1) The document discusses best practices for deploying applications on WebLogic Server. It addresses challenges like managing multiple applications and versions. 2) It provides strategies and tools for deployment including using the Deployer, Ant, Maven, and WLST scripts. It recommends planning deployments to clusters from the start. 3) The document discusses considerations for production redeployments like handling versioning, retire timeouts, and maintaining session state during redeployments. It also notes some pain points like managing custom configuration data and security policies.

1. DOAG 2013 IMC,Mainz, 06. Juni 2013
Andreas Koop
CEO & Consultant
Oracle Technologies
DEPLOYMENT BEST PRACTICES
ON WEBLOGIC SERVER
Challenges
Strategies
Plan
Best Practices

2. Andreas Koop
CEO & Consultant
Oracle TechnologiesABOUT
Consulting, Training Oracle Fusion Middleware
ADF Certified Implementation Specialist
Community
DOAG, ADF EMG, ADF German Community, Twitter @multikoop
Blog
Technical http://multikoop.blogspot.com
Sonstiges http://www.enpit.de/blog
2

3. Training DevelopmentConsulting
Oracle Fusion
Middleware
Oracle
ADF
Oracle
WebLogic
Oracle
WebCenter
ENTERPRISE PRAGMATIC IT

4. Andreas Koop
AGENDA
Deployment Challenges
Deployment Tools & Strategies
Deployment Plan
Production Redeployment
Pain Points & Conclusion
4

5. Andreas Koop
DEPLOYMENT CHALLENGES
‣ Multiple Apps, multiple versions, instant releases..
‣ Application development becomes easy,
Middleware becomes complex:
DataSources, WebServices, Processes, JMS, MDS,
App Roles, Permissions, custom configuration,
What else?
‣ Who can handle this?
5

6. Andreas Koop
APPLICATION DEPLOYMENT
OVERVIEW
‣ Prepare
‣ Copy deployment units to
target servers if needed
‣ Deploy
‣ Shared Libraries
‣ Applications
DataSources
JMS Topics/Queues
EJBs
..
6
AS App1 App2
App / Lib
deploy
Cluster
(sample topology)

7. Andreas Koop
WEBLOGIC DEPLOYMENT
TOOLS
‣ java weblogic.Deployer (. ./setWLSEnv.sh)
‣ Ant Task / Maven / Autodeploy
=> Development / Test
‣ WLST Commands
=> Development / Test / Production
‣ Admin Console / EM
=> Development / AdHoc Cases / Support
7
! Do not use in
Production
My Favorit! Gives a
lot of predictability and
safety!

8. Andreas Koop
STAGING MODE: STAGE FOR
SMALL APPLICATIONS
‣ Admin Server copies
deployment unit to
servers/<name>/
stage
‣ Managed Servers deploy
using their local copy
‣ => Use for small
applications !
8
AS App1 App2
App
deploy
ear
earcopy
earcopy
(sample topology)

9. Andreas Koop
‣ Admin Server does not
copy deployment units
‣ shared, directly
accessibly by AS and MS
‣ => Use for large
applications or exploded
-->Reload of JSP/Servlet
‣ => Saves time!
AS App1 App2
STAGING MODE: NO STAGE
FOR LARGE APPLICATIONS
9
/shared/apps/myapp1.ear
App
deploy
(sample topology)

10. Andreas Koop
‣ Admin Server does not
copy deployment units
‣ Manuel copy to AS and
MS needed
‣ => Use if no shared fs
available
‣ => Use if scripts for
manual distrib. exists
STAGING MODE: EXTERNAL
STAGE FOR...
10
AS App1 App2
App
deploy
earcopy
earcopy
earcopy
Admin
Guy
(sample topology)

11. Andreas Koop
WHERE TO LOCATE
DEPLOYMENT UNITS
‣ ! Prerequisite: Do not use default for domain home:
$MW_HOME/user_projects/domains
‣ Locate domain outside $MW_HOME
‣ Locate App artefacts outside $MW_HOME
11
/domains/mydomain/
/applications/mydomain/myapp1/1.0/app/myapp1.ear
/applications/mydomain/myapp1/1.0/plan/plan.xml

12. Andreas Koop
QUIZ: WHAT DO THAT OPTIONS
MEAN? (FROM ADMIN CONSOLE)
12
AS uses nostage by
default
MS uses stage by
default
depends
stage
nostage

