A resource adapter is a system-level software driver that is used by a Java application to connect to an EIS. The resource adapter plugs into an application server and provides connectivity between the EIS, the application server, and the enterprise application. The resource adapter collaborates with the application server to provide the underlying mechanisms, transactions, security, and connection pooling mechanisms. Once an EIS has a resource adapter, an application that supports the J2EETM Connector Architecture can connect to the EIS.