Integrating with ERP Systems

This chapter provides overviews of integrations with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and iWay SOAPswitch and discusses how to:

• Start and stop iWay SOAPswitch.

• Log in to iWay SOAPswitch.

• Generate WSDL documents using the ERP connectors.

Understanding Integrations with ERP Systems

PeopleSoft enables you to create inbound and outbound integrations with ERP systems. You accomplish these integrations using a combination of PeopleSoft Integration Broker and the third-party tool, iWay SOAPswitch.

iWay SOAPswitch provides ERP adapters, or connectors, that enable you to generate WSDL from SAP, Oracle, and Siebel systems. You then use PeopleSoft Integration Broker to import the WSDL into PeopleSoft, create integration metadata, extend the appropriate application classes, and perform the integrations.

Understanding iWay SOAPswitch

iWay SOAPswitch is a wizard-driven product that enables you to expose software functionality using web services, enabling you to make web services available to major development environments, such as SAP, Oracle, and Siebel. SOAPswitch generates WSDL for web services, allowing for simplified client development. SOAPswitch accepts SOAP requests for web services, translates them into calls to the back-end system, and formulates SOAP replies based on Web back-end system responses.

This section discusses:

• Installing iWay SOAPswitch.

• Components.

• Delivered adapters.

• Operation types.

• Web services and notifications.

• Database installation.

• Jetty Servlet server.

• iWay SOAPswitch and adapter documentation.

Installing iWay SOAPswitch

iWay SOAPswitch version 5.5.3.5 is an installation option that you can use during the PeopleSoft Pure Internet Architecture installation process.

Note. Check the Enterprise PeopleTools 8.49 Installation Guide for your database platform to verify that iWay SOAPswitch is supported for your environment.

During the installation process, you are prompted to install and specify a location for ERP connectors. Choosing to install the ERP connectors is the same as installing iWay SOAPswitch.

Components

iWay SOAPswitch comprises of three main components:

Delivered Adapters

The following adapters are provided with the iWay SOAPswitch product that is delivered with PeopleTools 8.49:

Note. iWay SOAPswitch uses the term adapter to refer to connector. The terms SOAPswitch adapters and ERP connectors are used interchangeably in this chapter.

Operation Types

The following table maps PeopleSoft service operation types and routings to their equivalent iWay SOAPswitch operation types.

The iWay SOAPswitch documentation provides more information about operation types.

See iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 2: iWay SOAPswitch Overview,” Operational Types in WSDLs.

Web Services and Notifications

A web service that is defined on iWay SOAPswitch specifies inbound asynchronous or synchronous transactions to SOAPswitch.

Notifications specify outbound asynchronous or synchronous transactions from iWay SOAPswitch.

iWay SOAPswitch and Adapter Documentation

This PeopleBook provides summary information about tasks that you perform in iWay SOAPswitch and with the iWay SOAPswitch adapters, and provides cross-references to iWay SOAPswitch documentation whenever possible.

To take full advantage of iWay SOAPswitch, you should thoroughly review the iWay SOAPswitch documentation.

Locating Documentation

You can access iWay SOAPswitch documentation from the SOAPswitch Administration Console.

1. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

   The iWay SOAPswitch Administration Console appears.

2. From the left navigation area, select Documentation.

Documentation is also available in PDF format in <ERPConnector_Install_Dir>\webapps\ssw\docs.

Documentation List

The following iWay SOAPswitch documentation is provided in HTML and PDF formats:

• iWay SOAPswitch Getting Started Guide

• iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide

• iWay SOAPswitch Managing Existing Web Services Guide

The following iWay SOAPswitch adapter documentation is available.

• iWay SOAPswitch J2EE™ Adapter Guide

• iWay SOAPswitch Oracle™ Applications Adapter Guide

• iWay SOAPswitch SAP™ R/3™ Adapter Guide

• iWay SOAPswitch Siebel™ Adapter Guide

• iWay SOAPswitch XML Adapter Guide

Prerequisites

The following list describes prerequisites for using iWay SOAPswitch:

1. Database.

   You must install a database for use with iWay SOAPswitch.

   See iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide

   You can also download MySQL version 4.1 for use with iWay SOAPswitch.

   See http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/4.1.html

2. Jetty server servlet.

   The iWay SOAPswitch product that ships with PeopleTools uses a standalone Jetty servlet server. You must download and install the Jetty servelet server version 5.1.4.