13. Andreas Koop
DEPLOY WITH ANT
13
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<project name="deploy-myapp" default="deploy">
<path id="weblogic.deploy.path">
<fileset file="${weblogic.home}/server/lib/weblogic.jar" />
<fileset file="${weblogic.home}/server/lib/webservices.jar" />
</path>
<taskdef name="wldeploy"
classname="weblogic.ant.taskdefs.management.WLDeploy"
classpathref="weblogic.deploy.path" />
<target name="deploy">
</target>
</project>
<wldeploy action="deploy"
user="${weblogic.user}"
password="${weblogic.password}"
adminurl="${weblogic.adminurl}"
source="${app.webapp}" name="${app.name}"
targets="${weblogic.targets}" verbose="true"
debug="false"
/>

14. Andreas Koop
DEPLOY WITH ANT
EXTENDED
14
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<project name="deploy-myapp" default="deploy">
...
<!-- WLS Taskdefs -->
<path id="wls.classpath">
<fileset dir="${oracle.weblogic.home}/server/lib" includes="weblogic.jar"/>
</path>
<taskdef name="wlst" classname="weblogic.ant.taskdefs.management.WLSTTask"
classpathref="wls.classpath"/>
<target name="deploy">
<echo message=" Deploying application ... "/>
</target>
...
</project>
<wlst debug="true" failOnError="true" classpathref="wls.classpath"
fileName="./wlst/deploy.py"
arguments="....." >
</wlst>
Reuse existing WLST
Scripts!

15. Andreas Koop
DEPLOY WITH MAVEN
PREPARE
‣ Need to generate maven plugin with the WebLogic
JarBuilder Tool (at least in 11g)
‣ Install into Maven Repository(see documentation)
‣ Use in your projects pom.xml (see next slide)
15
$ java -jar wljarbuilder.jar -profile weblogic-maven-plugin
..
..
Created new jar file: ../wlserver_10.3/server/lib/weblogic-maven-plugin.jar

16. Andreas Koop
DEPLOY WITH MAVEN
USE
‣ Directly
‣ In ,install‘ Maven Lifecycle of your pom.xml
16
$ mvn weblogic:deploy
<plugin>
<groupId>com.oracle.weblogic</groupId>
<artifactId>weblogic-maven-plugin</artifactId>
<version>10.3.6</version>
<configuration>
<adminurl>t3://localhost:7001</adminurl>
<user>weblogic</user>
<password>password</password>
<name>myapp</name>
<upload>true</upload>
<targets>AdminServer</targets>
</configuration>

17. Andreas Koop
DEPLOY WITH MAVEN
USE
‣ In ,install‘ Maven Lifecycle of your pom.xml
17
...
<executions>
<execution>
<id>deploy</id>
<phase>install</phase>
<goals>
<goal>deploy</goal>
</goals>
<configuration>
<source>deploy/myapp.war</source>
</configuration>
</execution>
</executions>
</plugin>

18. Andreas Koop
DEPLOYMENT WITH ANT / MVN
CONCLUSION
‣ „Pure Ant“ WebLogic Deployment Tasks are not
powerful enough.
‣ Extend where needed with custom WLST scripts
‣ Fits typically well in existing CI Build Environment
‣ Extended Maven Features in WLS 12c : create-
domain, start-server .... !
18

19. Andreas Koop
DEPLOY WITH WLST
HOW TO
19
connect('weblogic', 'welcome1', ADMIN_URL)
deploy('myApp', '/path/to/myApp.ear', targets='Cluster1')
# targets='Server1'
startApplication('myApp')
disconnect()
exit()

20. Andreas Koop
UNDEPLOY WITH WLST
HOW TO
20
connect('weblogic', 'welcome1', ADMIN_URL)
stopApplication('myApp')
undeploy('myApp')
# default: from all targets
disconnect()
exit()

21. Andreas Koop
WLST DEPLOYMENT
COMMANDS
21
Command
deploy(appName, path, [targets], [stageMode], [planPath], [options])
startApplication(appName, [options])
stopApplication(appName, [options])
undeploy(appName,[targets],[options])
updateApplication(appName, [planPath], [options])
Update app with
plan.xml
listApplications()

22. Andreas Koop
‣ Always start with a cluster - even if only a single
MS is needed at the beginning
‣ => Easily to scale afterwards
‣ => No changes to deployment
strategy needed
DEPLOY TO A CLUSTER FROM
THE BEGINNING
22
App1 / Lib
deploy
App1
Cluster
App1
Cluster
App1
...

