WebSphere Application Server: Quick start

The programming model for applications deployed on this product has the following aspects.

• Java specifications and other open standards for developing applications
• WebSphere programming model extensions to enhance application functionality
• Containers and services in the application server, used by deployed applications, and which sometimes can be extended

See also: Full profile overview

Java EE application components

WAS supports application components that conform to Java EE specifications.

Web applications run in the web container

The web container is the part of the application server in which web application components run. Web applications are comprised of one or more related servlets, JSP technology (JSP files), and HTML files managed as a unit. Combined, they perform a business logic function.

The web container processes servlets, JSP files, and other types of server-side includes. Each application server runtime has one logical web container, which can be modified, but not created or removed. Each web container provides the following.

Web container transport chains

Requests are directed to the web container using the web container inbound transport chain. The chain consists of a TCP inbound channel that provides the connection to the network, an HTTP inbound channel that serves HTTP requests, and a web container channel over which requests for servlets and JSP files are sent to the web container for processing.

Servlet processing

When handling servlets, the web container creates a request object and a response object, then invokes the servlet service method. The web container invokes the servlet's destroy method when appropriate and unloads the servlet, after which the JVM performs garbage collection.

Servlets can perform such tasks as supporting dynamic web page content, providing database access, serving multiple clients at one time, and filtering data.

JSP files enable the separation of the HTML code from the business logic in web pages.

HTML and other static content processing

Requests for HTML and other static content directed to the web container are served by the web container inbound chain. However, in most cases, using an external web server and web server plug-in as a front end to the web container is more appropriate for a production environment.

Session management

Support is provided for the javax.servlet.http.HttpSession interface as described in the Servlet (API) specification.

An HTTP session is a series of requests to a servlet, originating from the same user at the same browser. Sessions allow applications running in a web container to keep track of individual users. Many web applications allow users to dynamically collect data as they move through the site, based on a series of selections on pages they visit. Where the user goes next, or what the site displays next, might depend on what the user has chosen previously from the site. To maintain this data, the application stores it in a "session".

SIP applications and their container

Java programs that use at least one Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) servlet. SIP is used to establish, modify, and terminate multimedia IP sessions including IP telephony, presence, and instant messaging.

Portlet applications and their container

Special reusable Java servlets that appear as defined regions on portal pages. Portlets provide access to different applications, services, and web content.

EJB applications run in the EJB container

The EJB container is a server process that handles requests for session and entity beans.

Enterprise beans are Java components that typically implement the business logic of Java EE applications, as well as accessing data. The enterprise beans, packaged in EJB modules, installed in an application server do not communicate directly with the server. Instead, the EJB container is an interface between EJB components and the application server. Together, the container and the server provide the enterprise bean runtime environment.

The container provides many low-level services, including threading and transaction support. From an administrative perspective, the container handles data access for the contained beans. A single container can host more than one EJB JAR file.

Client applications

Client applications and their container

The client container, installed separately from the application server, on the client machine, Enables the client to run applications in an EJB-compatible Java EE environment. WAS v85 provides a launchClient tool for starting the application client, along with its client container runtime.

Web clients, known also as web browser clients

Make requests to the web container of the application server. A web client or web browser client runs in a web browser, and typically is a web application.

Web services clients

Administrative clients

The diagram shows two kinds of administrative clients:

• scripting client
• administrative console

Web services

Web services

The diagram shows the web services engine, part of the web services support in the application server runtime. Web services implement a service-oriented architecture (SOA), which supports the connecting or sharing of resources and data. Services support dynamic, automated discovery and reuse.

WAS acts as both a web services provider and as a requestor. As a provider, it hosts web services published for use by clients. As a requester, it hosts applications that invoke web services from other locations. The diagram shows the web services engine in this capacity, contacting a web services provider or gateway.

SCA composites

Service Component Architecture (SCA)

SCA composites implement business functions in the form of services.

Data access, messaging, and Java EE resources

Data access resources

Connection management for access to enterprise information systems (EIS) in the application server is based on the Java EE Connector Architecture (JCA) specification. The diagram shows JCA services helping an application to access a database in which the application retrieves and persists data.