   Note. Running iWay SOAPswitch as a servlet under BEA WebLogic 8.1 or IBM WebSphere 5.1 is not yet supported.

   See http://jetty.mortbay.org/jetty/download.html

Starting and Stopping iWay SOAPswitch

This section provides discusses how to:

• Start iWay SOAPswitch Server.

• Stop iWay SOAPswitch Server.

Common Elements Used in This Section

Starting iWay SOAPswitch Server

To start iWay SOAPswitch server run the following Java Archive (JAR) file:

java -jar start.jar

Stopping iWay SOAPswitch Server

To stop iWay SOAPswitch run the following JAR file:

java -jar stop.jar

Logging In to iWay SOAPswitch

This section discusses how to:

• Log in to iWay SOAPswitch.

• Change the iWay SOAPswitch login user ID and password.

Logging In to iWay SOAPswitch

Login information for iWay SOAPswitch is stored on the ERP Connectors Admin page in the ERP Connectors Admin component (PT_IBWSDLADMIN). To access this page, select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connector Admin.

This login provides access to the iWay SOAPswitch functionality in the ERP Connectors component.

By default, you are automatically logged into iWay SOAPswitch with the following default settings and values:

http://<machinename>:8080/ssw/api

Note. Change the default iWay SOAPswitch user ID and password as soon as possible.

Changing the iWay SOAPswitch Login User ID and Password

To change the iWay SOAPswitch login information:

1. To change the user ID:

   1. Select the Change User ID check box.

   2. In the User ID field, enter a new user ID.

2. To change the password:

   1. Select the Change Password check box.

   2. In the Password field, enter a new password.

   3. In the Confirm Password field, enter the new password again.

3. Click the Save button.

Generating WSDL Using the ERP Connectors

You can generate WSDL from SAP, Oracle, and Siebel systems using the delivered ERP connectors that are accessible in the iWay SOAPswitch Administration Console. To access this page, select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

This section highlights the steps for generating outbound and inbound integrations using the ERP connectors. In addition, this section provides brief summaries of each task. Complete documentation for performing these tasks is located in the iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide and the individual adapter guides for specific ERP environments. Information about how to access iWay SOAPswitch documentation is provided earlier in this chapter.

See iWay SOAPswitch and Adapter Documentation.

Steps for Generating WSDL for Outbound Transactions

To generate WSDL using the ERP connectors that are delivered with PeopleTools for outbound transactions from PeopleSoft systems:

1. Configure the appropriate ERP connector.

2. Add a system.

3. Add roles and users.

4. Add a web service to the system.

Steps for Generating WSDL for Inbound Transactions

To generate WSDL using the ERP connectors that are delivered with PeopleTools for inbound transactions to PeopleSoft systems.

1. Configure the appropriate ERP connector.

2. Add a system.

3. Add a consumer system.

4. Add roles and users.

5. Add a destination.

6. Add a notification to the system.

Configuring ERP Connectors

iWay SOAPswitch provides ERP connectors for back-end systems that enable you to generate web services. When you generate a web service, WSDL is produced as a by-product. You can then import the WSDL into entities that can consume them, such as PeopleSoft systems.

You must configure an ERP connector for outbound and inbound transactions.

Please see the iWay SOAPswitch adapter documentation that is appropriate for your back-end system for setting up and configuring iWay SOAPswitch adapters.

Information about documentation and how to access it is provided earlier in this chapter.

See iWay SOAPswitch and Adapter Documentation.

Adding Systems

When you add a system, you use the System Definition Wizard to identify the back-end system to use to interact with iWay SOAPswitch.

You must add a system for outbound and inbound transactions.

To access the System Definition Wizard to add a system:

1. Access the iWay SOAPswitch Administration Console. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

2. Access the System Definition Wizard by performing one of the following actions:

   • Under the Getting Started section of the Administration Console, click Step 1. Add a System.

   • In the left navigation area, click Systems.

See Also

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 4: Accessing Back-End Servers.”

Adding Consumer Systems

When you add a consumer system, you specify the destination that iWay SOAPswitch uses for a notification. To add a consumer system, you use the Consumer System Definition Wizard to name the system and provide the URL to it.

Adding a consumer system is required for inbound transactions to PeopleSoft.

