(Linux)
Swinging profiles between product installations
By configuring the environment to use a common set of profiles associated with multiple product installations, we can swing profiles between service levels.
A profile defines the runtime environment and includes all files that the server processes in the runtime environment that we can change. In a typical installation, profiles are associated with a single WebSphere Application Server installation. As a result, when we change the service level of the installation, the service level of the profile also changes.
We can configure the environment to use a common set of profiles associated with multiple installations. Because the profiles are decoupled from any specific installation, we can associate the profiles with different application server installation, or swing profiles. For example, if updating to a service level in a production environment causes unexpected behavior, we can swing profiles to an installation at a stable service level with little interruption. We can swing profiles to update the installation to a newer service level, to roll back to a previously installed service level, or at the same service level.
WAS follows a V.R.M.F naming scheme, where the letters stand for version, release, modification, and fix pack. We can swing profiles only within a release, such as between product installations at different fix packs or interim fixes. For example, we can swing profiles between V8.5.5.9 and later fix packs, but we cannot swing profiles between V8.5.5.9 and v9.0.
An environment configured for swinging profiles relies on one or more master installations, which are the installations to which we apply service from fix packs or interim fixes. The master installation is used to create application server copies for production use, and application server profiles are created in a way that enables their service levels to be changed with a symbolic link.
Tasks
- Install and configure your swinging profile environment.
- Change the product service level by swinging profiles.
Subtopics
- (Linux) Install and configure a swinging profile environment
To be able to swing profiles, install and configure a master application server installation and a set of common profiles. - (Linux) Changing product service levels by swinging profiles
We can update or roll back the product service level by applying service to the master installation and swinging profiles to an updated application server copy.