Java Web Start architecture for deploying application clients

Java Web Start is an application-deployment technology that includes the portability of applets, the maintainability of servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP) file technology, and the simplicity of mark-up languages such as XML and HTML. It is a Java application that allows full-featured Java 2 client applications to be launched, deployed and updated from a standard Web server. The Java Web Start client is used with platforms that support a Web browser.

[iSeries] The client is not supported.

Upon launching Java Web Start for the first time, you might download new client applications from the Web. Each time you launch JWS thereafter, you can initiate applications either through a link on a Web page or (in Windows) from desktop icons or the Start menu. You can deploy applications quickly using Java Web Start, cache applications on the client machine, and launch applications remotely offline. Additionally, because Java Web Start is built from the J2EE infrastructure, the technology inherits the complete security architecture of the J2EE platform.

The technology underlying Java Web Start is the Java Network Launching Protocol & API (JNLP). Java Web Start is a JNLP client and it reads and parses a JNLP descriptor file (JNLP file). Base on the JNLP descriptor, it downloads appropriate pieces of a client application and any of its dependencies. If any of the pieces of the application are already cached on the client machine, then those components are not downloaded again, unless they have been updated on the server machine. After you download and cache the client application, JWS launches it natively on the client machine.

The following diagram shows an overview of launching a client application, include the Application Client for WebSphere Application Server, Version 6 as a dependent resource, using Java Web Start.

The Web browser running on a client machine connects to a Web application located on a server machine. The client application JNLP descriptor file is downloaded and processed by Java Web Start on the client machine.

In this diagram, there are three JNLP descriptor files:

Each of these JNLP descriptor files, the client application (JAR or EAR) and the dependent resource JAR files are packaged as Web applications in an EAR file. This EAR file is deployed to an Application server. The client machine with JWS installed uses a Web browser to connect to the URL of the client application JNLP descriptor file to download and run the client application.

[iSeries] [AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows] Use Java Web Start from J2SE Java Runtime Environment 5.0 or below. WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1 does not support Java Web Start from J2SE Java Runtime Environment 6.0 or above. All the platforms supported by the application client for WebSphere Application Server are supported, with the exception Linux on Power and OS/400 platforms.

[z/OS] Use Java Web Start from J2SE Java Runtime Environment 5.0 or below. WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1 does not support Java Web Start from J2SE Java Runtime Environment 6.0 or above. All the platforms supported by the application client for WebSphere Application Server are supported.

The following operating systems support running J2EE application client applications and or Thin application client applications using Java Web Start:
You can use the following:



Related tasks
Preparing the Application Client run-time dependency component for Java Web Start
Preparing Application Clients run-time library component for Java Web Start
Related reference
Client application Java Network Launcher Protocol deployment descriptor file
Related information
Java Web Start 1.4.2 documentation
Java Web Start frequently asked questions
Concept topic Concept topic    

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Last updatedLast updated: Aug 31, 2013 4:28:44 AM CDT
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