Using Component Types to Deploy WebLogic Applications

The WebLogic 8 Plug-In includes several WebLogic-specific component types. These component types enable you to quickly model many of the most common WebLogic application components and to automatically associate install, uninstall, export, and snapshot behavior with a particular resource. Many of the component types are used by the software when you create and manage servers and clusters. As a result, you will only work with a few component types on a regular basis.

• Enterprise Application (EAR) Component Type

• Web Application (WAR) Component Type

• Java Archive Files Containing EJBs Component Type

However, based on the needs of your application, you might need to configure the WebLogic services before you can deploy the application components. To configure the services, you might need to rely on the component types that are described in the following sections:

• Data Source and Transaction Data Source Component Types

• Data Source and Transaction Data Source Component Types

• Connection Pool Component Type

• Multi Pool Component Type

• Thread Pool Component Type

• Transaction Service Component Type

• JMS Server Component Type

• Mail Session Component Type

These configuration component types are only necessary if your application requires them. For example, if your web application uses a database to retrieve and store information, you will need to configure a connection pool and data source or transactional data source.

To use these configuration component types, select the task that you want to perform and run the associated component procedure. If you need to create and check-in a new component based on an existing component elsewhere on your file system, click Create. After checking in the new component, you can run the appropriate component procedure to configure the WebLogic environment according to your application's needs.

You usually configure and deploy these configuration component types before deploying your application. However, you can configure the WebLogic environment after the application components have been deployed by restarting the application after configuration is complete. Redeploy the application to restart it.

For more information about configuring these configuration objects, see BEA's Administration Console Online Help.

Enterprise Application (EAR) Component Type

A component of this type models an enterprise application. The component can contain either an enterprise application archive (EAR) or the expanded version of an EAR as a package.

Browsing for an Enterprise Application

You can use one of the following browsers to select your enterprise application for this component type:

• A WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select one of the installed applications and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of enterprise applications on the Administration Server. You can choose one enterprise application for a component.

• A file system browser from which you can select the EAR file to create a component that does not include settings. The file system browser provides a list of files and directories from which you can choose. You can choose to see only those files or type *.ear in the browser.

Installing an Enterprise Application

To install an enterprise application component, you must use a WebLogic Managed Server or cluster as the target host. The installation process performs three main tasks:

1. Installs the EAR file on the target.

2. Registers the EAR with the WebLogic Administration Server.

3. Applies any properties previously captured during domain browse.

You can install the enterprise application by navigating to the application's component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

Uninstalling an Enterprise Application

When you uninstall an enterprise application component, the enterprise application no longer targets the virtual host. If the enterprise application is not targeted elsewhere, the registration component is removed from the Administration Server.

You can uninstall the enterprise application by navigating to the application's component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Error Conditions

Table 4–2 WebLogic Enterprise Application Error Conditions

Action	Condition	Result
Install	The topology is incorrectly configured (target host does not point at correct domain host)	Targeting fails
Install	The target host is not a valid WebLogic target	Installation prohibited
Browsing/Install/Uninstall	Credentials are not properly configured	Operation fails
Browsing	Path not correctly configured in domain host	Browsing fails

Web Application (WAR) Component Type

A component of this type includes a web application. The component can contain either a web application and its relevant settings or the web application without its settings.

Browsing for a Web Application

You can use one of the following browsers to select your web application for this component type:

• A WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select one of the installed applications and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of web applications on the Administration Server. You can choose one web application for a component.

• A file system browser from which you can select the WAR file to create a component that does not include settings. The file system browser provides a list of files and directories from which you can choose. You can choose to see only those files or type *.war in the browser.

Installing a Web Application

To install a web application component, you must use a WebLogic Managed Server or cluster as the target host. The installation process will install the component on that target, and install the contained registration component on the Administration Server of the target.

You can install the web application by navigating to the application's component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

Uninstalling a Web Application

When you uninstall a web application component, the web application no longer targets the virtual host. If the web application is not targeted elsewhere, the registration component is removed from the Administration Server.

You can uninstall the web application by navigating to the application's component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Error Conditions

Table 4–3 WebLogic Web Application Error Conditions

Action	Condition	Result
Install	The topology is incorrectly configured (target host doesn't point at correct domain host)	Targeting fails.
Install	The target host is not a valid WL target.	Installation prohibited.
Browsing/Install/Uninstall	Credentials aren't properly configured.	Operation fails.
Browsing	Path not correctly configured in domain host.	Browsing fails.

Java Archive Files Containing EJBs Component Type

Browsing for a JAR or EJB File

You can use one of the following browsers to select your EJB or JAR files for this component type:

• A WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select one of the installed applications and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of applications on the Administration Server. You can choose one EJB for a component.

