Adapter Engine (SAP Library - SAP Exchange Infrastructure (BC-XI))

Adapter Engine

Purpose

The Adapter Engine is used to connect the Integration Engine to external systems (for example, legacy systems). Using the various adapters in the Adapter Engine, XML and HTTP-based messages can be converted to the specific protocol and format required by such systems, and the other way around.

The individual adapters can be installed either separately or together, and then configured using the configuration screen of the Adapter Engine.

Introductory Notes

The Adapter Engine is a separate software component that is automatically installed on the Integration Server. However, you can also install it separately on another host if you wish.

Features

Depending on the configuration, the adapters can be used to do the following:

Exchange data with external systems using a file interface (file adapter)
Communicate with messaging systems using the JMS API (JMS adapter)
Access databases using JDBC (JDBC adapter)
Communicate with clients and providers of Web Services using SOAP (SOAP adapter)

An important distinction to be made here is whether an adapter is an inbound adapter (converts data from external systems) or an outbound adapter (converts data from the Integration Engine).

To begin functioning, each inbound or outbound adapter must be appropriately installed and configured, and finally started.

You can use different adapters simultaneously or different configurations of the same adapter. For this purpose, it may be necessary for you to change the installation parameters to enhance the installation.

Note

You can also use the Adapter Engine configuration screen to configure the Java part of the RFC adapter. For more information, see the SAP Exchange Infrastructure 2.0 Configuration Guide.