Modular Design

Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v3 Prelude has split the GlassFish code into modules to provide flexibility and improved runtime performance. The modular architecture is implemented on top of OSGi Alliance standards and enables reusability of Enterprise Server v3 Prelude modules as well as other modules.

This design change allows you to download and install only the modules that you require for the applications that you are deploying. Runtime is used only for applications that use it, and upgrades can be implemented without a complete system reinstallation. This change minimizes startup times, memory consumption, and disk space requirements.

The modular design provides the ability to do the following:

• Import OSGi bundles

• Import library Java archive (JAR) files

• Embed Enterprise Server in other self-contained applications

• Replace the Enterprise Server web container with another web container