ironjacamar-1.0.0.Beta3 (or a subsequent beta) will become part of JBoss AS 6 or will only a standalone container be supported for version 1.6 of the connector architecture?
AS 7 -- http://www.jboss.org/jbossas/downloads
This has never been an issue with any application server
The spec states (5.3.2):
"Prior to using a ManagedConnectionFactory JavaBean, the application server
must create an association between the ManagedConnectionFactory JavaBean and
a ResourceAdapter JavaBean, by calling the setResourceAdapter method on
the ManagedConnectionFactory JavaBean. A successful association is established
only when the setResourceAdapter method on the
ManagedConnectionFactory JavaBean returns without throwing an exception."
and (5.3.3):
"Prior to using an ActivationSpec JavaBean, the application server must create an
association between the ActivationSpec JavaBean and a ResourceAdapter
JavaBean, by calling the setResourceAdapter method on the ActivationSpec
JavaBean. A successful association is established only when the
setResourceAdapter method on the ActivationSpec JavaBean returns without
throwing an exception."
Since the start() method may interact with these components the association have to happen before calling the method. IronJacamar is more strict towards the spec than our earlier implementations -- just take a look at the validator chain which will fail resource adapters that doesn't comply to the spec.
As to the other vendors - you will have to discuss this issue with them.