Learning more about Java Transaction Service (JTS)

Resolving The Problem

• What is JTS?
  The Java Transaction Service within WebSphere® Application Server is an implementation of the JTS specification which specifies the implementation of a transaction manager which supports the JTA specification at the high-level and implements the Java mapping of the OMG Object Transaction Service (OTS) 1.1 Specification at the low-level.
  
  
• What is JTA?
  According to the Java Transaction API 1.0.1, the JTA specifies high-level interfaces between a transaction manager and the parties involved in a distributed transaction system:
• The application
• The resource manager
• The application server

• In WebSphere Application Server, transactions are handled by three main components:
1. A transaction manager that supports the enlistment of recoverable XAResources and ensures that each such resource is driven to a consistent outcome either at the end of a transaction or after a failure and restart of the application server.
   
   
2. A container in which the J2EE application runs. The container manages the enlistment of XAResources on behalf of the application when the application performs updates to transactional resource managers (for example, databases). Optionally, the container can control the demarcation of transactions for enterprise beans configured for container-managed transactions.
   
   
3. An application programming interface (UserTransaction) that is available to bean-managed enterprise beans and servlets. This allows such application components to control the demarcation of their own transactions.

Transaction support in WebSphere Application Server

Partner and Transaction Logging

Storing transaction and compensation logs in a relational database for high availability

For more information on JTS and JTA, refer to these documents.

1. Java theory and practice: Understanding JTS -- The magic behind the scenes
2. For links to the JTS and JTA specifications, refer to the Transactions table in WebSphere AppServer Information Center article, Specifications and API Documentation.

This WebSphere Support Technical Exchange is designed to describe how Transaction Manger works in WebSphere Application server, troubleshooting Transaction Manager issues and transaction manager best practice configurations:
Understanding Transaction Manager in WebSphere Application Server

This WebSphere Support Technical Exchange provides an overview of the Java Transaction Service in WebSphere Application Server and shows how to resolve common problems such as transaction time-outs, rollbacks, and recovery issues:
Transactions in WebSphere Application Server - Overview and Problem Determination