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Messaging Bridge

The WebLogic Messaging Bridge allows you to configure a forwarding mechanism between any two messaging products—thereby, providing interoperability between separate implementations of WebLogic JMS, or between WebLogic JMS and another messaging product. You can use the Messaging Bridge to integrate your messaging applications between:

A messaging bridge consists of two destinations that are being bridged: a source destination that the bridge reads messages from and a target destination where the bridge sends the messages that it receives from the source destination. For WebLogic JMS and third-party JMS products, a messaging bridge communicates with source and target destinations using the resource adapters provided with WebLogic Server. For non-JMS messaging products, a custom connector adapter must be obtained from a third-party OEM vendor or by contacting BEA Professional Services in order to access non-JMS source or target destinations.

Source and target bridge destinations can be either queues or topics. You can also specify a quality of service (QOS), as well as message filters, transaction semantics, and connection retry policies. Once a messaging bridge is configured, it is easily managed from the Administration Console, including temporarily suspending bridge traffic whenever necessary, tuning the execute thread pool size to suit your implementation, and monitoring the status of all your configured bridges.

 


Messaging Bridge Configuration Tasks

Before you can deploy a messaging bridge, you need to configure its required components:

About the Bridge's Resource Adapters

A messaging bridge uses resource adapters to communicate with the configured source and target JMS destinations. You need to associate both the source and target JMS destinations with a supported resource adapter in order for the bridge to communicate with them. The JNDI name for the adapter is configured as part of the resource adapter's deployment descriptor.

Note: Although WebLogic JMS includes a "General Bridge Destination" framework for accessing non-JMS messaging products, WebLogic Server does not provide supported connector adapters for such products. Therefore, you must obtain a custom connector adapter from a third-party OEM vendor and consult their documentation for configuration instructions. You can also contact BEA Professional Services for information about obtaining a custom connector adapter.

The supported resource adapters are located in the WL_HOME\server\lib directory and are described in the following table.

Table 10-1 Messaging Bridge Resource Adapters and JNDI Names

Adapter

JNDI Name

Description

jms-xa-adp.rar

eis.jms.WLSConnection
FactoryJNDIXA

Provides transaction semantics via the XAResource. Used when the required QOS is Exactly-once. This envelops a received message and sends it within a user transaction (XA/JTA). The following requirements are necessary in order to use this resource adapter:

  • Any WebLogic Server implementation being bridged must be version 6.1 or later.

  • The source and target JMS connection factories must be configured to use the XAConnectionFactory.

Note: Before deploying this resource adapter, refer to the Using the Messaging Bridge to Interoperate with Different WebLogic Server Versions and Domains for specific transactional configuration requirements and guidelines.

jms-notran-adp.rar

eis.jms.WLSConnection
FactoryJNDINoTX

Provides no transaction semantics. Used when the required QOS is Atmost-once or Duplicate-okay. If the requested QOS is Atmost-once, the resource adapter uses the AUTO_ACKNOWLEDGE mode. If the requested QOS is Duplicate-okay, CLIENT_ACKNOWLEDGE is used.

Note: For more information about the acknowledge modes used in non-transacted sessions, see "WebLogic JMS Fundamentals" in Programming WebLogic JMS.

jms-notran-adp51.rar

eis.jms.WLS51ConnectionFactoryJNDINoTX

Provides interoperability when either the source or target destination is WebLogic Server 5.1. This resource adapter provides no transaction semantics; therefore, it only supports a QOS of Atmost-once or Duplicate-okay. If the requested QOS is Atmost-once, the resource adapter uses the AUTO_ACKNOWLEDGE mode. If the requested QOS is Duplicate-okay, CLIENT_ACKNOWLEDGE is used.

You will specify the appropriate resource adapter by its JNDI name when you configure each source and target bridge destination.

