Contents

Title and Copyright Information

Preface

• Documentation Accessibility
• Conventions

1 Introduction and Roadmap

• Document Scope and Audience
• Guide to this Document
• Related Documentation
• New and Changed Clustering Features in This Release

2 Understanding WebLogic Server Clustering

• What Is a WebLogic Server Cluster?
• How Does a Cluster Relate to a Domain?
• What Are the Benefits of Clustering?
• What Are the Key Capabilities of a Cluster?
• What Types of Objects Can Be Clustered?
  • Servlets and JSPs
  • EJBs and RMI Objects
  • JMS and Clustering
• What Types of Objects Cannot Be Clustered?

3 Communications In a Cluster

• WebLogic Server Communication In a Cluster
  • Using IP Multicast for Backward Compatibility
    • Multicast and Cluster Configuration
  • One-to-Many Communication Using Unicast
    • Unicast Configuration
    • Considerations When Using Unicast
  • Peer-to-Peer Communication Using IP Sockets
    • Pure-Java Versus Native Socket Reader Implementations
    • Configuring Reader Threads for Java Socket Implementation
  • Client Communication via Sockets
• Cluster-Wide JNDI Naming Service
  • How WebLogic Server Creates the Cluster-Wide JNDI Tree
  • How JNDI Naming Conflicts Occur
    • Deploy Homogeneously to Avoid Cluster-Level JNDI Conflicts
  • How WebLogic Server Updates the JNDI Tree
  • Client Interaction with the Cluster-Wide JNDI Tree

4 Understanding Cluster Configuration

• Cluster Configuration and config.xml
• Role of the Administration Server
  • What Happens if the Administration Server Fails?
• How Dynamic Configuration Works
• Application Deployment for Clustered Configurations
  • Deployment Methods
  • Introduction to Two-Phase Deployment
    • First Phase of Deployment
    • Second Phase of Deployment
  • Guidelines for Deploying to a Cluster
    • WebLogic Server Supports "Relaxed Deployment" Rules
• Methods of Configuring Clusters

5 Load Balancing in a Cluster

• Load Balancing for Servlets and JSPs
  • Load Balancing with a Proxy Plug-in
    • How Session Connection and Failover Work with a Proxy Plug-in
  • Load Balancing HTTP Sessions with an External Load Balancer
    • Load Balancer Configuration Requirements
    • Load Balancers and the WebLogic Session Cookie
    • Related Programming Considerations
    • How Session Connection and Failover Works with a Load Balancer
• Load Balancing for EJBs and RMI Objects
  • Round-Robin Load Balancing
  • Weight-Based Load Balancing
  • Random Load Balancing
  • Server Affinity Load Balancing Algorithms
    • Server Affinity and Initial Context
    • Server Affinity and IIOP Client Authentication Using CSIv2
    • Round-Robin Affinity, Weight-Based Affinity, and Random-Affinity
  • Parameter-Based Routing for Clustered Objects
  • Optimization for Collocated Objects
    • Transactional Collocation
• Load Balancing for JMS
  • Server Affinity for Distributed JMS Destinations
  • Initial Context Affinity and Server Affinity for Client Connections

6 Failover and Replication in a Cluster

• How WebLogic Server Detects Failures
  • Failure Detection Using IP Sockets
  • The WebLogic Server "Heartbeat"
• Replication and Failover for Servlets and JSPs
  • HTTP Session State Replication
    • Requirements for HTTP Session State Replication
    • Using Replication Groups
  • Accessing Clustered Servlets and JSPs Using a Proxy
    • Proxy Connection Procedure
    • Proxy Failover Procedure
  • Accessing Clustered Servlets and JSPs with Load Balancing Hardware
    • Connection with Load Balancing Hardware
    • Failover with Load Balancing Hardware
  • Session State Replication Across Clusters in a MAN/WAN
    • Network Requirements for Cross-cluster Replication
    • Configuration Requirements for Cross-Cluster Replication
    • Configuring Session State Replication Across Clusters
    • Configuring a Replication Channel
    • MAN HTTP Session State Replication
    • WAN HTTP Session State Replication
• Replication and Failover for EJBs and RMIs
  • Clustering Objects with Replica-Aware Stubs
  • Clustering Support for Different Types of EJBs
    • Clustered EJBHomes
    • Clustered EJBObjects
    • Entity EJBs
  • Clustering Support for RMI Objects
  • Object Deployment Requirements
    • Other Failover Exceptions

