Deploying Applications to WebLogic Server

Introduction and Roadmap

Document Scope and Audience

Guide to This Document

Standards Compatibility

Deployment Terminology

New and Changed Features in This Release

Understanding WebLogic Server Deployment

Overview of the Deployment Process

J2EE 1.4 Deployment Implementation

WebLogic Server Deployment Features

Additional Deployment Configuration Properties

Exporting Applications for Deployment to Multiple Environments

Administration Mode for Isolating Production Applications

Deployable JDBC, JMS, and WLDF Application Modules

Module-Level Deployment and Redeployment for Enterprise Applications

Safe Redeployment for Production Applications

Security Roles Required for Deployment

Supported Deployment Units

Enterprise Application

Web Application

Enterprise JavaBean

Resource Adapter

Web Service

J2EE Library

Optional Package

JDBC, JMS, and WLDF Modules

Client Application Archive

Deployment Tools

weblogic.Deployer

Administration Console

WLST

Deployment Tools for Developers

Preparing Applications and Modules for Deployment

Packaging Files for Deployment

Using Archived Files

Using Exploded Archive Directories

Java EE Rules for Deploying Exploded EAR Directories without Deployment Descriptors

Creating an Exploded Archive Directory from an Archive File

Understanding Default Deployment Names

Understanding Application Naming Requirements

Understanding Deployment Version Strings

Creating an Application Installation Directory

Steps for Creating an Application Installation Directory

Best Practices for Preparing Deployment Files

Configuring Applications for Production Deployment

Understanding the Deployment Configuration Process

Deployment Configuration Lifecycle

Understanding Application Deployment Descriptors

Understanding WebLogic Server Deployment Plans

Goals for Production Deployment Configuration

Typical Deployment Configuration Workflows

Application with Single Deployment Plan

Single Deployment Plan Ownership and Limitations

Application with Multiple Deployment Plans

Benefits of a Multiple Deployment Plan Workflow

Multiple Deployment Plan Ownership and Limitations

Creating a New Deployment Plan to Configure an Application

Preparing the Deployment Files

Installing the Application Archive

Saving Configuration Changes to a Deployment Plan

Understanding Deployment Plan Contents

Using an Existing Deployment Plan to Configure an Application

Additional Configuration Tasks

Best Practices for Managing Application Configuration

Exporting an Application for Deployment to New Environments

Overview of the Export Process

Goals for Exporting a Deployment Configuration

Tools for Exporting a Deployment Configuration

Understanding Deployment Property Classifications

Steps for Exporting an Application’s Deployment Configuration

Staging Application Files for Export

Generating a Template Deployment Plan using weblogic.PlanGenerator

Customizing the Deployment Plan Using the Administration Console

Install the Exported Application and Template Deployment Plan

Add Variables for Selected Tuning Properties

Retrieve the Customized Deployment Plan

Manually Customizing the Deployment Plan

Removing Variables from a Deployment Plan

Assigning Null Variables to Require Administrator Input

Validating the Exported Deployment Configuration

Best Practices for Exporting a Deployment Configuration

Deploying Applications and Modules with weblogic.deployer

Overview of Common Deployment Scenarios

Uploading Deployment Files from a Remote Client

Upload Behavior When Updating an Application or Plan

Deploying to a Single-Server Domain

Deploying an Application with a Deployment Plan

Deploying an Application That Looks Up System Resources from JNDI During preStart