Deploying the Bridge's Resource Adapters

Before you configure the messaging bridge destinations, deploy the appropriate resource adapters in the WebLogic Server domain that is hosting the messaging bridge, as follows:

  1. Select the domain in which you will deploy the adapters (for example, Examples).
  2. Select the Deployments —> Connector Modules option to open the Resource Connectors page.
  3. Follow the deployment assistant instructions to deploy the appropriate resource adapter, as defined in Table 10-1.
  4. You must target the resource adapter to the same WebLogic Server instance that the messaging bridge will be targeted to. For more information, see Targeting a Messaging Bridge to a Server, a Cluster, or a Migratable Target.

For more information on deploying resource adapters, see "WebLogic Server Deployment" in Packaging and Deploying WebLogic Server Applications.

Configuring Source and Target Bridge Destinations

Each messaging bridge consists of two destinations that are being bridged: a source destination that the bridge reads messages from and a target destination where the bridge sends the messages that it receives from the source destination. Depending on the messaging products that need to be bridged, there are two types of Messaging Bridge destinations:

Before starting the procedures in this section, refer to the Using the Messaging Bridge to Interoperate with Different WebLogic Server Versions and Domains or Using the Messaging Bridge to Access a Third-Party Messaging Provider sections for specific configuration requirements and guidelines.

Configuring JMS Bridge Destinations

A JMSBridgeDestination instance defines a unique name for a bridge's source and target destinations within a WebLogic domain, the name of the adapter used to communicate with the specified destination, property information to pass to the adapter (Connection URL, Connection Factory JNDI Name, etc.), and, optionally, a user name and password.

When you finish defining attributes for a source JMS bridge destination, repeat these steps to configure a target JMS bridge destination, or vice versa. You will designate the source and target JMS Bridge Destinations in Configuring a Messaging Bridge.

To configure a source or target JMS bridge destination, follow these steps.

  1. Expand the Services —> Messaging Bridge node.
  2. Click the JMS Bridge Destinations node to open the JMS Bridge Destinations page in the right pane.
  3. Click the Configure a new JMS Bridge Destination link. A Configuration dialog shows the tabs associated with configuring a new JMS bridge destination.
  4. On the Configuration General tab, define the general configuration attributes for a JMS bridge destination:

    For more information about JMS bridge destination attributes, see JMS Bridge Destination --> Configuration.

  5. Click Create to create an instance of the bridge destination with the name you specified in the Name field. The new instance is added under the JMS Bridge Destination node in the left pane.

When you finish defining attributes for a source JMS bridge destination, repeat these steps to configure a target JMS bridge destination, or vice versa. Then follow the instructions for Configuring a Messaging Bridge.

Configuring General Bridge Destinations

A general BridgeDestination instance defines a unique name for the source and target general bridge destinations within the WebLogic domain, the name of the adapter used to communicate with the specified destination, a list of properties to pass to the adapter, and, optionally, a user name and password.

Note: Although WebLogic JMS includes a "General Bridge Destination" framework for accessing non-JMS messaging products, WebLogic Server does not provide supported connector adapters for such products. Therefore, you must obtain a custom connector adapter from a third-party OEM vendor and consult their documentation for configuration instructions. You can also contact BEA Professional Services for information about obtaining a custom connector adapter.

When you finish defining attributes for a source general bridge destination, repeat these steps to configure a target general bridge destination, or vice versa. You will designate the source and target general Bridge Destinations in Configuring a Messaging Bridge.

To configure a source or target general bridge destination, follow these steps.

  1. Expand the Services —> Messaging Bridge node.
  2. Click the General Bridge Destinations node to open the General Bridge Destinations page in the right pane.
  3. Click the Configure a new General Bridge Destination link. A Configuration dialog shows the tabs associated with configuring a new general bridge destination.
  4. On the Configuration General tab, define the general configuration attributes for a general bridge destination:

    For more information about the general bridge destination attributes, see General Bridge Destination --> Configuration.