7 Whole Server Migration

• Understanding Server and Service Migration
• Migration Terminology
• Leasing
  • Features That Use Leasing
  • Leasing Versions
  • Determining Which Type of Leasing To Use
  • High-availability Database Leasing
    • Server Migration with Database Leasing on RAC Clusters
  • Non-database Consensus Leasing
• Automatic Whole Server Migration
  • Preparing for Automatic Whole Server Migration
  • Configuring Automatic Whole Server Migration
  • Using High Availability Storage for State Data
  • Server Migration Processes and Communications
    • Startup Process in a Cluster with Migratable Servers
    • Automatic Whole Server Migration Process
    • Manual Whole Server Migration Process
    • Administration Server Role in Whole Server Migration
    • Migratable Server Behavior in a Cluster
    • Node Manager Role in Whole Server Migration
    • Cluster Master Role in Whole Server Migration

8 Service Migration

• Understanding the Service Migration Framework
  • Migratable Services
    • JMS-related Services
    • JTA Transaction Recovery Service
    • User-defined Singleton Services
  • Understanding Migratable Targets In a Cluster
    • Policies for Manual and Automatic Service Migration
    • Options For Attempting to Restart Failed Services Before Migrating
    • User-Preferred Servers and Candidate Servers
    • Example Migratable Targets In a Cluster
    • Targeting Rules for JMS Servers
    • Targeting Rules for SAF Agents
    • Targeting Rules for Path Service
    • Targeting Rules for Custom Stores
    • Migratable Targets For the JTA Transaction Recovery Service
  • Migration Processing Tools
    • Administration Console
    • WebLogic Scripting Tool
  • Automatic Service Migration Infrastructure
    • Leasing for Migratable Services
    • Node Manager
    • Administration Server Not Required When Migrating Services
    • Service Health Monitoring
  • In-Place Restarting of Failed Migratable Services
  • Migrating a Service From an Unavailable Server
  • JMS and JTA Automatic Service Migration Interaction
• Pre-Migration Requirements
  • Custom Store Availability for JMS Services
  • Default File Store Availability for JTA
  • Server State and Manual Service Migration
• Roadmap for Configuring Automatic Migration of JMS-related Services
  • Step 1: Configured Managed Servers and Node Manager
  • Step 2: Configure the Migration Leasing Basis
  • Step 3: Configure Migratable Targets
    • Configuring a Migratable Server as an Automatically Migratable Target
    • Create a New Migratable Target
  • Step 4: Configure and Target Custom Stores
  • Step 5: Target the JMS Services
    • Special Considerations When Targeting SAF Agents or Path Service
  • Step 6: Restart the Administration Server and Managed Servers With Modified Migration Policies
  • Step 7: Manually Migrating JMS Services Back to the Original Server
• Best Practices for Targeting JMS when Configuring Automatic Service Migration
• Roadmap for Configuring Manual Migration of JMS-related Services
  • Step 1: Configured Managed Servers
  • Step 2: Configure Migratable Targets
    • Configuring a Migratable Server As a Migratable Target
    • Create a New Migratable Target
  • Step 3: Configure and Target Custom Stores
  • Step 4: Target the JMS Services
    • Special Considerations When Targeting SAF Agents or Path Service
  • Step 5: Restart the Administration Server and Managed Servers With Modified Migration Policies
  • Step 6: Manually Migrating JMS Services
• Roadmap for Configuring Automatic Migration of the JTA Transaction Recovery Service
  • Step 1: Configured Managed Servers and Node Manager
  • Step 2: Configure the Migration Basis
  • Step 3: Enable Automatic JTA Migration
    • Select the Automatic JTA Migration Check Box
    • Optionally Select Candidate Servers
    • Optionally Specify Pre/Post-Migration Scripts
  • Step 4: Configure the Default Persistent Store For Transaction Recovery Service Migration
  • Step 5: Restart the Administration Server and Managed Servers With Modified Migration Policies
  • Step 6: Automatic Failback of the Transaction Recovery Service Back to the Original Server
• Manual Migration of the JTA Transaction Recovery Service
• Automatic Migration of User-Defined Singleton Services
  • Overview of Singleton Service Migration
    • Singleton Master
    • Migration Failure
  • Implementing the Singleton Service Interface
  • Deploying a Singleton Service and Configuring the Migration Behavior
    • Packaging and Deploying a Singleton Service Within an Application
    • Deploying a Singleton Service as a Standalone Service in WebLogic Server
    • Configuring Singleton Service Migration

