July 2nd, 2008 Radim Marek
I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but my gloomy prediction about next major release of JBoss Application Server might not be correct. For more information check out Sacha Labourey’s status update.
PS: guess, it’s still going to be only JBM 1.4.
Link:
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June 12th, 2008 Radim Marek
You know the story. By the end of 2005 JBoss was releasing information about the giant steps they plan to achieve with the release of next version of application server. The question now, almost three years later, is obvious - where is JBoss AS 5?
If you’re looking for short and positive answer, I will disappoint you. Personally, I can’t foresee release of the version 5.0 this year. It might sound as a tragedy, but reality is different. Ask yourself if you really have to wait? Is it application server you need? Because if your answer is positive, it’s usually better to use something you already have. Branch 4.x is now mature and stable. It might be missing bits and pieces, but frankly, it’s not something that would stop your development. With the release of AS 4.2 you also got all JEE 5 functionality we’ve been desperately waiting for.
To understand why I don’t think it’s important to wait is the fact JBoss is not the same company anymore. Look around and you will see great improvements. Application server is no longer fighting for it’s market share, that position has been already established. Focus has been shifted to other projects within the product suite. From the obvious re-implementation of JMS broker - Messaging, jBPM, excellent rule engine - Drools, transaction engine, Seam, Eclipse Tools and many more. You still think nothing has changed?
From what I can say, changes are present through-out the middleware suite. Especially now when the Enterprise Application Platform 4.3 is available, with necessary commercial backing, updated training materials and large user community represented by all of us who are already using community versions of the products. Individual products now can get updated version - that’s just matter of time, but more important is consistent support and platform in general.
So no matter when JBoss AS 5 will be released, great things are already happening. We all started using only Hibernate or application server, and as our solutions are getting bigger, so does JBoss.
More information about individual project can be found at http://www.jboss.org/projects/
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June 3rd, 2008 Radim Marek
For proof of concept I needed to deploy large number of servlet containers. Because I’m lazy and most of the code for main application has already been written for JBoss AS (including Login modules and set of custom services) I really didn’t want to use standalone Jetty or Tomcat. To use different solution for one part of deployment would create significant duplication of some functionality and unnecessary increased administration.Instead of cleaning-up default configuration, I decided to use for first time minimal configuration and add JBossWeb (manually). This is an overview of what has been required to achieve it.
First copy the configuration and create new profile.
cd server/
cp -R minimal webserver
Obviously you need to copy original JBoss Web deployer.
cp -R ./default/deploy/jboss-web.deployer ./webserver/deploy/
And that’s where fun begins. By default JBoss Web relies on several JEE service that needs to be disabled. Edit file
webserver/deploy/jboss-web.deployer/META-INF/jboss-service.xml
and comment out (delete) following dependencies on unnecessary services:
<depends>jboss:service=TransactionManager</depends>
<depends>jboss.jca:service=CachedConnectionManager</depends>
This is based on assumption you don’t need them. Once CachedConnectionManager is gone, you need to delete CachedConnectionValve from
webserver/deploy/jboss-web.deployer/server.xml
Right now, your new webserver profile is stripped to it’s minimum and you have to add something. First necessary addsecurity related services into
Last remaining task is to copy additional JAR files and that’s it!
cd default/lib/
cp jboss.jar jboss-j2ee.jar jbosssx.jar servlet-api.jar jsp-api.jar jbossws* el-api.jar jboss-ejb3x.jar ../../webserver/lib
Back in bin folder you can test new configuration profile
run -c webserver
Don’t expect miracles, you’ll get only what you configure. In this case is basic application server, with full support for customer services and webserver. To perform more tests you need to deploy some WAR file to deploy/ folder in order to get any output, as there are no context by default.This guide has been tested on JBoss AS 4.2.2
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May 26th, 2008 Radim Marek
As promised, next meeting of JBUG UK is going to be focused on Seam. Together with guys from JBoss we established agenda to go through various aspects of this framework. If you’re interested the meeting will take place on Monday 7th of July.
Program starts at 3pm and the key-note presentation by Pete Muir will provide introduction of Seam 2.x and it’s contextual programming model. As person responsible for extending Seam beyond JSF, he’ll briefly talk how to use this framework with Apache Wicket, GWT and Flex.
The following presentation will include practical example of production-ready application, demostration of RedHat Developer Studio and it’s support for Seam and short session about extending Seam.
Hope to see you there!