23. Andreas Koop
HANDLING DIFFERENT ENV
REQUIREMENTS
23
Development Test Production
DataSource DataSource DataSource
weblogic.xml
jsp-descriptor/verbose
= true
...
weblogic.xml
jsp-descriptor/verbose
= false
...
weblogic.xml
jsp-descriptor/verbose
= false
...
web.xml
init-param/name[css-
compression]=off
session-timeout = 3600
...
web.xml
init-param/name[css-
compression]=on
session-timeout = 60
...
web.xml
init-param/name[css-
compression]=on
session-timeout = 7200
...
...
...

24. Andreas Koop
HANDLING DIFFERENT ENV
REQUIREMENTS
24
Development Test Production
DataSource DataSource DataSource
plan.xml
web.xml -> session-
timeout = 3600
weblogic.xml -> ...
plan.xml
web.xml -> session-
timeout = 60
weblogic.xml -> ...
plan.xml
web.xml -> session-
timeout = 7200
weblogic.xml -> ...
EAR EAR EAR
...
...
deploy deploy deploy
+ ++

25. Andreas Koop
WHAT IS A DEPLOYMENT PLAN
‣ Plan (plan.xml) used with deployment artefact
‣ Replacing values by XPath / Variables
‣ Useful for
‣ Changes to web.xml / weblogic.xml / Other XML
‣ ! No changes to .properties possible
‣ „Deploy myapp.ear -plan /path/to/plan.xml ...“
25

26. Andreas Koop
DEPLOYMENT PLAN
CREATION / EDITING
‣ Working with plan.xml and plain text editor is
difficult! Best Practice: OEPE plan.xml Editor!
26
Or use
,java weblogic.PlanGenerator‘

27. Andreas Koop
EDIT DEPLOYMENT PLAN
WITH OEPE
‣ Nice XPath Editor included! easy selection of
assignable elements and selection on variable!
27

28. Andreas Koop
HOW TO DEPLOY WITH PLAN
‣ weblogic.Deployer
‣ Or with WLST
‣ Or Admin Console / EM
28
deploy('myApp', '/path/to/1.0/app/myApp.ear', plan='/path/to/1.0/plan/
plan.xml' ..)
java weblogic.Deployer .... -plan /path/to/1.0/plan/plan.xml ...

29. Andreas Koop
USE SHARED LIBRARIES
‣ Static content: js, css, images
‣ Common Functionality, Modules
29

30. Andreas Koop
HOW TO BUILD
SHARED LIBRARIES
30
MANIFEST.MF

31. Andreas Koop
HOW TO DEPLOY
SHARED LIBRARIES
‣ weblogic.Deployer
‣ Or WLST
31
#!/bin/sh
. $WL_HOME/server/bin/setWLSEnv.sh
java weblogic.Deployer -adminurl t3://eden.local:7001 -username weblogic -
password welcome1 -upload -library -targets Cluster1 -deploy -source enpit-
shared-lib.war
...
deploy('enpit-shared-lib', '/path/to/enpit-shared-lib.war',
targets='Cluster1',libraryModule='true'[, upload='true'])

32. Andreas Koop
HOW TO CONSUME
SHARED LIBRARIES
‣ Configure references in weblogic.xml or weblogic-
application.xml
32
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<weblogic-web-app xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.bea.com/ns/weblogic/weblogic-web-app.xsd"
xmlns="http://www.bea.com/ns/weblogic/weblogic-web-app">
...
<library-ref>
<library-name>enpit-common-lib</library-name>
<!--specification-version>1.0</specification-version>
<implementation-version>1.0.6</implementation-version>
<exact-match>true</exact-match-->
</library-ref>
</weblogic-web-app>

33. Andreas Koop
SHARED LIBRARIES -
POSSIBLE ERRORS
‣ Precondition: Shared Library is referenced. App is
running
‣ Solution
‣ Deploy Library as new version
‣ „Production redeploy“ dependent application
33
Cannot undeploy library Extension-Name: enpit-common-war-lib, Specification-Version: 1,
Implementation-Version: 1.0.4 from server AdminServer, because the following deployed applications
reference it: enpittestcommons-reflib.war

34. Andreas Koop
SECURITY DEPLOYMENT
CONSIDERATIONS
‣ Security Realm <- JAAS Security Standard <- OPPS
Provider
34
<security-constraint>
<web-resource-collection>
<web-resource-name>administration</web-resource-name>
<url-pattern>/admin/*.jsp</url-pattern>
<http-method>GET</http-method>
<http-method>POST</http-method>
</web-resource-collection>
<auth-constraint>
<role-name>admin-users</role-name>
</auth-constraint>
</security-constraint>
<login-config>
<auth-method>BASIC</auth-method>
<realm-name>jazn.com</realm-name>
</login-config>
<security-role>
<role-name>admin-users</role-name>
</security-role>
web.xml

