Adding a Resource Adapter Archive (RAR) to the EAR

The EAR profile supports Resource Adapter Archive files (RAR or .rar) in a JDeveloper project. However, JDeveloper does not support creating or editing RAR files. A RAR file is typically provided by an Enterprise Intelligence Server (EIS) vendor, similar to a JDBC driver. J2EE developers may need to package a RAR file into their EAR file if their J2EE application makes use of the EIS services supported by the RAR.

The ra.xml file is the deployment descriptor for the RAR file for the Java Connector Architecture (JCA) which was introduced in J2EE 1.3. For more information, see:

http://www.javasoft.com/j2ee/download.html#connectorspec

To add a RAR to an EAR deployment profile:

  1. In the JDeveloper, add an existing RAR file to a project.
  2. Create an EAR deployment profile in the same project as the RAR file.
    The EAR_deployment_profile_icon <EAR_appname>.deploy profile appears in the Navigator below the specified project.
  3. Select and right-click the EAR_deployment_profile_icon <EAR_appname>.deploy profile and choose Settings.
  4. Click the Application Assembly node to display all the J2EE modules (WAR and EJB JAR) currently available and saved in your project.
  5. Select the checkbox next to the RAR (.rar) file that you want to assemble and package with the EAR file.
  6. Click OK.
  7. To deploy the J2EE EAR, see Deploying a J2EE Enterprise Archive (EAR).

At deploy-time, the EAR file's application.xml contains a <connector> element which is automatically added to the RAR file.