Abstract:
A system and method for An interactive tool for configuring a domain, comprising providing a first user interface operable to configure the domain, providing a second user interface operable to configure a cluster, wherein configuration of the domain is based on a domain template, and wherein the cluster belongs to the domain.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from the following application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety:  
         [0002]     SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOMAIN CONFIGURATION, U.S. application Ser. No. 60/450,126, Inventors: David Felts et al., filed on Feb. 25, 2003. (Attorney&#39;s Docket No. BEAS-1383US0) 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0003]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0004]     The present disclosure relates generally to interactive graphical tools for configuring network resources and, in particular, application/web server configuration tools.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0005]     As the use of network domains for management, load-balancing and fail-over increases, so to does the need for easy-to-use domain management tools. Some domain management tools have rigid user interfaces that only accommodate a predefined set of domain configurations. What is needed is an interactive domain tool that is easy to extend.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary illustration of a configuration wizard/user interface user interface in accordance to an embodiment.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary illustration of a domain in an embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary script for creating a new domain from a configuration template in an embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary script for creating a new domain and updating it using an extension template 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     Aspects of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.  
         [0011]     A domain can be defined in which one or more enterprise applications can execute. A domain is the basic administration unit and can include web/application server(s), portal(s), business-to-business integration products, interactive development tool(s), and enterprise applications. In one embodiment, domain creation is based on one or more templates. Templates can contain domain, application and service configuration parameters along with supporting files.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary illustration of a configuration wizard/user interface user interface in accordance to an embodiment. The configuration wizard/user interface can be used to install, configure, monitor, and/or manage one or more domains. In one embodiment, the wizard/user interface can be a Java™ application. The Configuration Wizard/user interface can guide a user through the process of creating or extending a domain for a target environment. This process is based on predefined template(s) that contain the attributes and files required for building or extending a particular domain. In one embodiment, a template can be a Java™ Archive (JAR) file that contains the files and scripts required to create or update a domain.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the types of templates used by the configuration wizard/user interface can include configuration and extension templates. A configuration template can define the full set of resources within a domain, including infrastructure components, applications, services, security options, and general environment and operating system options. This type of template is used to create a domain. An extension template can define applications and services, such as JDBC (Java™ Database Connectivity) or JMS (Java™ Message Service) components, and startup/shutdown classes, that can be used to extend an existing domain. This type of template is used to update a domain. The applications and services stored in the selected extension templates can be imported into the domain.  
         [0014]     The Configuration Wizard/user interface provides two options for creating domains: express and custom configuration. Express configuration allows a user to create a domain quickly, using default settings from a selected configuration template. Custom configuration allows a user to modify configuration information. To customize a domain, a user can specify any of the following components and parameters: Infrastructure components, including managed servers, clusters, and physical host machines; database and messaging services—Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) and Java Message Service (JMS); Targets (servers and clusters); security parameters; and general environment and operating system parameters.  
         [0015]     In various embodiments, the Configuration Wizard/user interface can create a domain that includes a configuration file, config.xml, that can describe the infrastructure and basic network parameters of all server instances, and configuration of basic security features that allow for the initial booting of the domain. The domain may also include the following: 
        Server startup scripts (by way of a non-limiting example, startwebLogic.cmd or startWebLogic.sh) that are populated with the values that a user enter using the Configuration Wizard/user interface;     A directory containing the applications provided by the template;     A directory containing database-specific information used to create and initialize a database; and     Other files and directories to help a user get started (by way of a non-limiting example, setEnv.cmd or setEnv.sh).        
 
