BEA WebLogic Server 8.1 Unleashed

BEA WebLogic Server 8.1 Unleashed is the definitive reference for the WebLogic developer, offering an in-depth look at the capabilities provided by WebLogic Server and illustrating the best development practices. The book covers WebLogic's role in every aspect of a J2EE application: from working with Servlets, JavaServer Pages and Enterprise JavaBeans, to managing distributed systems including transactions with JTA, directory services with JNDI, messaging with JMS, and more. The authors pay special attention to testing, optimizing and debugging within WebLogic, implementing security features, and administering WebLogic applications. Configure hardware and software for a successful WebLogic installation Gather the right mix of skills and background to build WebLogic applications Architect and deploy Web applications with JSP and Java Servlets Leverage the J2EE APIs for handling transactions, messaging, databases, mail services, and more Build applications with JSP Tag Libraries and Jakarta Struts Learn best practices and design strategies for Enterprise JavaBeans Test, debug, and optimize WebLogic applications using JUnit, JProbe, and JMeter Integrate WebLogic into enterprise systems with XML, Web services, jCOM, JCo, and CORBA, including Tuxedo applications Administer WebLogic applications and work with clustered servers Develop WebLogic Server applications using WebLogic Workshop 8.1

Table of Contents:
Introduction. I. GETTING STARTED WITH WEBLOGIC SERVER. 1. Introduction to WebLogic Server. The Need for WebLogic Server. Brief Overview of WebLogic Server. How WebLogic Server Fits in an Organization. BEA's Product Line. What's New with WebLogic Server. Summary. 2. Installing WebLogic Server. Windows Install. Unix Install. Installing WebLogic Platform License. Updating WebLogic 8 License. Encryption Licensing. Installing WebLogic 8 Service Packs. Starting and Stopping WebLogic Server. Creating Your Own Startup Scripts. Troubleshooting. Summary. 3. Skillset Required for WebLogic Application Development. Software and Hardware Administration. Java Skills. Visual Presentation Skills. Database Skills. Connectivity to Legacy Systems. Testing and Quality Assurance. Customer Support Specialists. Software Development Phases. Summary. 4. Hardware and Configuration Required for WebLogic Application Development. Running WebLogic Server 8.1 in a Development Environment. Other Helpful Software. Packaging and Deploying Software. Team Development. Summary. 5. Enterprise Application Design with WebLogic Server. Understanding N-Tier Applications. J2EE Platform. Modeling Technique—UML. Design Strategy—Model View Controller Pattern. Development Methodologies. Summary. II. WEBLOGIC SERVER WEB APPLICATIONS. 6. Introduction to WebLogic Web Applications. Web Applications Defined. Web Applications and Request-Response Model. Creating a Web Application. Summary. 7. Deploying Web Applications. Application Packaging and Predeployment. Methods of Deploying Applications. Deployment Issues with WebLogic Server. Deployment Best Practices. Summary. III. USING J2EE TECHNOLOGIES IN WEBLOGIC APPLICATIONS. 8. Naming and Directory Services with JNDI. Naming Services. Java Naming and Directory Interface. JNDI and WebLogic Server. JNDI Best Practices. Summary. 9. Processing Transactions with the Java Transaction API. Transactions Overview. Transaction Isolation Level. How Transactions Are Performed by WebLogic Server. Transaction Scope. The Java Transaction API and WebLogic. Other JTA Interfaces. WebLogic Extensions to the JTA. Configuring Container-Managed Enterprise Components. JTA Properties in the Administration Console. Global Auctions Use of JTA. Best Practice for Choosing Transaction Attributes. Summary. 10. Managing Database Connectivity Using JDBC. JDBC Architecture. PointBase Database Server. Basic JDBC Features. Advanced JDBC Features. WebLogic JDBC-Monitoring and Tuning. JDBC-Best Practices. JDBC and the Global Auctions Management System. Summary. 11. Creating Distributed Applications with RMI. Introduction to RMI. When to Use RMI. RMI Compiler. Writing RMI Code. Performance Issues. WebLogic RMI Registry. WebLogic RMI API. WebLogic RMI Best Practices. Summary. 