The connection between the enterprise application and the EIS is done through the use of EIS-provided resource adapters, which are plugged into the application server. The architecture specifies the connection management, transaction management, and security contracts between the application server and EIS.

The Connection Manager (not shown) in the application server pools and manages connections. It is capable of managing connections obtained through both resource adapters defined by the JCA specification and data sources defined by the JDBC 2.0 Extensions specification.

JDBC resources (JDBC providers and data sources) are a type of Java EE resource used by applications to access data. Although data access is a broader subject than that of JDBC resources, this information often groups data access under the heading of Java EE resources for simplicity.

JCA resource adapters are another type of Java EE resource used by applications. The JCA defines the standard architecture for connecting the Java EE platform to heterogeneous EIS. Imagine an ERP, mainframe transaction processing, database systems, and legacy applications not written in the Java programming language.

The JCA resource adapter is a system-level software driver supplied by EIS vendors or other third-party vendors. It provides the connectivity between Java EE application servers or clients and an EIS. To use a resource adapter, install the resource adapter code and create configurations that use that adapter. WAS provides a predefined relational resource adapter for the use.

Messaging resources and messaging engines

JMS support enables applications to exchange messages asynchronously with other JMS clients by using JMS destinations (queues or topics). Applications can use message-driven beans to automatically retrieve messages from JMS destinations and JCA endpoints without explicitly polling for messages.

For inbound non-JMS requests, message-driven beans use a Java EE Connector Architecture (JCA) 1.5 resource adapter written for that purpose. For JMS messaging, message-driven beans can use a JCA-based messaging provider such as the default messaging provider that is part of WAS.

The messaging engine supports the following types of message providers.

Default messaging provider (service integration bus)

The default messaging provider uses the service integration bus for transport. The default message provider provides point-to-point functions, as well as publish and subscribe functions. Within this provider, you define JMS connection factories and destinations that correspond to service integration bus destinations.

WebSphere MQ provider

We can use WebSphere MQ as the external JMS provider. The application server provides the JMS client classes and administration interface, while WebSphere MQ provides the queue-based messaging system.

Generic JMS provider

We can use another messaging provider as long as it implements the ASF component of the JMS 1.0.2 specification. JMS resources for this provider cannot be configured using the administrative console.

transition: Version 6 replaces the Version 5 concept of a JMS server with a messaging engine built into the application server, offering the various kinds of providers mentioned previously. The Version 5 messaging provider is offered for configuring resources for use with Version 5 embedded messaging. You also can use the Version 5 default messaging provider with a service integration bus.

EJB 2.1 introduces an ActivationSpec for connecting message-driven beans to destinations. For compatibility with Version 5, you still can configure JMS message-driven beans (EJB 2.0) against a listener port. For those message-driven beans, the message listener service provides a listener manager that controls and monitors one or more JMS listeners, each of which monitors a JMS destination on behalf of a deployed message-driven bean.

Service integration bus

The service integration bus provides a unified communication infrastructure for messaging and service-oriented applications. The service integration bus is a JMS provider that provides reliable message transport and uses intermediary logic to adapt message flow intelligently into the network. It supports the attachment of web services requestors and providers. Its capabilities are fully integrated into product architecture, including the security, system administration, monitoring, and problem determination subsystems.

The service integration bus is often referred to as just a bus. When used to host JMS applications, it is often referred to as a messaging bus. It consists of the following parts (not shown at this level of detail in the diagram).

Bus members

Application servers added to the bus.

Messaging engine

Manages bus resources. It provides a connection point for clients to produce or from where to consume messages.

Destinations

The place within the bus to which applications attach to exchange messages. Destinations can represent web services endpoints, messaging point-to-point queues, or messaging publish and subscribe topics. Destinations are created on a bus and hosted on a messaging engine.

Message store

Each messaging engine uses a set of tables in a supported data store (such as a JDBC database) to hold information such as messages, subscription information, and transaction states.

