For enterprises seeking to streamline their own processes -- or integrate with partners and suppliers -- the #1 challenge isenterprise application integration (EIA). Sun's new Connector Architecture gives Java developers powerful new tools for simplifying EIA. In this definitive book, the creators of the Connector Architecture explain it in detail -- and demonstrate how to make the most of it. The authors introduce the fundamentals of application integration and the J2EE Connector architecture, including the system contracts it defines for connections, transactions, and security. Next, they present in-depth coverage of J2EE resource adapters from the application developer's perspective. Coverage includes: new connection pooling mechanisms; effective use of the J2EE platform's transactional support; techniques for leveraging J2EE security in application integration projects; and much more. The book shows how to use XML data within the J2EE and Connector framework; and concludes by walking through the construction of a working resource adapter, with extensive code examples. Appendices provide a detailed API reference and glossary.