9 Cluster Architectures

• Architectural and Cluster Terminology
  • Architecture
  • Web Application Tiers
  • Combined Tier Architecture
  • De-Militarized Zone (DMZ)
  • Load Balancer
  • Proxy Plug-In
• Recommended Basic Architecture
  • When Not to Use a Combined Tier Architecture
• Recommended Multi-Tier Architecture
  • Physical Hardware and Software Layers
    • Web/Presentation Layer
    • Object Layer
  • Benefits of Multi-Tier Architecture
  • Load Balancing Clustered Objects in a in Multi-Tier Architecture
  • Configuration Considerations for Multi-Tier Architecture
    • IP Socket Usage
    • Hardware Load Balancers
  • Limitations of Multi-Tier Architectures
    • No Collocation Optimization
    • Firewall Restrictions
• Recommended Proxy Architectures
  • Two-Tier Proxy Architecture
    • Physical Hardware and Software Layers
  • Multi-Tier Proxy Architecture
  • Proxy Architecture Benefits
  • Proxy Architecture Limitations
  • Proxy Plug-In Versus Load Balancer
• Security Options for Cluster Architectures
  • Basic Firewall for Proxy Architectures
    • Firewall Between Proxy Layer and Cluster
    • DMZ with Basic Firewall Configurations
    • Combining Firewall with Load Balancer
    • Expanding the Firewall for Internal Clients
  • Additional Security for Shared Databases
    • DMZ with Two Firewall Configuration

10 Setting up WebLogic Clusters

• Before You Start
  • Understand the Configuration Process
  • Determine Your Cluster Architecture
  • Consider Your Network and Security Topologies
  • Choose Machines for the Cluster Installation
    • WebLogic Server Instances on Multi-CPU Machines
    • Check Host Machines' Socket Reader Implementation
    • Setting Up a Cluster on a Disconnected Windows Machine
  • Identify Names and Addresses
    • Avoiding Listen Address Problems
    • Assigning Names to WebLogic Server Resources
    • Administration Server Address and Port
    • Managed Server Addresses and Listen Ports
    • Cluster Multicast Address and Port
    • Cluster Address
• Cluster Implementation Procedures
  • Configuration Roadmap
  • Install WebLogic Server
  • Create a Clustered Domain
    • Starting a WebLogic Server Cluster
  • Configure Node Manager
  • Configure Load Balancing Method for EJBs and RMIs
  • Specifying a Timeout Value For RMIs
  • Configure Server Affinity for Distributed JMS Destinations
  • Configuring Load Balancers that Support Passive Cookie Persistence
  • Configure Proxy Plug-Ins
    • Set Up the HttpClusterServlet
  • Configure Replication Groups
  • Configure Migratable Targets for Pinned Services
  • Package Applications for Deployment
  • Deploy Applications
    • Deploying to a Single Server Instance (Pinned Deployment)
    • Cancelling Cluster Deployments
    • Viewing Deployed Applications
    • Undeploying Deployed Applications
  • Deploying, Activating, and Migrating Migratable Services
    • Deploying JMS to a Migratable Target Server Instance
    • Activating JTA as a Migratable Service
    • Migrating a Pinned Service to a Target Server Instance
  • Configure In-Memory HTTP Replication
  • Additional Configuration Topics
    • Configure IP Sockets
    • Configure Multicast Time-To-Live (TTL)
    • Configure Multicast Buffer Size
    • Configure Multicast Data Encryption
    • Configure Machine Names
    • Configuration Notes for Multi-Tier Architecture
    • Enable URL Rewriting

