BizTalk and Connectors

Connectors fulfil specialized integration requirements by exposing select functions from proprietary platforms to external clients. BizTalk solutions can benefit from the use of connectors in order to expand native workflow logic to incorporate logic and data sources that exist in disparate environments. BizTalk Utilities provides sophisticated connector technology that accomplishes instant connectivity – a cost-effective alternative to the significant effort typically required to custom develop these types of integration channels.

Connectors versus Adapters

Many associate connectors with adapters, as both perform similar functions within a typical integration architecture. Since all BizTalk Utilities products are designed purely for the BizTalk Server environment, naming conventions provided by Microsoft drive the terms used to identify BizTalk Utilities components. For example, Microsoft provides a SAP .NET Connector, which is capable of establishing two-way communication with SAP solutions. BizTalk Utilities leverages this Microsoft connector by encapsulating its functionality and integrating it directly within BizTalk. This product is therefore called the BizTalk Utilities SAP Connector.

How it Works

As shown in the diagram below, a BizTalk Utilities connector closes the gap between BizTalk and another solution platform.

BizTalk Utilities connector solutions typically consist of the following components:

1.      An Application Integration Component (AIC) designed to interface with a vendor connector proxy or API. This component will likely be built using Microsoft .NET technology, and will be responsible for transforming messages received by BizTalk Server into the format expected by the outside application. Below are some screen shots from the configuration screens used to set up the BizTalk Utilities SAP Connector.

2.      Depending on the nature of the two-way communications channel provided by the connector, a Receive Function may also be supplied. Typically, this component will be capable of remotely polling external applications for data or documents at pre-set intervals ranging from seconds to days. Provided here are some sample dialog screens from the IDoc Receiver receive function, which is part of the BizTalk Utilities SAP Connector.

3.      A Connector Proxy client provided by the vendor or development tool manufacturer. This is the piece of software the BizTalk Utilities connector interacts with to enable remote communication between BizTalk and the vendor solution. This component is generally not part of BizTalk Utilities. Below are some sample screen shots from the proxy generator for the SAP .NET Connector from Microsoft.

4.      Configuration Wizards for various parts of the connector solution. These deployment tools greatly simplify the installation and configuration of a BizTalk Utilities connector by stepping you through the implementation process. Below are some sample screens the Wizard used to set up the IDoc Router component of the BizTalk Utilities SAP Connector.

It is also worth noting that most connectors are further supplemented with Import and Output Configuration Wizards that allow for configuration settings to be stored and retrieved from XML documents.

Summary

BizTalk Utilities provides progressive support for contemporary connector technology. This can give you a strategic edge when designing integration solutions around the use of BizTalk Server.

• To learn more about the BizTalk Utilities SAP Connector, see BizTalk Utilities and SAP.
• To learn more about how BizTalk Utilities utilizes the Microsoft SAP .NET Connector, read BizTalk Utilities and the SAP .NET Connector.

Connectors play a key role in almost any integrated environment that includes vendor-specific platforms. BizTalk Utilities integration products, such as the SAP Connector, solve communication incompatibilities through a simple installation and configuration process. There is really no better way of building interoperability layers onto your BizTalk architecture. BizTalk Utilities provides proven, robust, and easy-to-use technology components that literally enable point-and-click integration.

To learn more about these and other features, download an evaluation copy of BizTalk Utilities