35. Andreas Koop
SECURITY DEPLOYMENT
CONSIDERATIONS
‣ Deployment Descriptor (DD only, Java EE Standard)
‣
‣ Custom Roles Model
=> Any DD Role-Mapping is ignored
‣ Custom Roles and Policy Model
=> Not recommended for fine-grained control
35
<security-role-assignment>
<role-name>admin-users</role-name>
<principal-name>Administrator</principal-name>
</security-role-assignment>
weblogic.xml

36. Andreas Koop
SECURITY DEPLOYMENT
CONSIDERATIONS
‣ system-jazn-data.xml (OPSS specific)
‣ The best tool currently is Enterprise Manager
36
BPM Role Mapping for
instance

37. Andreas Koop
PRODUCTION REDEPLOYMENT
37
app v1.0 app v1.0.1
Existing client
connections
New Client
Connections
deploy('myApp', '/path/to/myApp.ear', ..,appVersion = '1.0')
deploy('myApp', '/path/to/myApp.ear', ..,appVersion = '1.0.1')

38. Andreas Koop
PRODUCTION REDEPLOYMENT
BEST PRACTICE
38
‣ Provide Version information inside
MANIFEST.MF
‣ Set version during CI build process!
‣ Specify retire grace period on redeploy
‣ Retire immediately
... -redeploy -source ...myapp.ear -retiretimeout 300
... -undeploy -name myapp -appversion 1.0
Arggh. Need the
lower version no. Not
easy to automate...

39. Andreas Koop
SOLUTION FOR
UNDEPLOY RETIRED APPS
39
def undeploy_retired_apps(l_appName):
cd ('AppDeployments')
l_apps=cmo.getAppDeployments()
for app in l_apps:
domainConfig()
cd ('/AppDeployments/'+app.getName()+'/Targets')
l_targets = ls(returnMap='true')
domainRuntime()
cd('AppRuntimeStateRuntime/AppRuntimeStateRuntime')
for target in l_targets:
l_state=cmo.getCurrentState(app.getName(),target)
if app.getName().find(l_appName) != -1:
if l_state == 'STOP_RUNNING':
log_info ('Found:'+ app.getName()+' - '+str(l_state))
stopApplication(app.getName())
l_state=cmo.getCurrentState(app.getName(),target)
if l_state == 'STATE_RETIRED':
log_info ('Found:'+ app.getName()+' - '+str(l_state))
undeploy_app(app.getName())
undeploy_retired_apps()

40. Andreas Koop
PRODUCTION REDEPLOYMENT
BEST PRACTICE
40
‣ Rollback deployment to previous
version is an easy task
‣ Keep in mind: In-Place redeployment destroys
existing sessions! To keep the session state:
... -redeploy -source .../1.0/app/myapp.ear
weblogic.xml
..
<container-descriptor>
<save-sessions-enabled>true</save-sessions-enabled>
</container-descriptor>
..
!Hower, the
application will not be
available at redeploy!

41. Andreas Koop
PAIN POINTS AND POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS
‣ Custom configuration data
Suggestion: Properties accessible by JNDI (See GlassFish)
‣ Single Security Policy Store for all applications
(system-jazn-data.xml)
Recommendation: OID or DB based Policy-Store
Suggestion: Policy-Store bundled with app deployment
41
App1
Domain
App 2
system-jazn-data.xml
- Role-Mapping App1
- Role-Mapping App2
- Permissions App1
- Permissions App2

42. Andreas Koop
CONCLUSION
‣ Automate from the beginning
‣ Stage mode depends on app size, existing
infrastructure
‣ Use deployment plans & „production
redeployment“
‣ Use shared libs where applicable
42

43. Andreas Koop
FURTHER READING
‣ Oracle FMW Admin Guide
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/core.1111/e10105/deployer_role.htm
‣ Oracle FMW Deploying Applications to WLS
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/web.1111/e13702/toc.htm
‣ Community / Blogs
http://middlewaremagic.com
http://weblogic-wonders.com
http://weblogic-tips.com
...
43

44. VIELEN DANK FÜR IHRE
AUFMERKSAMKEIT
HABEN SIE NOCH FRAGEN?