FAQ #29 - How to deploy the ADF runtime libraries to a WebLogic cluster

Introduction

In FAQ #27 and FAQ #28 we went through a WebLogic cluster setup comprised of two WebLogic Managed Servers running on separate physical machines each. In this FAQ we will take a look at how to extend the clustered domain with the ADF runtime libraries.


Main Theme

The steps involved for extending a clustered domain are:

1. Backup the Middleware Home that contains the domain about to be extended
2. Install the ADF Runtime
3. Extend the WebLogic domain
4. Verify that the cluster is operating as expected

Note that steps 1 through 3 must be repeated for each physical machine that is part of the cluster setup.

Let's follow these steps then to extend the clustered domain that we setup in FAQ #27 and FAQ #28.

1. Backup the Middleware Home that contains the domain about to be extended

Before backing up the Middleware Home directory ensure that the domain is shutdown and that the node manager is not running on the specific machine. We will use tar and gzip to create and compress the Middleware Home archive, so change directory to your Middleware Home and type tar cvf hostname.date.middlewarehome.tar middlewareHomeDirectory, where hostname.date.middlewarehome.tar is the tar file that we will create and  middlewareHomeDirectory is the Middleware Home directory to archive, for example: tar cvf kvvm0007.20101107.middlewarehome.tar Oracle/

Once tar completes, compress the archive by typing gzip hostname.date.middlewarehome.tar

Keep the resulting tar.gz file just in case we need to restore the Middleware Home to its last configuration. 


2. Install the ADF Runtime

The ADF Runtime is distributed - among others - along with the JDeveloper installation package. So we will be using the JDeveloper installation to install it on our domain. Download the appropriate JDeveloper installation package for your operating system and start the JDeveloper installation. For installing on Linux you may refer to FAQ #26 - How to Install JDeveloper on Linux. Click Next on the Welcome screen and on the Choose Middleware Home Directory make sure that you select Use an existing Middleware Home. Verify that the Middleware Home selected is the one that contains the clustered domain to be extended.

On the Choose Products and Components page make sure that you select only the Application Development Framework Runtime - do not select JDeveloper Studio.

Click Next on the JDK Selection page. Verify that you have selected the correct Middleware Home on the Confirm Product Installation Directories page and click Next. On the Installation Summary page click Next to proceed with the installation. Ensure that only the Application Development Framework Runtime is included on the products to be installed.

The installation should proceed with no problems and complete. Uncheck the Run Quickstart and click Done to finish.


3. Extend the WebLogic domain


To extend the domain with the ADF libraries installed run the configuration script called config in wlserver_10.3/common/bin under the Middleware Home.


On the Welcome screen choose Extend an existing WebLogic domain and click Next. On the Select a WebLogic Domain Directory select the appropriate domain for the cluster and click Next.

On the Select Extension Source page select Oracle JRF - 11.1.1.0 [oracle_common] and click Next.

On the Select Optional Configuration select Deployments and Services and click Next.

On the Target Deployments to Clusters or Servers ensure that all Libraries are targeted to both the Administration Server and the Cluster while the Applications are targeted only to the Administration Server. The page should look like the one below:

On the Target Services to Clusters or Servers make sure that all services are targeted to both the cluster and the Administration Server.

On the Configuration Summary page verify your selections and press Extend to extend the domain. The domain should be extended without any errors reported.

This concludes the process of extending the domain with ADF runtime. Remember that you will have to repeat the steps above for all the machines in the cluster.


4. Verify that the cluster is operating as expected


This step should be performed once you gone through steps 1 through 3 above for all the machines on the cluster. Start the domain Administration Server and the node managers for all machines and log in into the Administration Console. Using the Domain Structure tree click on Deployments and on the Summary of Deployments page verify that all the ADF libraries are on Active State.

This being the case, you can now proceed to start the Managed Servers. Click on Environment and then on Servers on the Domain Structure tree and on the Summary of Servers click on the Control tab. In the servers table select all the Managed Servers that comprise the cluster and click on the Start button to start them. Once started all servers should be in RUNNING State. The Health of the server should be indicated as OK.

This concludes the installation of the ADF runtime to the cluster.




Conclusion

Installing the ADF runtime on a clustered WebLogic domain involves the extension of the domain on each physical server machine. The ADF runtime can be installed using the JDeveloper installation package.

Until the next time, keep on JDeveloping (on a cluster)!