         [0020]     In some cases, it may be desirable or necessary to add a predefined application, a component product, or a set of services, such as JDBC or JMS, to an existing domain. By way of a non-limiting example, if a user has an existing Web/app server application running in a domain but needs to develop an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) application to run in the same domain, a user can extend the functionality of the Web/app server domain by adding the IDE.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, to extend a domain using the Configuration Wizard/user interface, a user can select the directory of the domain that the user wants to extend and specify that the extension template include additional applications. A user then has the option of configuring the database (e.g., JDBC) and messaging (e.g., JMS) services, and targeting servers or clusters to which a user want the applications or services deployed. The Configuration Wizard/user interface can then update the config.xml file and all other generated components in the configuration directory, as required.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary illustration of a domain in an embodiment. A domain is the basic administration unit for Web/app server. It consists of one or more Web/app server instances  200 , and logically related resources and services that are managed, collectively, as a unit. The basic domain infrastructure consists of one Administration Server  202  and optional managed servers  200  and clusters  204 . In one embodiment, a domain can include one web/app server instance that is configured as an Administration Server. The Administration Server provides a central point for managing the domain and providing access to the Web/app server administration tools  205 . These tools include, but are not limited to, the following: a graphical administration console and a server node manager that enables a user to start, shutdown, restart and monitor servers.  
         [0023]     Managed Servers can host application components and resources, which are also deployed and managed as part of the domain. In a domain with only a single Web/app server instance, the server can function as both the Administration Server and Managed Server. A domain may also include Web/app server clusters, which are groups of Web/app server instances that work together to provide scalability and high availability for applications. Clusters can improve performance and provide fail-over should a server instance become unavailable. The servers within a cluster can run on the same machine, or they can reside on different machines. To a client, a cluster appears as a single Web/app server instance.  
         [0024]     In addition to infrastructure components, a domain can define the basic network configuration for the server instances it contains. Specifically, a domain can define application deployments, supported application services (such as database and messaging services), security options, and physical host machines.  
         [0025]     A user may find it useful to configure multiple domains based on specific criteria, such as system administrator responsibilities, the logical classification of applications, the geographical locations of servers, or size. The following table outlines the most common domain configurations.  
                         TABLE 1                           Common Domain Configurations            FEATURE   DESCRIPTION               Domain with   In typical production environments, several       Managed Servers   Managed Servers are deployed to host Web           applications, and an Administration Server           is deployed to perform management operations.       Domain with   In production environments that require       Managed Servers   increased performance, Cluster throughput,       and Clusters   or availability for a Web application,           several Managed Servers might be grouped           in a cluster. In such a case, the domain           consists of one or more clusters with the           applications they host, additional Managed           Servers, if necessary, and an Administration           Server to perform management operations.       Stand-alone   In development or test environments, a single       Server Domain   application and server might be deployed           independently from other Managed Servers. In           such a case, a user can deploy a domain           consisting of a single Administration Server           that also hosts the Web applications a user           want to test or develop. The Web/app server           Examples Domain template, described in the           Template Reference, is an example of a           stand-alone server domain.                  
 
         [0026]     In one embodiment, the Configuration wizard/user interface can be invoked in graphical mode or silent mode. To run it in silent mode, a user can first create a script that can define the configuration settings for the domain. A script can specify operations to be performed by the Configuration Wizard/user interface when the script is executed. The following sections describe the operations that can be defined in the script to create a new domain. First, a pre-existing configuration template can be selected to use as the basis of the domain a user will create and configure. Then&#39; the information in the template can be customized to create new configuration objects, edit existing values for configuration object attributes, or delete configuration objects. In one embodiment, a user can obtain information about a user existing configuration by viewing the config.xml and security.xml files in a user template or domain. In one embodiment and by way of a non-limiting example, the following table can define the configuration objects that can be created and edited.  
                         TABLE 2                           Exemplary Configuration Object Types in an Embodiment            CONFIGURATION OBJECT           TYPE   WHAT IS DEFINED?               Server   Administration or Managed Server.       Cluster   Cluster.       Machine   Windows machine.       UnixMachine   UNIX machine.       JDBCConnectionPool   JDBC Connection Pool.       JDBCMultiPool   JDBC MultiPool.       JDBCDataSource   JDBC data source.       JDBCTxDataSource   JDBC data source that supports           global transactions.       JMSConnectionFactory   JMS connection factory.       JMSDestinationKey   JMS destination key.       JMSServer   JMS Server.       JMSFileStore   JMS file store.       JMSJDBCStore   JMS JDBC store.       JMSTemplate   JMS Template.       JMSTopic   JMS topic.       JMSQueue   JMS queue.       JMSDistributedTopic   JMS distributed topic.       JMSDistributedQueue   JMS distributed queue.       JMSDistributedTopicMember   JMS distributed topic members.       JMSDistributedQueueMember   JMS distributed queue members.       User   User.       Group   Group.                  
 