  5. Click Create to create an instance of the general bridge destination with the name you specified in the Name field. The new instance is added under the General Bridge Destination node in the left pane.

When you finish defining attributes for a source general bridge destination, repeat these steps to configure a target general bridge destination, or vice versa. Then follow the instructions for Configuring a Messaging Bridge.

Configuring a Messaging Bridge

A messaging bridge communicates with the configured source and target destinations. For each mapping of a source destination to a target destination, whether it is another WebLogic JMS implementation, a third-party JMS provider, or another non-JMS messaging product, you must configure a MessagingBridge instance. Each MessagingBridge instance defines the source and target destination for the mapping, a message filtering selector, a QOS, transaction semantics, and various reconnection parameters.

Before starting the procedure in this section, refer to the Using the Messaging Bridge to Interoperate with Different WebLogic Server Versions and Domains or Using the Messaging Bridge to Access a Third-Party Messaging Provider sections for specific configuration requirements and guidelines.

To configure a messaging bridge, follow these steps:

  1. Expand the Services —> Messaging Bridge node.
  2. Expand the Bridges node to open the Messaging Bridges tab in the right pane.
  3. Click the Configure a new Messaging Bridge link. A dialog shows the tabs associated with configuring a new messaging bridge.
  4. On the Configuration General tab, define the general configuration attributes for a messaging bridge:

    Table 10-2 Messaging Bridge Attributes on the General Tab

    Attribute

    Description

    Name

    Enter a messaging bridge name that is unique across a WebLogic Server domain.

    Source Destination

    Select the source destination from which messages are received by the messaging bridge. Following the example target JMS bridge destination name that was previously suggested for connecting WebLogic Server versions 6.1 and 8.1, you would select the "61to81SourceDestination" name that you created on the JMS Bridge Destination -> Configuration tab.

    Target Destination

    Select the target destination to which messages are sent from the messaging bridge. Following the example target JMS bridge destination name that was previously suggested for connecting WebLogic Server versions 6.1 and 8.1, you would select the "61to81TargetDestination" name that you created on the JMS Bridge Destination -> Configuration tab.

    Selector

    Specify a selector to filter the messages that are sent across the messaging bridge. Only messages that match the selection criteria are sent across the messaging bridge. For queues, messages that do not match the selection criteria are left behind and accumulate in the queue. For topics, messages that do not match the connection criteria are dropped.

    For more information on using selectors to filter messages, see "Developing a WebLogic JMS Application" in Programming WebLogic JMS.

    Quality Of Service (QOS)

    Select a QOS guarantee for forwarding a message across a messaging bridge. The valid qualities of service are:

    Exactly-once—Each message will be sent exactly once. This is the highest quality of service. In order to use this QOS:

    • Any WebLogic Server implementation must be version 6.1 or later.

    • The source and target JMS connection factories must be configured to use the XAConnectionFactory.

    • The transaction jms-xa-adp.rar adapter must be deployed and identified in the Adapter JNDI Name attribute as "eis.jms.WLSConnectionFactoryJNDIXA" for both the source and target destinations.

    Atmost-once—Each message is sent at most one time. Some messages may not be delivered to the target destination.

    Duplicate-okay—Each message is sent at least one time. Duplicate messages can be delivered to the target destination.

    QOS Degradation Allowed

    Indicate whether the messaging bridge automatically degrades the requested QOS when the configured one is not available. If this occurs, a message is delivered to the WebLogic startup window (or log file). If this option is not selected (false), and the messaging bridge cannot satisfy the requested QOS, it will result in an error and the messaging bridge will not start.

    Maximum Idle Time
    (seconds)

    For bridges running in asynchronous mode, specify the maximum amount of time, in seconds, the messaging bridge sits idle before checking the health of its connections. For bridges running in synchronous mode, this dictates the amount of time the messaging bridge can block on a receive call if no transaction is involved.