Through the service integration bus web services enablement, we can:

• Make an internal service that is already available at a service destination available as a web service.

• Make an external web service available at a service destination.

• Use the web services gateway to map an existing service, either an internal service or an external web service, to a new web service that appears to be provided by the gateway.

Mail, URLs, and other Java EE resources

• JDBC resources and other technology for data access (previously discussed)

• JCA resource adapters

• JMS resources and other messaging support

• JavaMail support, for applications to send Internet mail

  The JavaMail APIs provide a platform and protocol-independent framework for building Java-based mail client applications. The APIs require service providers, known as protocol providers, to interact with mail servers that run on the appropriate protocols.

  A mail provider encapsulates a collection of protocol providers, including Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for sending mail; Post Office Protocol (POP) for receiving mail; and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) as another option for receiving mail. To use another protocol, install the appropriate service provider for the protocol.

• JavaMail requires not only service providers, but also the JavaBeans Activation Framework (JAF), as the underlying framework to handle complex data types that are not plain text, such as MIME, URL pages, and file attachments.

• URLs, for describing logical locations

  URL providers implement the functionality for a particular URL protocol, such as HTTP, enabling communication between the application and a URL resource served by a particular protocol. A default URL provider is included for use by any URL resource with protocols based on the supported Java SE specification, such as HTTP, FTP, or File. You also can plug in our own URL providers that implement additional protocols.

• Resource environment entries, for mapping logical names to physical names

  The java:comp/env environment provides a single mechanism by which both the JNDI name space objects and local application environment objects can be looked up. WAS provides numerous local environment entries by default.

  The Java EE specification also provides a mechanism for defining customer environment entries by defining entries in the standard deployment descriptor of an application. The Java EE specification uses the following methods to separate the definition of the resource environment entry from the application.

  • Requiring the application server to provide a mechanism for defining separate administrative objects that encapsulate a resource environment entry. The administrative objects are accessible using JNDI in the application server local name space (java:comp/env).

  • Specify the administrative object's JNDI lookup name and expected returned object type. This specification is performed in the aforementioned resource environment entry in the deployment descriptor.

  WAS supports the use of resource environment entries with the following administrative concepts.

  • A resource environment entry defines the binding target (JNDI name), factory class, and return object type (via the link to a referenceable) of the resource environment entry.

  • A referenceable defines the class name of the factory that returns object instances implementing a Java interface.

  • A resource environment provider groups together the referenceable, resource environment entries and any required custom properties.

Security

Security programming model and infrastructure

WAS provides security infrastructure and mechanisms to protect sensitive Java EE resources and administrative resources and to address enterprise end-to-end security requirements on authentication, resource access control, data integrity, confidentiality, privacy, and secure interoperability.

Security infrastructure and mechanisms protect Java EE resources and administrative resources, addressing your enterprise security requirements. In turn, the security infrastructure of this product works with the existing security infrastructure of your multiple-tier enterprise computing framework. Based on open architecture, the product provides many plug-in points to integrate with enterprise software components to provide end-to-end security.

The security infrastructure involves both a programming model and elements of the product architecture that are independent of the application type.

Additional services for use by applications

Naming and directory

Each application server provides a naming service that in turn provides a JNDI name space. The service is used to register resources hosted on the application server. The JNDI implementation is built on top of a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) naming service (CosNaming).

JNDI provides the client-side access to naming and presents the programming model used by application developers. CosNaming provides the server-side implementation and is where its name space is actually stored. JNDI essentially provides a client-side wrapper of the name space stored in CosNaming, and interacts with the CosNaming server on behalf of the client.

Clients of the application server use the naming architecture to obtain references to objects related to those applications. The objects are bound into a mostly hierarchical structure called the name space. It consists of a set of name bindings, each one of which is a name relative to a specific context and the object bound with that name. The name space can be accessed and manipulated through a name server.

WAS v85 provides the following naming and directory features.

