supply chain mangement system for a local vendor who has supplied the ERP. The database is SQL server. We are building it on JRUN. Can anybody please guide me how to go ahead with this type of project ie using connector architecture. Is resource adapter specific to a database or ERP vendor?
Thx in advance,
Mahesh

[Mahesh Kulkarni]

Hi friends,
I'm still waiting fo rsome replies regarding my question.If anybody has any information regarding the same please write.
Thx in advance,
Mahesh

[Kyle Brown]

The resource adapter would be specific to the ERP. It would probably not care about the database at all since it would use the API's provided by the ERP vendor.
Kyle