For up-to-date product documentation, see the IBM MobileFirst Foundation Developer Center.

Transfer server-side artifacts to a test or production server

We can transfer an application configuration from a one server to another by using command-line tools or a REST API.

The application descriptor file is a JSON file that contains the description and configuration of your application. When we run an app that connects to a MobileFirst Server instance, the app must be registered with that server and configured. After you define a configuration for our app, we can transfer the application descriptor to another server, for example to a test server or to a production server. After you transfer the application descriptor to the new server, the app is registered with the new server. Different procedures are available, depending on whether you develop mobile applications and have access to the code, or whether you administer servers and do not have access to the code of the mobile app.

Important: If you import an application that includes authenticity data, and if the application itself has been recompiled since the authenticity data was generated, we must refresh the authenticity data. For more information, see Configure the application-authenticity security check.

Procedure

• If you have access to the code of the mobile app, use the mfpdev app pull and mfpdev app push commands.
• If you do not have access to the code of the mobile app, use the administration service.

• Transfer an application configuration by using mfpdev
  After you have developed an application, we can transfer it from your development environment to a test or production environment.
• Transfer an application configuration with the administration service
  As an administrator, we can transfer an application configuration from one server to another by using the administration service of MobileFirst Server. No access to the application code is required, but the client app must be built for the target server.
• Transfer server-side artifacts by using the REST API
  Whatever your role, we can export applications, adapters, and resources for back-up or reuse purposes by using the MobileFirst Server administration service. As an administrator or deployer, we can also deploy an export archive to a different server. No access to the application code is required, but the client app must be built for the target server.
• Exporting and importing applications and adapters from the MobileFirst Operations Console
  From the console, under certain conditions, we can export an application or one of its versions, and later import it to a different runtime on the same server or a different server. We can also export and reimport adapters. Use this capability for reuse or back-up purposes.

Parent topic: Deploy MobileFirst applications to test and production environments