The FileNet P8 software includes several tools to assist you in deploying an application. This section identifies these tools and briefly describes how they are used for deployment.
FileNet Deployment Manager simplifies the deployment of application data from one FileNet P8 environment to another. Specifically, you can use this tool to replace environment-specific data, such as user names and object store IDs, in application data that is extracted from a Content Engine object store.
To begin, you provide FileNet Deployment Manager with information about the source and destination environments, and about the data values to be replaced. As part of this process, you use FileNet Deployment Manager to map the environment-specific information for the deployment. This mapping process creates data map files that identify the following information:
The tool uses this information to update the application data in the files exported from the Content Engine. You then import the updated files into the destination environment.
If the object store and principal data in the environments is unchanged, you can reuse the data map files to convert application data for subsequent deployments. If changes occur in an environment, you simply update the information for the environment and then re-create the data maps.
In addition to the Windows®-based user interface, FileNet Deployment Manager provides a command-line interface that you can use to automate repetitive deployments of an application. For more information, see Deployment command-line reference.
Enterprise Manager provides features that you use to configure and administer the FileNet P8 Platform, with a primary focus on Content Engine. To support deployment, Enterprise Manager includes export and import tools that you can use to transfer application data from one object store to another.
You first use the export feature to extract the application data from the object stores in the source environment. The export tool places the extracted data in a set of XML files. To convert the export files for import, you use FileNet Deployment Manager to replace the environment-specific data with the correct values for the destination environment. Finally, you use the Enterprise Manager import feature to transfer the converted application data into the appropriate object stores in the destination environment.
You have the option of exporting security information for the application data. If you do so, you can use the export files with FileNet Deployment Manager to extract the security principal information for an environment.
In addition to the Windows-based user interface, Enterprise Manager provides a Windows-only command-line interface for exporting and importing object store data.
Process Engine includes the Process Configuration Console that provides tools to manage the workflow database configuration. To support deployment, Process Configuration Console includes export and import tools that you use to transfer configuration information for an isolated region. This information includes the definitions for application spaces, queues, rosters, and event logs.
In addition to the Windows-based user interface, Process Engine also includes the following command-line utilities to assist in exporting and importing information for your application:
For more information, see Process Engine Export/Import Utilities command-line reference.
BPF Explorer provides an Export and Import Management tool that you can use to create an XML manifest file containing the metadata information configured using BPF Explorer. You can then use the manifest file to move the configuration to another environment. For more information, see the IBM FileNet Business Process Framework Explorer Handbook.
Records Manager includes the File Plan Import Export Tool that you can use to import an external file plan, or export a file plan to an external environment. This tool uses an XML file to complete the import and export processes. For more information, see Expansion Products > Records Manager > File Plans > How to > Use the File Plan Import and Export Tool.