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Creating WebLogic Domains Using the Configuration Wizard

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Introduction

This section provides an overview of domain configuration using the Configuration Wizard.

Topics include:

 


Introduction to Domains

Note: This section provides a brief introduction to domains. You can skip this section if you are already familiar with the primary features of a domain.

A domain is the basic administration unit for WebLogic Server. It consists of one or more WebLogic Server instances, and logically related resources and services that are managed, collectively, as one unit.

Figure 1-1 WebLogic Domain Structure

WebLogic Domain Structure


 

As shown in the previous figure, the basic domain infrastructure consists of one Administration Server and optional Managed Servers and clusters. These components are described in the following table.

Table 1-1 Domain Infrastructure Components 

Feature

Description

Administration Server

A domain always includes one WebLogic Server instance that is configured as an Administration Server. The Administration Server provides a central point for managing the domain and providing access to the WebLogic Server administration tools. These tools include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • WebLogic Server Administration Console—graphical user interface to the Administration Server

  • WebLogic Server Node Manager—Java program enabling you to start and stop server instances—both Administration Servers and Managed Servers—remotely, and to monitor and automatically restart them after an unexpected failure.

For more information about the WebLogic Server administration tools, see "Summary of System Administration Tools and APIs" in Introduction to WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express at the following URL:

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13222_01/wls/docs91/intro/overview.html#sysadmintools

Managed Servers

All other WebLogic Server instances in a domain are called Managed Servers. Managed Servers host application components and resources, which are also deployed and managed as part of the domain. In a domain with only a single WebLogic Server instance, that one server functions as both the Administration Server and Managed Server.

Clusters

A domain may also include WebLogic Server clusters, which are groups of server instances that work together to provide scalability and high availability for applications. Clusters can improve performance and provide failover should a server instance become unavailable. The servers within a cluster can run on the same machine, or they can reside on different machines. To the client, a cluster appears as a single WebLogic Server instance.


 

Note: All Managed Servers in a domain must run the same version of the WebLogic Server software. The Administration Server may run either the same version as the Managed Servers in the domain, or a later service pack.

In addition to infrastructure components, a domain defines the basic network configuration for the server instances it contains. Specifically, a domain defines application deployments, supported application services (such as database and messaging services), security options, and physical host machines.

Domain configuration information is stored in the configuration directories under the domain directory.

Common Domain Configurations

You may find it useful to configure multiple domains based on specific criteria, such as system administrator responsibilities, the logical classification of applications, the geographical locations of servers, or size. The following table outlines the most common domain configurations.

Table 1-2 Common Domain Configurations 

Configuration

Description

Domain with Managed Servers

In typical production environments, several Managed Servers can host applications, and an Administration Server performs management operations.

Domain with Managed Servers and Clusters

In production environments that require increased performance, throughput, or availability for an application, several Managed Servers might be grouped in a cluster. In such a case, the domain consists of one or more clusters with the applications they host, additional Managed Servers, if necessary, and an Administration Server to perform management operations.

Stand-alone Server Domain

In development or test environments, a single application and server might be deployed independently without Managed Servers. In such a case, you can have a domain consisting of a single Administration Server that also hosts the applications you want to test or develop.


 

Note: In production environments, BEA recommends that you deploy applications only on Managed Servers; the Administration Server should be reserved for management tasks.

For more detailed information about WebLogic Server domains, see "Understanding WebLogic Server Domains" in Understanding Domain Configuration at the following URL:

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13222_01/wls/docs91/domain_config/understand_domains.html

 


Overview of the Configuration Wizard

Before you can develop and run a WebLogic-based application, you must first create a domain, the basic administration unit for WebLogic Server. The Configuration Wizard, illustrated in Figure 1-2, simplifies the process of creating or extending a domain. To create or extend a domain using the Configuration Wizard, you simply select the product components you want to include in your domain (or choose a template that best meets your requirements), and provide some basic configuration information. The Configuration Wizard then creates or extends the domain using the settings from the templates that contain the component functionality you specified.

Figure 1-2 Configuration Wizard

Configuration Wizard


 

After creating a domain using the Configuration Wizard, you can start a WebLogic Server instance to run in the domain for application development, testing, or production use.

To simplify the process of creating templates, BEA provides the Domain Template Builder, which guides you through the process of creating custom domain and extension templates. These templates can be used later for creating and extending domains using the Configuration Wizard and WLST offline. For details about the Domain Template Builder, see Creating Templates Using the Domain Template Builder at the following URL: http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13179_01/common/docs91/tempbuild/index.html.