12. Enterprise Messaging with JMS. Brief Introduction to Enterprise Messaging. Brief Introduction to JMS. JMS Core Architecture. JMS Point-to-Point Queue Model. JMS Publish-Subscribe Model. JMS Unified Messaging Domain Model. Advanced WebLogic JMS Configuration. Best Practices for Enterprise Messaging. Summary. 13. Handling Mail Services with JavaMail. Email Protocols. Extending the Capability to Your JavaMail API. JavaBeans Activation Framework. Core Classes of the JavaMail API. JavaMail and WebLogic Server. Creating Email Components. JavaMail and the Global Auctions Application. Summary. IV. USING WEB TECHNOLOGIES IN WEBLOGIC APPLICATIONS. 14. Writing WebLogic Server Servlets. Servlet 2.3 Specification. Servlets and Alternatives. Servlet Life Cycle. Writing Simple Servlets. When to Use Servlets. Servlet API. Servlet Thread Models. Using the Servlet API. Dispatching to Other Resources. Advanced Servlet Programming. Best Practices for Implementing Servlets. Summary. 15. Writing WebLogic Server JavaServer Pages. Introduction to JSP. How WebLogic Server Works with Servlets. When to Use JSPs. JSP Syntax. JSP Implicit Objects. Sample JSP Page. Configuring and Deploying WebLogic JSP. JSP Best Practices. Summary. 16. JavaBeans and Model-View-Controller (MVC) Architecture. MVC Architecture. Introduction to JavaBeans. How to Incorporate JavaBeans into Servlet-JSP Workflow. MVC Best Practices. Summary. 17. Using JSP Tag Libraries. Use of JSP Tag Libraries. JSP Tag Library Syntax. Tag Libraries Shipped with WebLogic Server. WebLogic Server EJB to JSP Integration Tool. Using Tag Libraries—Best Practices. Additional Resource for JSP Tag Libraries. Summary. 18. Creating JSP Tag Libraries. When Should JSP Tag Libraries Be Created? Overview of the Steps Required to Build JSP Tags. Tag Handler Life Cycle. Commonly Used JSP Tag Classes and Interfaces. Creating a Simple Tag. Creating a Tag with a Body. Using Custom Tags to Define Scripting Variables. Creating Tag Libraries Best Practices. Summary. 19. Working with Struts. Installing Struts. Introduction to Struts Architecture. Configuring Struts. struts-config.xml File. Backend Programming Using the Struts Framework. Front-End Programming Using the Struts Framework. Struts Sample Application. Summary. V. USING ENTERPRISE JAVABEANS IN WEBLOGIC APPLICATIONS. 20. Enterprise JavaBeans and WebLogic Server. EJB Architecture—Overview. EJB Container. EJB Implementation. EJB Deployment Descriptors. EJB Deployment. Other EJB Features. Summary. 21. Working with Session Beans. Composition of a Session Bean. Case Study: XYZ Airlines Online Reservation System. Working with Stateless Session Beans. Working with Stateful Session Beans. Session Beans and WebLogic Server Clustering. Transactions and Session Beans. Best Practices. Summary. 22. Working with Entity Beans. What Are Entity Beans? What Do Entity Beans Provide? Entity Bean Life Cycle. Entity Bean Classes and Interfaces. Creating BMP Entity Beans. Creating CMP Entity Beans. Relationship Caching in EJBs. Caching in Entity Beans. WebLogic Query Language. Advanced Entity Bean Features. Tools for Working with EJBs in WebLogic Server. EJB Features Deprecated in WebLogic. Entity Bean Best Practices. Summary. 23. Working with Message-Driven Beans. When to Use Message-Driven Beans. How to Create Message-Driven Beans. Sample Message-Driven Bean. Message-Driven Beans Best Practices. Summary. VI. WORKING WITH WEBLOGIC SERVER APPLICATIONS. 24. Testing and Debugging Applications. An Introduction to Software Testing. Finding Problems Early: Unit Testing. Gathering Information with Logging APIs. Debugging WebLogic with an Integrated Debugger. Best Practices. Summary. 25. Optimizing WebLogic Server Applications. Defining Different Types of Performance Tests. Preparing for Performance and Load Testing. How to Performance Test. Areas to Tune. WebLogic Server Tuning. Database and SQL Tuning. A Performance Testing and Tuning Example. Best Practices. Summary. VII. WEBLOGIC SERVER SECURITY. 