Links:
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April 13th, 2008 Radim Marek
The second meeting of JBUG UK demonstrated it’s potential to become valuable platform for JBoss users. The key-note presentation, delivered by Tim Fox, reviewed current version of JBoss Messaging (JBM) and more importantly he covered future plans.
It was really fascinating to find out more about coming features. Especially journaling options and the way how to embed JBM into any dependency injection powered solution. The presentation made me to realize that JBM is more a generic messaging platform, rather than just JMS broker (with limited functionality because of the JMS).
Tim’s presentation and my humble review of Web Services/JBoss WS 3.0 and it’s roles in JBossESB is available to download.
Also I’m happy to announce that next JBUG meeting is going to be about JBoss Seam. Stay tuned for more informations.
Links:
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March 18th, 2008 Radim Marek
For a long time mod_jk has been preferred Apache HTTPD plug-in that allowed integration with Tomcat’s JK connectors. It’s certainly perfect solution and still the recommended one for mission critical and highly loaded scenarios.
In case your setup is more relaxed and you looking to do first setup with AJP, there is another solution – mod_proxy. More precisely mod_proxy_ajp that provides ability of handling AJP 1.3 protocol. These modules are enjoying comeback since they have been rewritten for Apache HTTPD 2.2.
Main benefit behind using mod_proxy is the fact that most of the Apache HTTPD installations already come with this module precompiled. Very often not only with HTTP support, but AJP as well. In such a situation administrators feel more tempted to experiment with HTTP based load-balancing scenarios, and therefore more likely to experiment with different protocol.
Let’s have a look how sample configuration would look like:
# Enable Reverse Proxy
ProxyRequests Off
<Proxy balancer://mycluster>
Order deny,allow
Allow from all
# loadfactor = worker load factor
# route = jvmRoute appended to SESSIONID, reflecting setting in server.xml
# min = minimum number of connections to backend server
# max = maximum number of connections to backend server
BalancerMember ajp://192.168.10.33:8009/ loadfactor=10 route=33 min=10 max=50 keepalive=On
BalancerMember ajp://192.168.10.34:8009/ loadfactor=2 route=34 min=10 max=50 keepalive=On
</Proxy>
ProxyPass /proxy balancer://mycluster STICKYSESSION=JSESSIONID|jsessionid nofailover=On
ProxyPassReverse /proxy balancer://mycluster
ProxyPassReverseCookieDomain backend.server public.server
In this case two nodes are created to participate in load-balancer using AJP as connector to backend Tomcat; session affinity enabled with STICKSESSION configuration.
Overall the configuration corresponds with the one you would normally create using mod_jk. Now you’re probably asking what’s the catch. And answer is simple – you loosing dynamic options (periodic reload of mapping), only simplified balancing features and generally the performance is slightly behind mod_jk. My tests during last few months (both with experimental and production grade setups) show difference approximately about 6 – 7% drop down. Something not really worrying if you’re running medium sized intranet solution and you already need clustered solution, or if you just discovering world of load balancing.
For more information, please, check following resources:
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March 16th, 2008 Radim Marek
Training designed to help System Engineers to acquire necessary knowledge to understand requirements, master installation, deployment and management of JBoss Application server. Throughout the course delegates are getting exposed to the terminology used in Java EE development, understand architecture of application server and learn how to change configuration to suite particular needs – and most importantly delivery stable and secure instance for production environment.
It’s a 3-day course with following agenda:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Requirements: no prior knowledge of Java EE development necessary, working knowledge of Windows or UNIX based systems; able to install and use Java to run applications.
Pre-course reading materials:
Post-course reading materials:
JBoss Application Server Architecture covers necessary basics what is an application server and it’s role in infrastructure. Basic Java EE terminology is covered and practically presented using Travel Reservation application example.
Core concepts is chapter covering basics of the technologies used in JBoss AS, including JMX (Java Management Extensions) – the way how it’s used in design of application server microkernel, interceptors, invokers and dynamic proxies.
JBoss installation will provide delegates first stand-alone JBoss instance with default or customized server configuration. Focus is targeted on how to choose right version of JBoss AS and Java Virtual Machine, what are the hardware and operating system requirements. Hands-on lab is focusing on installation and verification if it’s working properly.
Deploying applications will provide information about various packages provided by Java EE or JBoss and how to [re/un] deploy them both for application and services. Delegates will be introduced to concept of class files and class loader. Hands-on lab on deployment is there to verify newly acquired knowledge.