         [0027]     A configuration is specified in a template file as follows: 
        create object_type “name” as variable; 
 
 where object_type is the configuration object type (see Table 2), name is how the object will be referred to, and variable is a user-defined variable used to specify the configuration object. 
       
 
         [0030]     In the following example, a Server object is created and assigned to the variable s2, and the Name attribute is set to server — 2: 
        create Server “server — 2” as s2;        
 
         [0032]     In the following example, a User object is created and assigned to the variable u1, and the Name attribute is set to user1: 
        create User “user1” as u1;        
 
         [0034]     In one embodiment and by default, the user is assigned to the group “Administrators.” 
         [0035]     Before a user can edit an existing configuration object, the configuration wizard/user interface can find the object in the template and assign it to a variable. To assign a configuration object to a variable, use the find operation, as follows: 
        find object_type “name” as variable; 
 
 where object_type is a configuration object, name is the value of the configuration object Name attribute, and variable is a user-defined variable used to specify the configuration object. 
       
 
         [0038]     In the following example, a Server object named “myserver” is assigned to the variable s1: 
        find Server “myserver” as s1;        
 
         [0040]     To set a configuration attribute, specify the variable and attribute name for it, as follows: 
        set variable.attribute “value”; 
 
 where variable is a user-defined variable used to specify the configuration object, attribute is a configuration object attribute value, and value is a value that a user want to assign to the specified attribute of the configuration object. The value can be enclosed in quotation marks. 
       
 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary script for creating a new domain from a configuration template in an embodiment.  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary script for creating a new domain and updating it using an extension template  
         [0045]     Table 3 summarizes the procedure for creating a domain using the custom configuration option in an embodiment Configuration wizard/user interface.  
                         TABLE 3                           Exemplary Tasks for Creating a       Custom Domain in an Embodiment            TASK   DESCRIPTION               Creating or Extending   Choose whether to create a new WebLogic       a Configuration   domain configuration or add to an           existing domain configuration. To create           a new domain, choose Create a new WebLogic           configuration.       Selecting a Configuration   Choose the configuration template with       Template   which a user want to create and configure           a user domain.       Choosing Express or   Select the Custom option to create a domain       Custom Configuration   with non-default template settings that           meet the needs of a user domain.       Designating an   Designate a server as the Administration       Administration Server   Server. This window is displayed           automatically only if the selected template           includes multiple servers that are not           assigned to clusters.       Configuring the   Define parameters for the Administration       Administration Server   Server, a designated server from which the           domain is managed.       Configuring Managed   Optionally, define parameters for Managed       Servers, Clusters,   Servers, clusters, and host machines.       and Machines When       Creating a New Domain       Configuring JDBC When   Optionally, define parameters for Java       Creating a New Domain   Database Connectivity (JDBC).       Configuring JMS When   Optionally, define parameters for the Java       Creating a New Domain   Message Service (JMS).       Targeting Servers and   Optionally, target the servers and clusters       Clusters When Creating   to which a user want to deploy application       a New Domain   components (such as Web applications and           EJB modules), and application services           (such as JDBC or JMS components, and           startup/shutdown classes.)       Configuring Security   Specify an administrative username and       When Creating a New   password.       Domain   Optionally, a user can also configure           additional security features by defining           users and groups and assigning them           to global security roles.       Configuring Windows   Optionally, define domain-specific       Options   parameters for the Windows operating system.       Specifying the   Select the mode in which to launch a user       WebLogic   WebLogic domain configuration (development       Configuration   mode or production mode) and the Java       Environment   Software Development Kit (SDK) that is           enabled for the selected Startup mode.       Creating the   Review the parameters defined for a user       WebLogic   domain configuration, specify its name       Configuration   and pathname, and initiate its creation.                  
 