    Asynchronous Mode Enabled

    Indicate whether a messaging bridge works in asynchronous mode. Messaging bridges that work in asynchronous mode (true) are driven by the source destination. The messaging bridge listens for messages and forwards them as they arrive. When the value is false, the bridge works in synchronous mode even if the source supports asynchronous receiving.

    Note: For a messaging bridge with a QOS of Exactly-once to work in asynchronous mode, the source destination has to support the MDBTransaction interface described in the weblogic.jms.extensions Javadoc. Otherwise, the bridge automatically switches to synchronous mode if it detects that MDBTransactions are not supported by the source destination. For more information about MDBTransactions, see "Using Message-Driven Beans" in Programming WebLogic EJB.

    Durability Enabled

    This is used only for JMS topics or for third-party destinations with similar characteristics as a JMS topic. By enabling durability, a messaging bridge creates a durable subscription for the source destination. This allows the source JMS implementation to save messages that are sent to it when the bridge is not running. The bridge will then forward these messages to the target destination once it is restarted. If this attribute is not selected, messages that are sent to the source JMS topic while the bridge is down cannot be forwarded to the target destination.

    Note: If a bridge must be taken permanently offline, you must delete any durable subscriptions that use the bridge. For information on deleting durable subscribers, see "Deleting Durable Subscriptions" in Programming WebLogic JMS.

    Started

    Indicate the initial state of the messaging bridge (that is, the state when the bridge is booted). The default value is for the bridge to be started. To stop the messaging bridge, clear the check box. Conversely, reselect the check box to restart the bridge.

    Note: This does not indicate the run-time state of the bridge. For information on monitoring a bridge's state, see Monitoring All Messaging Bridges.


     

    For more information about the general messaging bridge attributes, see the Attributes table in Messaging Bridge --> Configuration --> General.

  5. Click Create to create an instance of the messaging bridge with the name you specified in the Name field. The new instance is added under the Bridges node in the left pane.
  6. On the Connection Retry tab, change the attribute fields or accept the default values as assigned. Since the source and target destinations for a messaging bridge will not always be available, the messaging bridge must be able to reconnect to the destination at some periodic interval. These attributes govern the time between reconnection attempts. Then, click Apply to save your changes.

    For more information about the bridge's connection retry attributes, see the Attributes table in Messaging Bridge --> Configuration --> Connection Retry.

  7. On the Transactions tab, change the attribute fields or accept the default values as assigned. Then, click Apply to save your changes.

    For more information about the bridge's transaction attributes, see the Attributes table in Messaging Bridge --> Configuration --> Transactions.

  8. On the Target and Deploy tab, select a WebLogic Server instance, a cluster, or a migratable server target on which to deploy the messaging bridge. However, this must the same target where the bridge's resource adapter was deployed.

    For more information, see Targeting a Messaging Bridge to a Server, a Cluster, or a Migratable Target.

Targeting a Messaging Bridge to a Server, a Cluster, or a Migratable Target

  1. Expand the Messaging Bridge —> Bridges node to show the list of messaging bridges defined in your domain.
  2. Click the messaging bridge that you want to assign to a server, cluster, or migratable target. A dialog displays in the right pane showing the tabs associated with the messaging bridge instance.
  3. Click the Target and Deploy tab to display the following targeting options.

    Note: This must be the same target where the bridge's resource adapter was deployed. For more information, see Deploying the Bridge's Resource Adapters.

  4. Click Apply to save your assignments.

 


Using the Messaging Bridge to Interoperate with Different WebLogic Server Versions and Domains

The following interoperability guidelines apply when using the messaging bridge to access JMS destinations in different releases of WebLogic Server and in other WebLogic domains.

