Installable Java EE modules on WebSphere deployment targets

Installable enterprise module versions

The contents of a Java EE module affect whether we can install the module on a deployment target. A deployment target is a server or a cluster with at least one member on a WAS product.

Installable application modules

Select only appropriate deployment targets for a module. We must install an application, enterprise bean (EJB) module, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) archive (SAR), web module, or client module on a Version 8.x target under any of the following conditions:

The module supports Java EE 6.

The module calls an 8.x runtime (API).

The module uses an 8.x product feature.
For example, because support for deployment of application client modules using the console or wsadmin AdminApp commands was added in Version 8.0, install a client module using the console or an AdminApp command only to a Version 8.x target.

If a module supports J2EE 1.4, then we can install the module on a Version 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. Modules that call a 6.1.x API or use a 6.1.x feature can be installed on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. Modules that call a 6.0.x API or use a 6.0.x feature can be installed on a 6.0.x, 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. Modules that require 6.1.x feature pack functionality can be installed on a 7.x or 8.x deployment target or on a 6.1.x deployment target that has been enabled with that feature pack. Modules that require 7.x feature pack functionality can be installed on a 8.x deployment target or on a 7.x deployment target that has been enabled with that feature pack.
Selecting options such as Precompile JSP files, Deploy web services or Deploy enterprise beans during application installation indicates that the application uses features of the current product version. Do not select these options if the targets of the applications are on older version nodes. Use the tools available in the older version, such as JspBatchCompiler, wsgen, or ejbdeploy, to update the application with generated code before deploying the application.
Avoid trouble: We must package container-managed persistence (CMP) or bean-managed persistence (BMP) entity beans in an EJB 2.1 or earlier module. We cannot install an EJB 3.0 or EJB 3.1 module containing CMP or BMP entity beans. Installation fails when a CMP or BMP entity bean is packaged in an EJB 3.0 or EJB 3.1 module. We can install EJB 2.1 or earlier modules on a 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.gotcha

Installable RAR files

We can install a stand-alone resource adapter (connector) module, or RAR file, developed for a Version 6.0.x product to a 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. If the module calls a 6.1.x API, then install the module on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We must install a module that calls a 7.x API on a 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We must install a module that calls a 8.x API on a 8.x deployment target.

Deployment targets

The following table lists the compatible deployment target versions for various modules. "6.x, 7.x or 8.x" for Deployment target versions indicates we can deploy the module to a WAS v6, 7, or 8 server or cluster.

for 6.x, 7.x and 8.x modules. Deploy modules to compatible
Module type Module Java support Module calls 6.x, 7.x or 8.x runtime APIs or uses 6.x, 7.x or 8.x features? Client versions that can install module Deployment target versions
Application, EJB, or web J2EE 1.3 No 6.x, 7.x or 8.x 6.x, 7.x or 8.x
Application, EJB, or web J2EE 1.3 Yes 6.x, 7.x or 8.x for 6.x APIs or features
7.x or 8.x for 7.x APIs or features
8.x for 8.x APIs or features
6.x, 7.x or 8.x
We must install modules that call 6.1.x runtime APIs or use 6.1.x features on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We can install modules that call 6.0.x runtime APIs or use 6.0.x features on any 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.
Application, EJB, SAR, or web J2EE 1.4 Yes or No 6.x, 7.x or 8.x 6.x, 7.x or 8.x
Application, EJB, SAR, or web Java EE 5 Yes or No 7.x or 8.x 7.x or 8.x
Application, EJB, SAR, or web Java EE 6 Yes or No 8.x 8.x
Client Any Java EE version Yes or No 8.x 8.x
Resource adapter JCA 1.0 No 6.x, 7.x or 8.x 6.x, 7.x or 8.x
Resource adapter JCA 1.0 Yes 6.x, 7.x or 8.x 6.x, 7.x or 8.x
We must install modules that call 6.1.x runtime APIs on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We can install modules that call 6.0.x runtime APIs on any 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.
Resource adapter JCA 1.5 Yes or No 6.x, 7.x or 8.x 6.x, 7.x or 8.x
We must install modules that call 6.1.x runtime APIs on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We can install modules that call 6.0.x runtime APIs on any 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.
Resource adapter JCA 1.6 Yes or No JCA 1.6 resource adapters can only be installed on 8.x. Resource adapter archive annotations are not supported on previous WebSphere Application Server releases. JCA 1.6 resource adapters can only be installed on 8.x. Resource adapter archive annotations are not supported on previous WebSphere Application Server releases.

Related concepts

Enterprise beans
Relational resource adapters and JCA
Web modules

Related tasks

Install enterprise application files
Update enterprise application files

Module type	Module Java support	Module calls 6.x, 7.x or 8.x runtime APIs or uses 6.x, 7.x or 8.x features?	Client versions that can install module	Deployment target versions
Application, EJB, or web	J2EE 1.3	No	6.x, 7.x or 8.x	6.x, 7.x or 8.x
Application, EJB, or web	J2EE 1.3	Yes	6.x, 7.x or 8.x for 6.x APIs or features 7.x or 8.x for 7.x APIs or features 8.x for 8.x APIs or features	6.x, 7.x or 8.x We must install modules that call 6.1.x runtime APIs or use 6.1.x features on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We can install modules that call 6.0.x runtime APIs or use 6.0.x features on any 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.
Application, EJB, SAR, or web	J2EE 1.4	Yes or No	6.x, 7.x or 8.x	6.x, 7.x or 8.x
Application, EJB, SAR, or web	Java EE 5	Yes or No	7.x or 8.x	7.x or 8.x
Application, EJB, SAR, or web	Java EE 6	Yes or No	8.x	8.x
Client	Any Java EE version	Yes or No	8.x	8.x
Resource adapter	JCA 1.0	No	6.x, 7.x or 8.x	6.x, 7.x or 8.x
Resource adapter	JCA 1.0	Yes	6.x, 7.x or 8.x	6.x, 7.x or 8.x We must install modules that call 6.1.x runtime APIs on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We can install modules that call 6.0.x runtime APIs on any 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.
Resource adapter	JCA 1.5	Yes or No	6.x, 7.x or 8.x	6.x, 7.x or 8.x We must install modules that call 6.1.x runtime APIs on a 6.1.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target. We can install modules that call 6.0.x runtime APIs on any 6.x, 7.x or 8.x deployment target.
Resource adapter	JCA 1.6	Yes or No	JCA 1.6 resource adapters can only be installed on 8.x. Resource adapter archive annotations are not supported on previous WebSphere Application Server releases.	JCA 1.6 resource adapters can only be installed on 8.x. Resource adapter archive annotations are not supported on previous WebSphere Application Server releases.