ServiceMix VFS

The ServiceMix VFS component provides support for reading from and writing to virtual file systems via the enterprise service bus by using the Apache commons-vfs library.

Maven Archetype

You can use Maven servicemix-vfs-service-unit archetype to create a VFS service unit:

mvn archetype:create \
  -DarchetypeGroupId=org.apache.servicemix.tooling \
  -DarchetypeArtifactId=servicemix-vfs-service-unit \
  -DarchetypeVersion=2010.01 \
  -DgroupId=your.group.id \
  -DartifactId=your.artifact.id \
  -Dversion=your-version

Once you've customized the service unit, simply install the SU:

mvn install
Remember that to be deployable in ServiceMix, the ServiceUnit has to be embedded in a Service Assembly: only the Service Assembly zip file can be deployed in ServiceMix.
To add your SU in a SA, you need to define it in the dependency sets:
<dependency>
  <groupId>your.group.id</groupId>
  <artifactId>your.artifact.id</artifactId>
  <version>your-version</version>
</dependency>

Endpoints Configuration

Poller Endpoint

The VFS Poller endpoint polls a VFS path, read the VFS file using the marshaler and send the file content to the NMR.

The VFS Poller endpoint generates an InOnly exchange.
VFS Poller Endpoint
<vfs:poller service="replaceMe:serviceName"
            endpoint="vfs-poller"
            path="file:///vfs/path/input/"
            targetService="replaceMe:serviceName"
            targetEndpoint="target-endpoint"
            period="10000"
            deleteFile="true" 
            recursive="true" >

   <property name="marshaler">
      <bean class="org.apache.servicemix.components.util.BinaryFileMarshaler" />
   </property>

</vfs:poller>
VFS Poller Endpoint Attributes
Name Type Description Default
service QName the service name of the endpoint required to be spec'd
endpoint string the endpoint name of the endpoint required to be spec'd
interfaceName QName the interface name of the endpoint  
targetService QName the service name of the target endpoint  
targetEndPoint string the endpoint name of the target endpoint  
targetInterface QName the interface name of the target endpoint  
targetUri string the uri of the target endpoint  
firstTime date datetime before first poll can take place null (first poll right after start)
delay long amount of time first polling is delayed after start 0
period long amount of time between polls 5000
path string sets the vfs path to poll null (must be spec'd)
deleteFile boolean delete file when it is processed true
recursive boolean process sub directories true
marshaler class org.apache.servicemix.components.util.FileMarshaler DefaultFileMarshaler
lockManager class org.apache.servicemix.locks.LockManager SimpleLockManager
selector class import org.apache.commons.vfs.FileSelector null - no selector
comparator class implementation of java.util.Comparator to order file process null - no comparator
fileSystemManager class sets the vfs file system manager object null (using VFS.getManager() )

Sender Endpoint

The VFS Sender endpoint expects messages coming from the NMR, converts it using the marshaler and send it to the VFS path.

VFS Sender Endpoint
<vfs:sender  service="replaceMe:serviceName"
             endpoint="vfs-sender"
             path="file:///vfs/path/output/">

   <property name="marshaler">
      <bean class="org.apache.servicemix.components.util.BinaryFileMarshaler" />
   </property>
    
</vfs:sender>
VFS Sender Endpoint Attributes
Name Type Description Default
service QName the service name of the endpoint required to be spec'd
endpoint string the endpoint name of the endpoint required to be spec'd
path string sets the vfs path to poll null (must be spec'd)
marshaler class org.apache.servicemix.components.util.FileMarshaler DefaultFileMarshaler
fileSystemManager class sets the vfs file system manager object null (using VFS.getManager() )

Marshalers

By default, poller endpoints expect the content of the file to be in XML format.

Below is an example of a non-XML file marshaler that moves a file from an inbox to an outbox directory. The binary marshaler sends a message with the file attached. This allows any file to be processed.

The contents below were used in an xbean.xml file for a service unit named filemover

Binary File Marshaler example
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<beans xmlns:vfs="http://servicemix.apache.org/vfs/1.0"
       xmlns:proj="http://servicemix.apache.org/samples/filemover"
       xmlns:sm="http://servicemix.apache.org/config/1.0">

<vfs:poller service="proj:vfsPoller"
            endpoint="pollerEndpoint"
            path="file:///C:/opensrc/test/myInbox"
            targetService="proj:vfsSender"
            period="10000"
            deleteFile="true" 
            recursive="true" >

   <property name="marshaler">
      <bean class="org.apache.servicemix.components.util.BinaryFileMarshaler" />
   </property>

</vfs:poller>

<vfs:sender  service="proj:vfsSender"
             endpoint="senderEndpoint"
             path="file:///C:/opensrc/test/myOutbox/">

   <property name="marshaler">
      <bean class="org.apache.servicemix.components.util.BinaryFileMarshaler" />
   </property>
    
</vfs:sender>
</beans>

The path attribute

Have a look at the Apache Commons-VFS Supported File Systems page.

Attention
Some of the VFS are accessed read-only. Those file system types can't be used for sender endpoints and will
throw Exceptions when trying to do so. Have a look at the comments on the above linked page. It is stated what kind
of access is provided by which system.