26. Web Applications and Security. Overview of Security Issues for Web Applications. Trends That Are Affecting Security. Areas of Vulnerability. Attacks. Technologies to Address Security Risks. Best Practices to Address Security Risks. Summary. 27. How WebLogic Server Implements Security. The J2SE Security Model. J2EE Security Model. How Security Works in WebLogic Server. Migration from WebLogic Server 6.x. Summary. 28. Working with WebLogic Server Security Features. Protecting WebLogic Server Applications. Securing Java Clients. Introduction to JAAS. Creating a Custom Security Provider. Using Secure Sockets Layer. Establishing Trust Between Domains. Securing Best Practices. Summary. VIII. INTEGRATING THE ENTERPRISE WITH WEBLOGIC APPLICATIONS. 29. WebLogic Server and XML Technologies. Introduction to XML. Defining an XML Document. XML Parsers. WebLogic Server XML Streaming API. Other Useful XML Features. Extensible Stylesheet Language. Best Practices for Working with XML. Summary. 30. WebLogic Server and Web Services. What Are Web Services? What Are Web Services Used For? Support for Web Services in WebLogic. Web Service Technologies. WebLogic Server Web Services Architecture. Tools for Creating Web Services in WebLogic. Creating Web Services with Java Code. Creating a Web Service with a Stateless Session Bean Back End. Working with SOAP Message Handlers. Securing Web Services. Working with the UDDI Directory Explorer. Creating Web Services with WebLogic Workshop. Web Services Best Practices. Summary. 31. Legacy Integration with the J2EE Connector Architecture. The J2EE Connector Architecture and the J2EE Platform. WebLogic's Java Connector Architecture Defined. J2EE Connector Architecture and the Enterprise. Working with Java Connector Architecture Components. Security Concerns. Transaction Management. Configuring WebLogic J2EE-CA. Writing Resource Adapters. Packaging and Deployment Issues. J2EE Connector Architecture Example. Summary. 32. Using SAP's Java Connector (JCo) with WebLogic Server. What Is JCo? Installing JCo. SAP System Setup. Client Programming in JCo. Calling an SAP Function. Exception Handling in JCo. Server Programming in JCo. Useful BAPIs and RFCs. Summary. 33. WebLogic Server's jCOM Java/COM Bridge. Understanding jCOM. How jCOM Works. Determining Whether jCOM Is a Good Fit for Your Application. Deciding on the Right jCOM Environment Setup. Zero Client Installs. Choosing Among DCOM, Native in Process, and Native Out of Process Modes. Early and Late Binding Models. Securing Your Java Objects Against Unauthorized Access. Working with jCOM Tools. The Bank Account Example—Java Client Accessing a COM Component. The Inventory Item Example—COM Client Accessing an EJB. Event Handling. Dealing with the Data Types. Summary. 34. CORBA and Tuxedo Integration. WebLogic Tuxedo Connector. RMI over IIOP. Summary. IX. ADMINISTERING WEBLOGIC APPLICATIONS. 35. Managing Applications with the Administration Console. WebLogic Server Administration. Connecting to the Administration Console. Overview of the Administration Console User Interface. Configuring the Console. Configuring the Application Server Domain. Managing Network Resources. Deploying Applications and Modules. Configuring WebLogic and J2EE Services. Administering Security Realms. Configuring Domain Log Filters. Monitoring Administrative Tasks. Summary. 36. Installing, Configuring, and Deploying WebLogic Server Clusters. Introduction to WebLogic Server Clustering. Creating and Configuring the Physical Cluster Environment. Clustering Applications and Components. Failover Support for Clustered Services. Cluster Best Practices. Summary. 37. Configuring Management Applications with JMX Services. What Is JMX and Why Would You Want It? A Basic MBean Example. How WebLogic Uses JMX. JMX Notification Model and Monitors. Summary. 