Understanding the Virtual Hosts and HTTP Transport channel settings for Web Services.
 Technote (FAQ)
 
Problem
Understanding the Virtual Hosts and HTTP Transport channel settings for Web Services.
 
Solution
A Web Service Provider can be accessed through multiple host:port combinations. For example, say you want to have the web service accessible through either of the following endpoints:
http://localhost:9080/test/services/HelloWorld
http://localhost:12345/test/services/HelloWorld

Let's say that your application server already has 9080 configured to work with the endpoint. You now want to add 12345.

In order to set this up, the following must be done:
1) EAR modules are mapped to work with Virtual Hosts. In this example, the EAR module can be mapped default_host. This default_host already has "*:9080" as a host alias. Add "*:12345" as a host alias by going in the Admin Console -> Environment -> Virtual Hosts -> default_host -> Host Aliases.

2) The Web Container has a layer of abstraction called "HTTP Transports." Basically, these are like the "inputs" into the Web Container. [This layer of abstraction can be best seen for ports 9080 and 9090. The Web Container has *:9080 and *:9090 for the HTTP Transports by default. The admin_host has the host alias of *:9090, while the default_host has the host alias of *:9080.] Add "*:12345" to the list.

3) Install the EAR with the Web Service. On Step 3 there is an option to map a WAR file to a Virtual Host. Ensure that it is set to default_host.

Notes:
1) Two Virtual Hosts cannot have the same alias. By alias, we mean a "host:port" combination like "localhost:9080" or "*:9080". For example, admin_host and default_host cannot both have "*:12345." If they do, then trying to access one will always result in a "Virtual Host or Web Application Not Found" error message. There will be no error given in the Admin Console if two virtual hosts have the same alias.

2) If an HTTP Transport is set to a specific host:port, then this must also exist in the Virtual Host settings.
 
 
 


Document Information


Product categories: Software > Application Servers > Distributed Application & Web Servers > WebSphere Application Server > Web Services (for example: SOAP or UDDI or WSGW or WSIF)
Operating system(s): Windows
Software version: 5.1
Software edition:
Reference #: 1221316
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Oct 31, 2005