Contents

Title and Copyright Information

Preface

• Documentation Accessibility
• Conventions

1 Introduction and Roadmap

• Document Scope and Audience
• Guide to This Document
• Standards Compatibility
• Deployment Terminology
• Related Documentation
• New and Changed Features in This Release

2 Understanding WebLogic Server Deployment

• Overview of the Deployment Process
• Java EE 5 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

3 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
• Using FastSwap Deployment to Minimize Redeployment
  • How FastSwap Deployment Works
  • Supported FastSwap Application Configurations
  • Enabling FastSwap In Your Application
  • Overview of the FastSwap Process
    • Using Ant with the JMX Interface
  • Application Types and Changes Supported with FastSwap
  • Limitations When Using FastSwap
  • Handling Unsupported FastSwap Changes
• Best Practices for Preparing Deployment Files

4 Configuring Applications for Production Deployment

• Understanding the Deployment Configuration Process
  • Deployment Configuration Life Cycle
  • Understanding Application Deployment Descriptors
  • Understanding WebLogic Server Deployment Plans
  • Goals for Production Deployment Configuration
• Typical Deployment Configuration Workflows
  • Application with Single Deployment Plan
    • Benefits of a Single Deployment Plan Workflow
    • 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
• Generic File Loading Overrides
  • How It Works
  • Directory Structure
  • Application Usage
• Additional Configuration Tasks
• Best Practices for Managing Application Configuration

5 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

6 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

7 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
• Limitations of Auto-Deployment

8 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

9 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
• On-demand Deployment of Internal Applications
  • Internal Application Types
  • Configuring On-Demand Deployment
    • Configuring On-Demand Deployment Using the Administration Console
    • Configuring On-Demand Deployment Using WLST

A weblogic.Deployer Command-Line Reference

• Required Environment for weblogic.Deployer
• Syntax for Invoking weblogic.Deployer
  • SSL Arguments
  • Connection Arguments
  • User Credentials Arguments
  • Common Arguments
• Commands and Options
  • Cancel
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Deploy
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Distribute
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Listapps
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • List, Listtask
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Redeploy
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Start
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Stop
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Undeploy
    • Syntax
    • Examples
  • Update
    • Syntax
    • Example
• Example config.xml File and Corresponding weblogic.Deployer Command

B 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