To access the Consumer System Definition Wizard to add a consumer system:

1. Access the iWay SOAPswitch Administration Console. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

2. In the left navigation bar, click Consumer Systems.

See Also

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 7: Configuring Consumer System for Notification”

Adding Roles and Users

Security for web services is controlled through roles. Users that you create will be able to interact with the web services.

Adding roles and users is optional for outbound and inbound transactions.

To add users and roles, use the New Role Definition Wizard.

To access the New Role Definition Wizard to add users and roles:

1. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

2. Access the New Role Definition Wizard by performing one of the following actions:

   • Under the Getting Started section of the Administration Console, click Step 2. Add Roles and Users.

   • In the left navigation area, click Access Control.

See Also

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 8: Using Access Control.”

Creating Web Services

To create a web service from an SAP, Oracle, or Siebel back-end system, use the Web Services Definition Wizard.

When you create a web service, you make a connection with the back-end system and you can browse through the classes, methods, and other subcomponents of the back-end system, choose a service name, select the methods of the back-end system to expose, choose protocol and security mechanisms, and so on. The last step in the Web Service Definition Wizard is to publish the web service to PeopleSoft. A WSDL document is created as a by-product of publishing the web service.

When you create a web service, you connect in real time to SAP and Siebel systems to browse and choose data. On an Oracle system, you browse and choose data from static interface tables and connect to the system when you publish the service. If the Oracle system is not available when you attempt to publish the service, the system hangs and no error or warning message appears. However, a message is logged in the SOAPswitch error log.

When you create a web service from SAP in Linux environments, if you set SAP tracing to OFF, SAP continues to generate trace files if you cannot connect to SAP, which results in numerous trace files being generated on a failed connection. You have only to register a program (in this case iWay SOAPSwitch) if you want to perform an SAP outbound call, where SAP is the client and SOAPSwitch is the server. If you don't have such an SAP outbound scenario, just remove TOMMY from the SSW system settings (ProgramID).

Creating a web service is required for outbound transactions from PeopleSoft.

To add a web service, use the Web Services Definition Wizard.

To access the Web Services Definition Wizard:

1. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

2. Access the Web Services Definition Wizard by performing one of the following actions:

   • Under the Getting Started section of the Administration Console, click Step 3. Add Web Services.

   • In the left navigation area, click Web Services.

After you publish the web service to PeopleSoft, in the Pure Internet Architecture the Consume Web Service wizard opens and you can consume the WSDL document into the PeopleSoft system.

See Consuming Services.

See Also

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 12: Developing New Web Services.”

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 16: Maintaining Web Services.”

Adding Destinations

When you add a destination, you specify the machine and URL where iWay SOAPswitch sends a notification. For inbound transactions, the destination is the PeopleSoft system.

When you create a destination definition, the name that you enter in the Name field must be the same as the machine name on which the integration gateway resides. For example:

machine051503

In addition, the URL that you enter in the URL field must be the same as the integration gateway URL that is specified on the Gateways page, with the exception that the URL that you enter in the destination definition is appended with the HTTP listening connector. For example, assume that the URL that is specified on the Gateways page is:

http://machine051503/PSIGW/PeopleSoftListeningConnector

Then the URL that you enter in the destination definition is:

http://machine051303/PSIGW/HTTPListeningConnector

Creating a destination is required for inbound transactions to PeopleSoft.

To create a destination, you use the Destination Definition Wizard.

To access the Destination Definition Wizard:

1. Access the iWay SOAPswitch Administration Console. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

2. In the left navigation area, click Notifications.

3. In the upper right corner of the page, select the Destinations tab. The Destination Definition Wizard appears.

See Also

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 18: Managing Web Services for Notification,” Create a Destination.

Creating Notifications

When you create a web service, you can browse through the classes, methods, and other subcomponents of a back-end system, choose a service name, select the methods of the back-end system to expose, choose protocol and security mechanisms, and so on.

Creating a notification is required for inbound transactions to PeopleSoft.

Creating Notifications to PeopleSoft

To create a notification:

1. Access the iWay SOAPswitch Administration Console. Select PeopleTools, Integration Broker, Web Services, ERP Connectors.

2. In the left navigation area, click Notifications.

3. In the upper right corner of the page, verify that the Notifications tab is selected.

See Also

iWay SOAPswitch Administration Guide, “Chapter 18: Managing Web Services for Notification.”