Note: For more information about WLST offline, see "Creating and Configuring WebLogic Domains Using WLST Offline" in WebLogic Scripting Tool at http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13222_01/wls/docs91/config_scripting/domains.html.

Modes of Operation

The Configuration Wizard can be used "off-line" only, that is, when there is no server running. It supports the following modes of operation:

Note: Silent-mode operation of the Configuration Wizard is deprecated in WebLogic Server 9.0. For a scripted, silent-mode method, BEA recommends that you use the BEA WebLogic Scripting Tool. For more information, see WebLogic Scripting Tool at the following URL:
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13222_01/wls/docs91/config_scripting/index.html.

Configuration Wizard Output

A domain created using the Configuration Wizard has the following directories:

If the template used to create a domain included applications, the application files are located in the following directory by default:

user_projects/applications/domain_name

For a detailed description of the WebLogic domain directory structure, see "Domain Configuration Files" in Understanding Domain Configuration at the following URL:

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13222_01/wls/docs91/domain_config/config_files.html

 


About Domain and Extension Templates

When using the Configuration Wizard, the term template refers to a Java Archive (JAR) file that contains the files and scripts required to create or extend a domain. The types of templates that can be used by the Configuration Wizard to create or extend domains include:

BEA delivers a set of predefined domain and extension templates with your product installation. This set of templates includes the base WebLogic Server domain template, and various extension templates that allow you to add product component functionality and samples to the base domain. For a detailed description of these templates and how they interrelate, see Domain Template Reference at the following URL:

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13179_01/common/docs91/tempref/index.html

 


Overview of Creating a New Domain Using the Configuration Wizard

The Configuration Wizard guides you through the process of creating a domain for your target environment by selecting the product components you want to include in your domain, or by using domain templates. If desired, you can also customize the domain to more closely match your particular environment by adding and configuring Managed Servers, clusters, and machine definitions, or customizing predefined JDBC data sources, and JMS file store directories. You may want to customize your domain in the following circumstances:

Figure 1-3 illustrates the steps necessary to create a new domain using the Configuration Wizard.

Figure 1-3 Roadmap for Creating a New Domain

Roadmap for Creating a New Domain


 

 


Overview of Extending a Domain Using the Configuration Wizard

You may also extend an existing domain by adding predefined applications and services, or additional product component functionality. For example, if you created a base WebLogic Server domain and you want to add WebLogic Server examples, you must extend the domain by adding the WebLogic Server Examples extension.

To extend a domain using the Configuration Wizard, select the directory of the domain that you want to extend and then select the additional product component functionality. Alternatively, you can extend an existing domain by specifying an extension template to use to include additional applications and services. You also have the option of customizing JDBC connections to your database and changing the JMS file store. The Configuration Wizard uses your input to update the configuration related files, such as config.xml, and all other generated components in the domain directory, as required.

Figure 1-4 summarizes the steps required to extend an existing domain using the Configuration Wizard.

Figure 1-4 Roadmap for Extending an Existing Domain

Roadmap for Extending an Existing Domain


 

 


Additional Tools for Creating, Extending, and Managing Domains

WebLogic Server provides a rich set of system administration tools that enables you to install, configure, monitor, and manage one or more domains. As described previously, you can use the Configuration Wizard to create and extend domains. It is designed to simplify and automate the process of initial domain configuration, and the addition of product component functionality and well-defined applications and services to existing domains. The Configuration Wizard operates off-line, that is, when WebLogic Server is not running. It is not designed for use online when a WebLogic Server instance is running, or for use as a monitoring tool.

You can also use the tools defined in the following table to create, extend, and manage the domain. Run-time configuration can also be accomplished using the consoles of the BEA product components.

Table 1-3 Additional Tools for Creating, Extending, and Managing Domains 

To perform the following task . . .

Use the following tools . . .

Create a new domain or extend an existing domain

  • WebLogic Scripting Tool (WLST). WLST is a command-line scripting interface that you use to interact with and configure WebLogic Server instances and domains. Offline, WLST enables you to create a new domain or update an existing domain without connecting to a running WebLogic Server—supporting the same functionality as the Configuration Wizard. For more information, see WebLogic Scripting Tool at the following URL:
    http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13222_01/wls/docs91/config_scripting/index.html

  • unpack. The unpack command enables you to create a new domain from the command line, using a template compatible with your current installation. You cannot use unpack to extend an existing domain. For more information, see Creating Templates and Domains Using the pack and unpack Commands at the following URL:
    http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E13179_01/common/docs91/pack/index.html

Add applications and services, or modify existing settings

Manage and monitor the health and status of the domain


 

 

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