JBoss Service Configuration is comprehensive part of the course covering important services of JBoss AS like JBossWeb (Tomcat), Naming Service, EJB Invokers, JMS provider, scheduler, etc. The rationale behind it is to provide understand about multiple components that are forming together application server and how they’re significant from administrator’s point of view. By end of this part participants will have overview about numerous open ports they need to secure or configure. Cheat sheet with the list of opened ports is provided.
Hands-on session is available to practice scheduler service using real-life scenarios.
JBoss production deployment focuses on getting instances of the application server into production environment. Topics include understanding of JDBC, way how to configure datasources, deployment ordering to suite different needs, both if it’s standalone installation or part of the cluster. To help create easily separated environments, delegate will learn how to run multiple instances of JBoss on the same host.
Hands-on sessions include practice deployment ordering and setting up multiple nodes.
JBoss Tuning covers optimum configuration both of the front-end (JBossWeb) to handle incoming HTTP requests effectively and back-end, including datasources. Second of the lesson is dedicated to in-depth introduction of the garbage collection and how to configure it. Different methods how to monitor JVM, application server and services will be demonstrated.
Introduction to Java EE and JBoss Security describes differences between authentication, authorization and encryption, including the way in which the Java EE security model is configured inside JBoss. Close down instructions are included for the necessary services. Practical hands-on session focuses on securing JMX console both using username/password and SSL certificate.
JBoss Clustering introduces terminology, challenges and techniques required to achieve high available solutions. JGroups, as the clustering building block, is introduced and extensive troubleshooting methods are discussed. Consequent clustering configuration for services and components participating in high available environment is demonstrated using simply to use instructions.
Mod_jk as the load balancing solution for JBossWeb (Tomcat) is introduced, covering architecture and configuration options. Delegates should become confident using it during hands-on session.
JBoss Operation Network Training provides overview about the monitoring and administering JBoss middleware using the JON (JBoss Operation Network).
The JBoss for Administrator is focusing on information for System Engineers. It might be useful for developers - especially in small teams - but they might feel the training is not going to necessary details where related to development. If this training is part of private course or there is time during public course, the clustering part can be easily extended to provide necessary information to understand this topic in necessary depth. JBoss Clustering training might be on other side overwhelming for administrators as it’s been designed primary for senior developers and architects.
This blog post is part of my series focusing on the JBoss training as offered by RedHat.
For more information, please, visit the original post.
Link:
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March 16th, 2008 Radim Marek
Looking for JBoss training? This series is here to help you where to start and to decide which one is the right for you. In-depth description of individual courses, list of hands-on exercises and additional support materials are compiled to improve your experience.
List of currently available courses follows. If the link is missing (and only official information is available) I’m still working on it, and hopefully it will be available soon.
Application platform Courses
Enterprise Platform Courses
If you need further help regarding available public courses or looking for private customized training, please, don’t hesitate to contact me. Currently I work for Business System Group in London (UK), member of JBoss Certified Partner program and authorized Training partner. My job description includes responsibility for delivery of selected JBoss courses.
Information provided about JBoss courses on this website does not necessarily correspond with the official information provided by RedHat, or by my employer – Business System Group.
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December 15th, 2007 Radim Marek
During the opening meeting of JBug UK (JBoss User Group) in London yesterday I delivered presentation about the upgrading of JBoss from 4.0 to 4.2. My original slides are now available for download.
Link:
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November 12th, 2007 Radim Marek
After several weeks of preparation I’m happy to invite you to the next meeting of UK JBoss User Group, which is going to be held on Thursday 13th December 2007 in London. Effort of our team in BSG has resulted in quite exciting line-up.
The keynote presentation is going to be focused on JBoss Rules and will be delivered by the most competent person in the field – Mark Proctor, project lead of this project and founder of Drools Rule Engine. His presentation will focus on the engine in its very aspects as a processor of business rules captured in variety of languages and how they are encoded in the enterprise systems.
The other presentation will be thorough introduction of the award winning IntelliJ IDEA, especially the recently released version 7.0, and how it can improve your development with JBoss products and more. In addition, there will be also license give-away of this excellent IDE for few lucky attendees.
Last but for me personally not least, is my humble technical session focused on the migration to JBoss AS 4.2. Based on the challenges and questions I’ve been facing for last couple of months, I’ll try to provide detailed guide through different aspect of the upgrade process. Particularly migration from branch 4.0 will be discussed. If you have any particular question, please, do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll try to include it.
Does it sound interesting for you? Then check detailed agenda or register (strongly recommended as number of attendees is limited).
Hope to see as many of you as possible in December!
Link: UK JBoss User Group Website
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