38. Administration via the Command-Line Interface. Administration Commands. Command Examples and Scripts. Using the Command Interface Commands to Build Scripts. Using Ant with the Command-Line Interface. Best Practices for Command-Line Interface Administration. Summary. X. APPENDICES. Appendix A: Quick Reference for Creating New Domains for WebLogic Development. Creating a New WebLogic Server Domain. Deploying an HTML Page. Deploying a JSP. Deploying a Servlet. Appendix B: Migration from Previous Versions. Migration from Versions 6.0/6.1/7.0 to 8.1. Migration from Versions 4.5/5.1 to 8.1. Installation Recommendations for All Migrations. Application Recommendations for All Migrations. Appendix C: Using WebLogic Workshop 8.1 with WebLogic Server. Workshop 8.1-More Than an IDE. Workshop 8.1-More Than a Web Services Tool. What Can You Do with Workshop 8.1? Development Using Workshop. Debugging and Testing Using Workshop. Compatibility of Workshop 8.1 with Workshop 7.0. Service-Oriented Development in Workshop. Index.

About the Author :
Mark Artiges is an independent consultant currently working as a Lead Software Engineer for Tepik Systems. During his 18-plus years in the computer industry, Mark has been involved in a wide range of data processing initiatives and development methodologies. He has worked as a system architect and lead developer on large application development efforts aimed at transitioning core legacy systems to WebLogic Platform at companies such as AT&T, US Search, and Public Storage. Gurpreet Singh Bhasin is an architect, designer, and developer with certifications from BEA, Sun, and Microsoft. He has more than five years of experience in design, development, testing, and maintenance of n-tier e-commerce and enterprise information systems using J2EE and Microsoft technologies. Most recently, Gurpreet was Module Leader on an Internet-based system for DIRECTV allowing over 10 million customers enhanced account access. He holds a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering from Kurukshetra University, India. To my parents and sisters: Thank you for all your love and support. -Gurpreet Bhasin Bernard Ciconte is a software engineer for Blair Computing Systems, Inc. (BCSI). As an employee of BCSI since 1989, he has worked as a contractor for DuPont, Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, and Agfa Corporation. His technical expertise is in distributed computing and image processing for radiographical medical devices. Previously Bernard contributed to Sams' book BEA WebLogic Platform 7.0. Bernard would like to thank his wife Cheryl, daughter Courtney Huff, and dog Minx, for the sacrifices and support they made while he dedicated so much of his time and effort towards this book. He would also like to thank Todd Green and Sams Publishing for inviting him to be a co-author with such a talented group of individuals. Finally, he would like to thank Mark Blair and all his co-workers for the interesting and challenging career they share at Blair Computing Systems, Inc. -Bernard Ciconte Malcolm Garland has more than ten years of experience in the field of software development and has received certifications from BEA and Sun. He was recently CM Lead and systems analyst on an integration project in J2EE and WebLogic, developed for DIRECTV, for which he advised on architectural design, testing, configuration, and component development. Currently, he is a Senior Systems Analyst with Zenith National Insurance. Saranathan Govindarajan is a key member of DIRECTV's Enterprise Architecture Team responsible for the design and development of infrastructure services using BEA WebLogic Server and Tuxedo. Saranathan has more than 8 years of experience in designing and implementing mission-critical systems using BEA's flagship products: WebLogic Server, Tuxedo, and Jolt/WTC. Saranathan holds a MSc(Tech) and M.S(Software Systems) from Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences(BITS) in Pilani, India. To my parents and Deepa, for their love, support, and inspiration. -Saranathan Govindarajan James Huang is currently an IT Developer with BEA Systems. A veteran software developer, James has handled numerous J2EE, Web application, and database development projects. In a previous life, he was a lecturer in the Department of Electric and Computer Engineering at East China Normal University. James is the primary designer and developer of JudoScript, a project to bring the functionality of scripting and shell programming to