An application archive file contains the objects and metadata of an application in XML format. When you deploy a mass ingestion specification to an application archive file, you save all the information about the specification as an application in the XML file.
The file has an .iar extension. You can deploy a mass ingestion specification to an application archive file only through the command line.
You might want to create an application archive file for any of the following reasons:
Deploy the application. If your organization restricts the ability to deploy applications to a Data Integration Service to administrators, an administrator can deploy an application from an archive file to a Data Integration Service. The administrator can use the Administrator tool or infacmd dis deployApplication.
Import the application to a Model repository. You can use the Developer tool to import the application to a Model repository, or an administrator can import the application to a Model repository using infacmd tools importObjects.
Archive the application archive file in another system. For example, if the Model repository is not integrated with a version control system, an administrator can check the archive file into a version control system.
Back up the specification. You might want to back up the mass ingestion specification to prevent data loss due to hardware or software problems. If you need to recover the specification, you can import the application archive file to a Model repository.
For more information about infacmd, see the
Informatica Command Reference
.
For more information about application archive files, see the