Targeting Deployments to Servers, Clusters, and Virtual Hosts

Understanding Deployment Targets

Deploying to One or More Targets

Deploying to a Cluster Target

Enforcing Consistent Deployment to All Configured Cluster Members

Using Module-Level Targeting for Deploying an Enterprise Application

Module-Targeting Syntax

Targeting Web Application Modules

Deploying JDBC, JMS, and WLDF Application Modules

Targeting Application-Scoped JMS, JDBC, and WLDF Modules

Using Sub-Module Targeting with JMS Application Modules

Default Submodule Targeting

Sub-module Targeting for Stand-alone JMS Modules

Sub-module Targeting for Application-scoped JMS Modules

Controlling Deployment File Copying with Staging Modes

Staging Mode Descriptions and Best Practices

Using Nostage Mode Deployment

Syntax for Nostage Mode

Using Stage Mode Deployment

Syntax for Stage Mode

Using External_stage Mode Deployment

Syntax for external_stage Mode

Changing the Default Staging Behavior for a Server

Distributing Applications to a Production Environment

Distributing an Application

Starting a Distributed Application in Administration Mode

Starting a Distributed Application

Deploying Shared Java EE Libraries and Dependent Applications

Understanding Deployment Behavior for Shared Libraries

Registering Libraries with WebLogic Server

Specifying Library Versions at Deployment

Deploying Applications That Reference Libraries

Best Practices for Deploying Applications

Auto-Deploying Applications in Development Domains

Enabling and Disabling Auto-Deployment

Auto-Deploying, Redeploying, and Undeploying Archived Applications

Auto-Deploying, Redeploying, and Undeploying Exploded Archives

Redeploying Applications in a Production Environment

Overview of Redeployment Strategies

Production Redeployment

In-Place Redeployment

Partial Redeployment of Static Files

Partial Redeployment of J2EE Modules

Understanding When to Use Different Redeployment Strategies

Using Production Redeployment to Update Applications

How Production Redeployment Works

Production Redeployment In Clusters

Requirements and Restrictions for Production Redeployment

Development Requirements

Deployment Requirements

Restrictions on Production Redeployment Updates

Specifying an Application Version Identifier

Assigning a Version Identifier During Deployment and Redeployment

Displaying Version Information for Deployed Applications

Redeploying a New Version of an Application

Undeploying a Retiring Application

Rolling Back the Production Redeployment Process

Graceful Shut Down of RMI Client Request Processing

Distributing a New Version of a Production Application

Steps for Distributing a New Version of an Application

Making an Application Available to Clients

Best Practices for Using Production Redeployment

Using In-Place Redeployment for Applications and Stand-alone Modules

Redeploying Applications and Modules In-Place

Best Practices for Redeploying Applications and Modules In-Place

Using Partial Redeployment for J2EE Module Updates

Restrictions for Updating J2EE Modules in an EAR

Best Practices for Updating J2EE Modules in an EAR

Updating Static Files in a Deployed Application

Updating the Deployment Configuration for an Application

Modifying a Configuration Using the Administration Console

How Configuration Changes Are Stored

Updating an Application to Use a Different Deployment Plan

Understanding Redeployment Behavior for Deployment Configuration Changes

Managing Deployed Applications

Taking a Production Application Offline

Stopping an Application to Restrict Client Access

Undeploying an Application or Module

Undeploying Shared Libraries and Packages

Adding a New Module to a Deployed Enterprise Application

Changing the Order of Deployment at Server Startup

Changing the Deployment Order for Applications and Stand-alone Modules

Changing the Deployment Order for Modules in an Enterprise Application

Ordering Startup Class Execution and Deployment

Changing the Target List for an Existing Deployment

Removing Files from a Web Application Deployment

Managing Long-Running Deployment Tasks

weblogic.Deployer Command-Line Reference

Required Environment for weblogic.Deployer

Syntax for Invoking weblogic.Deployer

Connection Arguments

User Credentials Arguments

Common Arguments

Commands and Options

Cancel

Deploy

Distribute

Listapps

List, Listtask

Redeploy

Start

Stop

Undeploy

Update

Example config.xml File and Corresponding weblogic.Deployer Command

weblogic.PlanGenerator Command Line Reference

Overview of weblogic.PlanGenerator

Required Environment for weblogic.PlanGenerator

Syntax for Invoking weblogic.PlanGenerator

Options

Common weblogic.PlanGenerator Tasks

Creating an Initial Deployment Plan in an Application’s Root Directory

Creating a New Deployment Plan Based on an Existing Plan

Controlling the Components Exported to a Deployment Plan