         [0046]     In various embodiments, the configuration wizard/user interface can prompt a user to choose whether a user want to create a new domain configuration or extend an existing one by adding applications and services. To create a new domain, a user begins by selecting a configuration template as the basis for a user domain and then modifies settings as needed. To add applications and services to an existing domain configuration, a user begins by selecting the extension template to modify.  
         [0047]     The configuration wizard/user interface can prompt a user to define configuration information for the Administration Server. A user can review the values displayed in the window and modify them as necessary, using the guidelines provided in the following table. Exemplary values in one embodiment are provided in Table 4.  
                         TABLE 4                           Exemplary Admin Server Configuration       Parameters in an Embodiment            FIELD   DESCRIPTION               Name   A valid server name: a string of characters that can           include spaces. Each server instance in a user           environment can have a unique name, regardless of           the domain or cluster in which it resides, or           whether it is an Administration Server or a Managed           Server. In addition, the name of the Administration           Server can be unique among all configuration           component names within the domain.       Listen   From a drop-down list, a user can select a value for       Address   the Listen Address. Valid values for the listen       (Optional)   address are as follows:           All Local Addresses (default)           IP address of the computer that hosts the server           DNS name that resolves to the host           localhost (valid only for requests that are issued           from the computer on which the server is running)       Listen Port   A valid value for the listen port to be used for       (Optional)   regular, non-secure requests (via protocols such           as HTTP and T3). The default value is 7001. If a           user leave this field blank, the default value           is used.       SSL Listen   SSL Listen Port Enter a valid value to be used for       Port   secure requests (via protocols such as HTTPS and       (Optional)   T3S). The default value is 7002. If a user           leave this field blank, the default value is used.       SSL Enabled   Select the check box if a user want to enable the       (Optional)   SSL Listen Port. By           default, the SSL is disabled for all new servers.                  
 
         [0048]     In one embodiment, the minimum requirement for a user domain is a single Administration Server on a single machine. In addition, however, a user has the option of configuring other resources to be managed by the Administration Server and distributing them across multiple machines. A user can: add, change, or delete managed servers; add, change, or delete clusters; group managed servers into clusters, or change current groupings; and assign servers to machines, or change current assignments. The configuration wizard/user interface can prompt a user to specify whether a user want to distribute configuration across Managed Servers, clusters, and physical machines.  
         [0049]     JDBC enables Java™ programmers to interact with common database management systems (DBMS), such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and Sybase. The Configuration Wizard/user interface gives a user the option of configuring a database service for a user domain by defining several WebLogic JDBC components: Connection pools—Ready-to-use groups of connections to a user DBMS; MultiPools-Groups of connection pools; and Data sources—Interfaces between applications and connection pools. Because Web/app server applications usually require some database access, templates created for use with the Configuration Wizard/user interface can contain JDBC configuration information. When using the Configuration Wizard/user interface, a user can accept these settings, modify them, or add JDBC configuration information.  
         [0050]     JMS gives a user access to enterprise messaging systems that enable applications to communicate with one another. The Configuration Wizard/user interface gives a user the option of setting up JMS messaging services for a domain. To set up a messaging service, a user can define the following components: 
        Connection factory—Encapsulated connection configuration information that enables JMS applications to create a connection.     File and JDBC stores—Disk-based file stores and JDBC-accessible database stores, respectively; used to store persistent messages.     Destination Keys and JMS Templates—Keys to define the sort order for messages that arrive at a destination and templates to define multiple destinations with similar attribute settings.     JMS Servers—Servers that manage connections and message requests on behalf of clients.     Destinations—Queues (in point-to-point models) or topics (in publish/subscribe models) that serve as destinations and distributed destinations for a JMS server.        
 
         [0056]     Because JMS is often required by Web/app server applications, the templates created for use with the Configuration Wizard/user interface can contain JMS configuration information. A user can accept these settings when using the Configuration Wizard/user interface.  
         [0057]     In one embodiment, the configuration wizard/user interface can prompt a user to decide whether a user want to define additional infrastructure components and distribute the domain across those components. 
        If a user selects No, the wizard/user interface uses the configuration settings based on a configuration source that a user selected earlier.        
 