• Distributed name space, for additional scalability
• Transient and persistent partitions, for binding at various scopes
• Federated name space structure across multiple servers
• Configured bindings for defining bindings bound by the system at server startup
• Support for CORBA Interoperable Naming Service (INS) object URLs

Note that with the addition of virtual member manager to provide federated repository support for product security, the product now offers more extensive and sophisticated identity management capabilities than ever before, especially in combination with other WebSphere and Tivoli products.

Object Request Broker(ORB)

WAS uses an ORB to manage interaction between client applications and server applications, as well as among product components. An ORB uses IIOP to enable clients to make requests and receive requests from servers in a network distributed environment.

The ORB provides a framework for clients to locate objects in the network and call operations on those objects as though the remote objects were located in the same running process as the client, providing location transparency.

Although not shown in the diagram, one place in which the ORB comes into play is where the client container is contacting the EJB container on behalf of a Java client.

Transactions

Part of the application server is the transaction service. WAS provides advanced transactional capabilities to help application developers avoid custom coding. It provides support for the many challenges related to integrating existing software assets with a Java EE environment. These measures include ActivitySessions.

Applications running on the server can use transactions to coordinate multiple updates to resources as one unit of work such that all or none of the updates are made permanent. Transactions are started and ended by applications or the container in which the applications are deployed.

The application server is a transaction manager that supports coordination of resource managers and participates in distributed global transactions with other compliant transaction managers.

The server can be configured to interact with databases, JMS queues, and JCA connectors through their local transaction support when distributed transaction support is not required.

How applications use transactions depends on the type of application, for example:

• A session bean either can manage its transactions itself, or delegate the management of transactions to the container.

• Entity beans use container-managed transactions.

• Web components, such as servlets, use bean-managed transactions.

WAS handles transactions with the following components.

• A transaction manager supports the enlistment of recoverable XAResources and ensures each resource is driven to a consistent outcome, either at the end of a transaction, or after a failure and restart of the application server.

• A container manages the enlistment of XAResources on behalf of deployed applications when it performs updates to transactional resource managers such as databases. Optionally, the container can control the demarcation of transactions for EJB applications that have enterprise beans configured for container-managed transactions.

• An API handles bean-managed enterprise beans and servlets, allowing such application components to control the demarcation of their own transactions.

WebSphere extensions

WebSphere programming model extensions are the programming model benefits you gain by purchasing this product. They represent leading edge technology to enhance application capability and performance, and make programming and deployment faster and more productive.

In addition, the applications can use the Eclipse extension framework. Your applications are extensible as soon as you define an extension point and provide the extension processing code for the extensible area of the application. We can also plug an application into another extensible application by defining an extension that adheres to the target extension point requirements. The extension point can find the newly added extension dynamically and the new function is seamlessly integrated in the existing application. It works on a cross Java EE module basis. The application extension registry uses the Eclipse plug-in descriptor format and APIs as the standard extensibility mechanism for WebSphere applications. Developers who build WebSphere application modules can use WebSphere Application Server extensions to implement Eclipse tools and to provide plug-in modules to contribute functionality such as actions, tasks, menu items, and links at predefined extension points in the WebSphere application. For more information about this feature, see Application extension registry.

The various WebSphere programming model extensions, and the corresponding application services that support them in the application server runtime, can be considered in three groups:

• Business Object Model extensions
• Business Process Model extensions
• Extensions for producing Next Generation Applications

Business object model extensions operate with business objects, such as enterprise bean (EJB) applications.

Application profiling

Application profiling is a WebSphere extension for defining strategies to dynamically control concurrency, prefetch, and read-ahead.

Application profiling and access intent provide a flexible method to fine-tune application performance for enterprise beans without impacting source code. Different enterprise beans, and even different methods in one enterprise bean, can have their own intent to access resources. Profiling the components based on their access intent increases performance in the application server runtime.

Dynamic query

Dynamic query is a WebSphere programming extension for dynamically building and submitting queries that select, sort, join, and perform calculations on application data at runtime. Dynamic Query service provides the ability to pass in and process EJB query language queries at runtime, eliminating the need to hard-code required queries into deployment descriptors during application development.

