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6.4.2: Installing application files

6.4.2: Installing application files

This article describes how to place the files comprising an application onto the physical system containing the WebSphere Application Server product.

Enterprise applications containing various resources are deployed on application servers. For successful deployment, the WebSphere administrator must specify where application servers can find the files belonging to enterprise applications:

Java content
Use the application server classpath to specify its location. This includes JAR and class files for servlets
Static content
Use the Web application document root to specify its location. This includes JSP files, HTML files, and graphics

When you deploy servlets, Web applications, and Enterprise JavaBean applications, ensure that the component files are in the correct directories, typically relative to the IBM WebSphere Application Server product_installation_root. Use this quick reference table as a guide.

File description File Extension Directory path
HTML documents and related static files .html, .shtml, .jhtml, .gif, .au, and so on These can be either served by the Web server, or placed in the Web application document root with the WebSphere file servlet enabled.
JavaServer Pages files .jsp Web application document root
Servlets that are to be reloaded .class or .jar Web application classpath

If the servlets are in a package, mirror the package structure as subdirectories under the Web application classpath.

Servlet that are not to be reloaded .class or .jar Application server classpath
Servlet configuration file .servlet Directory that contains the servlet
JavaBean (not an enterprise bean) or other object to be reloaded .ser or .jar Web application classpath
JavaBean (not an enterprise bean) or other object not to be reloaded, such as serialized objects and servlets that use Java Native Interface methods .ser or .jar Application server classpath
Java objects added to a session .class, .jar, or .ser Application server classpath
Objects passed as arguments for remote calls   Application server classpath
Placing Web application files in product directories

Managing a Web application involves placing the Web application files in the WebSphere directories and configuring the Web application so that it can find the files.

Select one of two ways to accomplish the task:

Simple procedure: Default file placement

  1. Configure a new Web application. Accept the default values for its document root and classpath.
  2. Change directory to <was_installation_root>/hosts.
  3. Create a subdirectory with the logical name of the Web application, such as myWebApplication.

    The logical name is the name by which the administrator specified, or will specify, to manage the Web application.

  4. Change directory to the subdirectory created in the previous step.
  5. Create subdirectories named "servlets" and "web."
  6. Place the servlet class and JAR files in the servlets directory.
  7. Place all other supporting files in the web directory:
    • HTML
    • XML
    • graphics

Advanced procedure: Custom file placement

Use this procedure instead if the Web application files must reside somewhere other than the default location.

  1. Place the Web application files in one or more directories of choice.
  2. When configuring the Web application, ensure that:
    • The classpath contains all directories in which servlet class and JAR files reside
    • The document root contains all directories in which other supporting files reside, such as HTML, XML, and graphics
Go to previous article: Setting classpaths Go to next article: Maintaining and updating applications

 

 
Go to previous article: Setting classpaths Go to next article: Maintaining and updating applications