If a service application needs to access data in an Enterprise Information System (EIS), it can do so through an embedded WebSphere Adapter. You can use the administrative console to install the application (which also installs the adapter), create a J2C connection factory, and later change the configuration if needed.
You should not install stand-alone WebSphere Adapters. Only embedded WebSphere Adapters are appropriate for deployment in WebSphere ESB. Furthermore, deployment of an embedded WebSphere Adapter is not supported for RAR files that are application-scoped within a non-SCA module.
You can install service applications with an embedded WebSphere Adapter, and manage the configuration of the resource adapter, connection factories, and associated properties like connection pools.