Dynamic query improves enterprise beans by enabling the client to run custom queries on EJB components during runtime. Until now, EJB lookups and field mappings were implemented at development time and required further development or reassembly in order to be changed.

Dynamic cache

The dynamic cache service improves performance by caching the output of servlets, commands, and JSP files. This service within the application server intercepts calls to cacheable objects and either stores the output of the object or serves the content of the object from the dynamic cache.

Because Java EE applications have high read-write ratios and can tolerate small degrees of latency in the currency of their data, the dynamic cache can create opportunity for significant gains in server response time, throughput, and scalability.

Features include cache replication among clusters, cache disk offload, Edge side include caching, and external caching - the ability to control caches outside of the application server, such as that of the Web server.

Extensions pertaining to the Business Process Model

Business process model extensions provide process, workflow functionality, and services for the application server. Use them in conjunction with business integration capabilities.

ActivitySessions

WebSphere extension for reducing the complexity of dealing with commitment rules and limitations associated with one-phase commit resources. ActivitySessions provide the ability to extend the scope of multiple local transactions, and to group them. This enables them to be committed based on deployment criteria or through explicit program logic.

Web services

Implement a services oriented architecture (SOA), which supports the connecting or sharing of resources and data in a very flexible and standardized manner. Services support dynamic, automated discovery and reuse.

Extensions for creating next generation applications

Next generation extentions can be used in applications that need the specific extensions. These enable next generation development by leveraging the latest innovations that build on today's Java EE standards. This provides greater control over application development, execution, and performance than was ever possible before.

Asynchronous beans

Asynchronous beans offer performance enhancements for resource-intensive tasks by enabling single tasks to run as multiple tasks. Asynchronous scheduling facilities can also be used to process parallel processing requests in "batch mode" at a designated time. WAS provides full support for asynchronous execution and invocation of threads and components within the application server. The application server provides execution and security context for the components, making them an integral part of the application.

Startup beans

Startup beans allow the automatic execution of business logic when the application server starts or stops. For example, they might be used to pre-fill application-specific caches, initialize application-level connection pools, or perform other application-specific initialization and termination procedures.

Object pools

Object pools provide an effective means of improving application performance at runtime, by allowing multiple instances of objects to be reused. This reuse reduces the overhead associated with instantiating, initializing, and garbage-collecting the objects. Creating an object pool allows an application to obtain an instance of a Java object and return the instance to the pool when it has finished using it.

Internationalization

The internationalization service is a WebSphere extension for improving developer productivity. It allows us to automatically recognize the time zone and location information of the calling client, so that the application can act appropriately. The technology enables you to deliver each user, around the world, the right date and time information, the appropriate currencies and languages, and the correct date and decimal formats.

Scheduler

The scheduler service is a WebSphere programming extension responsible for starting actions at specific times or intervals. It helps minimize IT costs and increase application speed and responsiveness by maximizing utilization of existing computing resources. The scheduler service provides the ability to process workloads using parallel processing, set specific transactions as high priority, and schedule less time-sensitive tasks to process during low traffic off-hours.

Work areas

Work areas are a WebSphere extension for improving developer productivity. Work areas provide a capability much like that of "global variables". They provide a solution for passing and propagating contextual information between application components.

Work areas enable efficient sharing of information across a distributed application. For example, you might want to add profile information as each customer enters the application. By placing this information in a work area, it will be available throughout the application, eliminating the need to hand-code a solution or to read and write information to a database.

Subtopics

1. Programming model support
2. Liberty profile
3. WebSphere Application Server roles and goals
4. WebSphere Application Server information roadmap
5. Fast paths for WebSphere Application Server
6. Full profile overview
7. Open source software APIs
8. Specifications and API documentation
9. Three-tier architectures
10. Development and assembly tools
11. Access the samples
12. Resources for learning
13. Tutorials
14. WebSphere platform and related software
15. Release notes

Related concepts

Learn about WebSphere programming extensions