Configurable connector adapted to convey data between a first application and a second application

A method of receiving and sending data transmitted over a communication link between a second application in a target system and a first application in a data processing system, the method comprising:

• configuring a connector in said data processing system using a protocol handler that formats incoming and outgoing messages to conform to a network transmission protocol used for communications between said second application in said target system and said first application in said data processing system, wherein said protocol handler is one of a plurality of protocol handlers that are removably plugged into said connector in said data processing system that includes said first application, each of said plurality of protocol handlers supporting a different network transmission protocol;
• determining whether said network transmission protocol used for communications between said second application in said target system and said first application in said data processing system was replaced with a different network transmission protocol;
• responsive to determining that said network transmission protocol was replaced with a different network transmission protocol, reconfiguring said connector in said data processing system by unplugging from said connector said protocol handler that supported said network transmission protocol previously used and plugging into said connector a new protocol handler that supports said different network transmission protocol currently used;
• receiving an incoming message from said second application in said target system transmitted over said communication link;
• extracting payload data from said incoming message by invoking said new protocol handler, wherein said new protocol handler is configured to extract said data from said incoming message according to said different network transmission protocol by removing an envelope that was added to said payload data to form said incoming message, and wherein said envelope conforms to said different network transmission protocol;
• providing said payload data to said first application in said data processing system;
• and
• sending an outgoing message from said first application in said data processing system to said second application in said target system transmitted over said communication link, wherein said new protocol handler removable plugged into said connector in said data processing system formats said outgoing message to conform to said different network transmission protocol currently used for communications between said first application in said data processing system and said second application in said target system.