• A file system browser from which you can select the JAR file to create a component that does not include settings. The file system browser provides a list of files and directories from which you can choose. You can choose to see only those files or type *.jar in the browser.

Installing a JAR or EJB File

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the JAR or EJB file by navigating to the application's component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

Uninstalling a JAR or EJB File

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the master server.

You can uninstall the JAR or EJB file by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Error Conditions

Table 4–4 WebLogic EJB container Error Conditions

Action	Condition	Result
Uninstall	A dependant WebLogic EJB is still installed.	Uninstall fails indicating the dependency.

Data Source and Transaction Data Source Component Types

Browsing for a Data Source or Transaction Data Source

You can use a WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select the data source or transaction data source and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of applications on the Administration Server.

The WebLogic plug-in also includes a default data source and transaction data source, which eliminates the need for browsing. You can find the default components in the /com/sun/webLogic8 folder or by selecting View All from the Common Tasks page. The default components can then be installed through the component Details page using the Default: Install component procedure. The default components are named as follows:

• WLDataSourceConfig – the data source component

• WLTxDataSourceConfig – the transactional data source component

Installing a Data Source or Transaction Data Source

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the data source or transaction data source by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You must edit the following variables before installing the data source or transaction data source:

• Data Source or Transaction Data Source name

• Java Naming and Directory Interface™ (JDNI™) name

• Pool name

Uninstalling a Data Source or Transaction Data Source

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the master server.

You can uninstall the data source or transaction data source by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Connection Pool Component Type

Browsing for a Connection Pool

You can use a WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select a connection pool and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of applications on the Administration Server.

The WebLogic plug-in also includes a default connection pool component called WLJDBCConnectionPoolConfig. This default component eliminates the need for browsing. You can find the default component in the /com/sun/webLogic8 folder or by selecting View All from the Common Tasks page. The default component can then be installed through the component Details page using the Default: Install component procedure.

Installing a Connection Pool

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the connection pool by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You must edit the following variables before installing the connection pool:

• Pool name

• URL

• Driver

• Database name

• User

• Password

Uninstalling a Connection Pool

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the Master Server.

You can uninstall the connection pool by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Multi Pool Component Type

Browsing for a Multi Pool

You can use a WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select a Multi Pool and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of applications on the Administration Server.

The WebLogic plug-in also includes a default connection pool component called WLJDBCMultiPoolConfig. This default component eliminates the need for browsing. You can find the default component in the /com/sun/webLogic8 folder or by selecting View All from the Common Tasks page. The default component can then be installed through the component Details page using the Default: Install component procedure.

Installing a Multi Pool

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the multi pool by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You must edit the following variables before installing the multi pool:

• Multi Pool name

• Algorithm type

• Pool List – A pipe-separated (|) list of connection pools.

Uninstalling a Multi Pool

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the Master Server.

You can uninstall the Multi Pool by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Thread Pool Component Type

Configuring the Thread Pool

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the thread pool by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You can edit the plan parameter variable settings.

Uninstalling a Thread Pool

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the Master Server.

You can uninstall the thread pool by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Transaction Service Component Type

Configuring the Transaction Service

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the transaction service by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You can edit the plan parameter variable settings.

Uninstalling a Transaction Service

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the Master Server.

You can uninstall the transaction service by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

JMS Server Component Type

Browsing for a JMS Server

You can use a WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select a JMS Server and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of applications on the Administration Server.

The WebLogic plug-in also includes a default connection pool component called WLJMSServerConfig. This default component eliminates the need for browsing. You can find the default component in the /com/sun/webLogic8 folder or by selecting View All from the Common Tasks page. The default component can then be installed through the component Details page using the Default: Install component procedure.

Installing a JMS Server

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the JMS Server by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You must edit the JMS Server name variable before installing the JMS Server.

Uninstalling a JMS Server

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the Master Server.

You can uninstall the JMS Server by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.

Mail Session Component Type

Browsing for a Mail Session

You can use a WebLogic Administration Server browser from which you can select a mail session and its relevant settings. The Administration Server browser provides an alphabetical list of applications on the Administration Server.

Installing a Mail Session

When you install a component of this type, the file or directory is copied to the file system based on the install path. Once that copy finishes, the file or directory is registered with the WebLogic Administration Server.

You can install the mail session by navigating to the component Details page and running the Install component procedure.

You must edit the following variables before installing the mail session:

• Mail Session name

• JNDI name

Uninstalling a Mail Session

When you uninstall a component of this type, the file or directory is removed from the Master Server.

You can uninstall the mail session by navigating to the component Details page and running the Uninstall component procedure.