Naming Guidelines for WebLogic Servers and Domains

Unique naming rules apply to all WebLogic Server deployments if more than one domain is involved. Therefore, make sure that:

Enabling Interoperability Security for WebLogic Domains

Follow these guidelines when an 8.1 domain is interoperating with another version 6.1 or later domain:

  1. Configure the WebLogic Server 8.1 security interoperability as follows:
    1. Expand the Domains node (for example, Examples).
    2. Click the View Domain-Wide Security Settings link on the General tab.
    3. Select the Security Configuration —> Advanced tab.
    4. If necessary, clear the Enable Generated Credential check box.
    5. Enter a password for the domain in the Credential field.
    6. This password must match the password used for the domain that you are interoperating with.

    7. Confirm the password in the Confirm field.
    8. Click Apply.
  2. When interoperating with a version 6.1 domain, the 7.0 or 8.1 Credential password must exactly match the "system" user password configured for the 6.1 domain. Also, make sure that "system" user is a member of the Administrators group in the 7.0 or 8.1 domain.

    Note: For more information about interoperability security, see "Using Compatibility Security" in Managing WebLogic Security.

Using the Messaging Bridge To Access Destinations In Another 6.1 or Later Domain

Use these guidelines when configuring a messaging bridge that provides transactional communication between a WebLogic Server 8.1 domain and an earlier WebLogic Server 7.0 or 6.1domain.

Note: The Exactly-once quality of service for transactions is only supported for implementations of WebLogic Server 6.1 or later.

Using the Messaging Bridging To Access Destinations In a 6.0 Domain

When configuring a messaging bridge involves interoperability between WebLogic Server 8.1 and a version 6.0 domain, you must configure the following items on the Weblogic Server 8.1 domain that the bridge is running on:

Note: The Exactly-once QOS for transactions is not supported for WebLogic Server 6.0. For more information on the bridge QOS options, see the Attribute table in Messaging Bridge --> Configuration --> General.

Note: For more information about interoperability security, see "Using Compatibility Security" in Managing WebLogic Security.

Using the Messaging Bridging To Access Destinations In a 5.1 Domain

When configuring a messaging bridge involves interoperability between WebLogic Server 8.1 and version 5.1, you must configure the following on the Weblogic Server 8.1 implementation that the bridge is running on:

Note: The Exactly-once QOS for transactions is not supported for WebLogic Server 5.1. For more information on the bridge QOS options, see the Attribute table in Messaging Bridge --> Configuration --> General.

Note: For more information about interoperability security, see "Using Compatibility Security" in Managing WebLogic Security.

 


Using the Messaging Bridge to Access a Third-Party Messaging Provider

When configuring a messaging bridge involves interoperability with a third-party messaging provider, you must configure the following:

 


Managing a Messaging Bridge

Once a messaging bridge is up and running, it can managed from the console.

Monitoring All Messaging Bridges

To monitor the status of all configured messaging bridges in your domain:

  1. Expand the Server node.
  2. Select the server instance where the messaging bridges are configured. A dialog displays in the right pane showing the tabs associated with the selected server instance.
  3. Select the Services —> Bridge tab.
  4. Click the Monitor all Messaging Bridge Runtimes text link.
  5. A table displays showing all the messaging bridge instances for the server and their status (either as running or not running).

Stopping and Restarting a Messaging Bridge

To temporarily suspend and restart an active messaging bridge:

  1. Expand the Messaging Bridge node.
  2. Select the messaging bridge instance that you want to suspend.
  3. On the Configuration —> General tab, clear the Started check box to suspend the bridge.
  4. To restart the bridge, select the Started check box.

Configuring the Messaging Bridge Execute Thread Pool Size

You can configure the default execute thread pool size for your messaging bridges. For example, you may want to increase or decrease the default size to reduce competition from the WebLogic Server default thread pool. Entering a value of -1 disables this thread pool and forces a messaging bridge to use the WebLogic Server default thread pool.

  1. Expand the Servers node.
  2. Select the specific server instance where the messaging bridge is configured.
  3. In the right pane, select the Services —> Bridge tab.
  4. Enter a new value in the Messaging Bridge Thread Pool Size field.
  5. Click Apply to save your changes.

 

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