Java. Subramanian Kovilmadam is a BEA and Sun Certified Developer, and currently serves as an Enterprise Application Integration Systems Architect with DIRECTV, responsible for the design and development of integration infrastructure strategies using XML-based services, J2EE, BEA WebLogic, and BEA Tuxedo. I wish to thank my family, especially my dear wife, Amudha, for being patient with me and encouraging me all the way during this process. Their constant backing and encouragement proved to be a huge source of inspiration for me. -Subramanian Kovilmadam Kunal Mittal, is a Solutions Engineer at Wakesoft, Inc. and a consultant for implementation and strategy for Web Services and Services Oriented Architectures. He has co-authored and contributed to several books on Java, WebLogic, and Web Services. Over the past several years, Kunal has worked on numerous projects using different BEA products, ranging from WebLogic Server 4.5 to 8.1, BEA Portal, BEA Integration, Liquid Data for WebLogic, and WebLogic Workshop. His projects have ranged in verticals such as finance, real estate, supply chain, broadband, entertainment, and ISVs in the Web Services space. I would like to thank my wife, Neeta, and dog, Dusty, for being patient as I put in those extra hours and weekends on this book. I would also like to thank the Sams team (Todd Green, Songlin Qiu, and George Nedeff) for their patience with me (especially my email problems). -Kunal Mittal Paul J. Perrone is the Founder, President, and CTO at Assured Technologies, Inc. Through Assured Technologies (http://www.assuredtech.com), Paul provides software architecture and development consulting, mentoring, and training related to J2EE, XML, Web Services, and object-oriented technologies. Paul has been involved with the architecture, design, and development of numerous large-scale enterprise systems and products for both Fortune 500 and medium-sized organizations. Paul also has co-authored J2EE Developer's Handbook, Building Java Enterprise Systems with J2EE, and Java Security Handbook; has published articles on Java; and has spoken at conferences such as JavaOne and Web Services Edge. He has an MS from the University of Virginia and a BS from Rutgers University. He is a member of the IEEE and ACM, has served as chapter chair for the Northern Virginia IEEE Computer Society, has helped in the startup of the Northern Virginia Java User's Group (NOVAJUG), and chairs the NOVAJUG's enterprise SIG. Paul is also an avid Java-based robot and AI tinkerer. To Stax Dooley's Irish Pub (aka "Crack Shack") patrons. -Paul J. Perrone I'd like to acknowledge my wife, parents, parents-in-law, brother, sister-in-law, nieces (Allison, Julia, & Nina), extended family, friends, Cappy, and my robots. Tom Schwenk is a Senior Software Consultant with Assured Technologies, Inc. Since 1995, he has been working with Java, specializing in highly scalable, distributed application design and development. He has been involved in the design and implementation of Java enterprise and e-commerce applications for both Fortune 500 and smaller companies. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and an ME in Biomedical Engineering, both from the University of Virginia. Previously Tom co-authored J2EE Developer's Handbook. I would like to thank all of my family, friends, and colleagues that have given me the advice, assistance, opportunities, and support to accomplish this goal. -Tom Schwenk Steve Steffen is part of Gamma's highly regarded Java-SAP team and brings to it a strong combination of knowledge and experience in corporate computing. Prior to joining Gamma, Steve was called to consult Fortune 500 companies including Lucent Technologies, Bridgestone/Firestone, Mercury Marine, and Kubota Engine America. His area of specialization since the late 1990's has been integration technologies for SAP and Java using WebLogic Server. He developed his training expertise at Lucent Technologies, where he created and delivered Java and Internet classes. To my wife, April, my companion for life; my parents, for a job well done; and my three sisters for support and inspiration. -Steve Steffen