Application servers
Application servers extend the ability of a Web server to handle Web application requests, typically using Java technology. An application server makes it possible for a server to generate a dynamic, customized response to a client request.
For example, given:
- A user at a Web browser on the Internet visits a company Web site. The user requests to use an application that provides access to data in a database.
- The user request flows to the Web server.
- The Web server determines that the request involves an application containing resources not handled directly by the Web server (such as servlets). It forwards the request to WAS.
- WAS forwards the request to one of its appservers on which the application is running.
- The invoked application then processes the user request. For example:
- An application servlet prepares the user request for processing by an enterprise bean that performs the database access.
- The application produces a dynamic Web page containing the results of the user query.
- The appserver collaborates with the Web server to return the results to the user at the Web browser.
WAS provides multiple application servers that can be either separately configured processes or nearly identical clones.
Related tasks
Deploying and administering J2EE applications
Administering appservers