Administrative Concepts
A realm is a namespace that defines resources and configurations available to application programs. (Those resources include endpoints, transports, and formats.)
Administrators use a graphical configuration interface to define the realm, and store that definition in a realm server. Each process instance of an application program connects to the realm server to download the part of the realm definition that is relevant to that instance. The TIBCO FTL base library caches that definition in a realm object. After a program caches the realm definition, it is not necessary to interact frequently with the realm server. The base library consults the local realm object for information about endpoints, transports, and message formats. It is not necessary to involve the realm server each time a program sends or receives a message.
Administrators define transports within the realm. Notice that transports are not visible to application developers, rather, they are strictly the responsibility of the administrator. From the developer’s perspective, these details are hidden behind endpoints.
In addition to endpoints, transports, and formats, the realm definition also includes other definitions and configurations:
- The term application can refer to an executable program that communicates using TIBCO FTL software, or to an administrative configuration in the realm (that is, an application definition). Administrators declare and configure each application, and define the realm resources that process instances of the application may use.
- The term
application instance can refer either to a process instance of an application program, or to an administrative configuration in the realm (that is, an application instance definition). Through a matching algorithm, one such configuration can apply to a set of process instances. When defining a configuration, administrators can assign different resources to specific sets of process instances, based on attribute matching, to achieve fine-grained control over communications traffic.
When defining an application instance configuration, the administrator must connect each application endpoint to one or more transports, which actually move message data.
Administrators and developers coordinate the detailed requirements of applications using coordination forms (see Coordination Forms).
For detailed explanations of these administrative concepts, see TIBCO FTL Administration.