11 Clustering Best Practices

• General Design Considerations
  • Strive for Simplicity
  • Minimize Remote Calls
    • Session Facades Reduce Remote Calls
    • Transfer Objects Reduce Remote Calls
    • Distributed Transactions Increase Remote Calls
• Web Application Design Considerations
  • Configure In-Memory Replication
  • Design for Idempotence
  • Programming Considerations
• EJB Design Considerations
  • Design Idempotent Methods
  • Follow Usage and Configuration Guidelines
    • Cluster-Related Configuration Options
• State Management in a Cluster
• Application Deployment Considerations
• Architecture Considerations
• Avoiding Problems
  • Naming Considerations
  • Administration Server Considerations
  • Firewall Considerations
  • Evaluate Cluster Capacity Prior to Production Use

12 Troubleshooting Common Problems

• Before You Start the Cluster
  • Check the Server Version Numbers
  • Check the Multicast Address
  • Check the CLASSPATH Value
• After You Start the Cluster
  • Check Your Commands
  • Generate a Log File
    • Getting a JRockit Thread Dump Under Linux
  • Check Garbage Collection
  • Run utils.MulticastTest

13 Troubleshooting Multicast Configuration

• Verifying Multicast Address and Port Configuration
  • Possible Errors
  • Checking the Multicast Address and Port
• Identifying Network Configuration Problems
  • Physical Connections
  • Address Conflicts
  • nsswitch.conf Settings on UNIX Systems
• Using the MulticastTest Utility
• Tuning Multicast Features
  • Multicast Timeouts
  • Cluster Heartbeats
    • Multicast Send Delay
    • Operating System Parameters
  • Multicast Storms
  • Multicast and Multihomed Machines
  • Multicast in Different Subnets
• Debugging Multicast
  • Debugging Utilities
    • MulticastMonitor
    • MulticastTest
  • Debugging Flags
    • Setting Debug Flags on the Command Line
    • Setting Debug Attributes Using WLST
• Miscellaneous Issues
  • Multicast on AIX
  • File Descriptor Problems
• Other Resources for Troubleshooting Multicast Configuration

A The WebLogic Cluster API

• How to Use the API
• Custom Call Routing and Collocation Optimization

B Configuring BIG-IP Hardware with Clusters

C Configuring F5 Load Balancers for MAN/WAN Failover

• Requirements
• Configure Local Load Balancers
  • Virtual Server IPs and Pools
  • Create a Failover Trigger Virtual Server and Pool
  • Create a Multi-layered Virtual Server and IP Pool
• Configure the 3-DNS Global Hardware Load Balancer
  • Configure DNS Zones
  • Configure BIG-IP Addresses Managed by 3-DNS
  • Configure Data Centers
  • Configure Wide IPs
• Configuring WebLogic Server Components

D Configuring Radware Load Balancers for MAN/WAN Failover

• Requirements
• Step 1: Configure an Authoritative Delegation Zone
• Step 2: Configure Farm Virtual IPs and Servers
  • Create a Farm IP
  • Configure the Dispatch Method for the Server Farm
  • Creating Farm Servers
• Step 3: Configure Port Multiplexing
• Step 4: Configure HTTP Redirects
• Step 5: Configure Session ID Persistency
• Step 6: Configure LRP
• Step 7: Configure WebLogic Server Components