         [0059]     If a user selects Yes, the user is prompted in subsequent windows to define the configuration a user want, as described in the Table 5.  
                         TABLE 5                           Exemplary Tasks for Configuring Servers       and Clusters in an Embodiment            TASK   DESCRIPTION               Configuring Managed   Optionally, add managed servers or change       Servers   the configuration of existing managed           servers in a user domain.       Grouping Managed   A cluster is a group of Web/app server       Servers into Clusters   instances that work together to provide           scalability and high-availability for           applications.       Mapping Web/app   In a domain, a machine is the computer       server Instances to   hardware that hosts one or more       Host Machines   Web/app server instances.                  
 
         [0060]     To configure clusters, a user can review a current list of cluster configurations and add or modify entries as required using the guidelines provided in Table 6.  
                         TABLE 6                           Exemplary Cluster Configuration Parameters in an Embodiment            FIELD   DESCRIPTION               Name   Valid cluster name: a string of characters that can           include spaces. The name of the cluster can be           unique among all configuration component names           within the domain.       Multicast   Multicast address for the cluster. This address is       Address   used by cluster members to communicate with each       (Optional)   other. The default value is 237.0.0.1.           Valid multicast addresses are any valid IP address           of the form nnn.xx.xx.xxxx, where nnn is 237, 238,           or 239.       Multicast   Multicast port for the cluster. The multicast port       Port   is used by cluster members to communicate with each       (Optional)   other. The default value is 7777.       Cluster   Cluster address that identifies the Managed Servers       Address   in the cluster.       (Optional)   A cluster address can be one of the following:           Comma-separated list of IP addresses or DNS names           and ports, by way of a non-limiting example:           dns_name:port, dns_name:port           DNS name that maps to multiple IP addresses           localhost, DNS name, or IP address if the Listen           Address of all Managed Servers is listening to the           same address with unique port numbers           The cluster address is used in entity and stateless           EJBs to construct the host name portion of URLs.           If the cluster address is not set, EJB handles may           not work properly.                  
 
         [0061]     In one embodiment, a Cluster Wizard/user interface user interface can prompt a user to assign the available Managed Server(s) to a cluster within the domain. This wizard/user interface is displayed only if a user have defined at least one cluster. The cluster wizard/user interface prompts a user to create an HTTP proxy application to proxy client requests to the cluster. An HTTP proxy application operates as an intermediary for HTTP requests.  
         [0062]     In one embodiment, another wizard/user interface prompts a user to define the configuration information for the Windows and UNIX machines in the domain (see Table 7). A user may want to perform this in circumstances such as (but not limited to) the following: an Administration Server uses the machine definition, in conjunction with the Node Manager application, to start remote servers; and a Web/app server uses configured machine names when determining which server in a cluster is best able to handle certain tasks, such as HTTP session replication. Web/app server then delegates those tasks to the identified server.  
                         TABLE 7                           Exemplary Machine Configuration Parameters in an Embodiment            PARAMETER   DESCRIPTION               Name   Enter a valid machine name: a string of characters           that can include spaces.           The machine name:           Is used to identify the machine within the Web/app           server domain; it is not required to match the           network name for the machine.           Can be unique among all configuration component           names within the domain.       Node Manager   Select a value from the drop-down list for the       Listen Address   listen address used by the Node Manager. By       (Optional)   default, the IP addresses defined for the local           system and localhost are shown in the drop-down           list. The default is localhost.           Valid values for the listen address are as follows:           IP address of the computer that hosts the server           DNS name that resolves to the host           localhost           All Local Addresses       Node Manager   Enter a valid value for the listen port used by       Listen Port   the Node Manager.       (Optional)   Any number between 1 and 65535 is a valid value.           The default value is 5555.                  
 
         [0063]     In one embodiment, a user can configure a database service such as but not limited to JDBC. JDBC enables Java programmers to interact with common database management systems such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase. A wizard/user interface gives the user the option of configuring a database service by defining several JDBC components in Table 8.  
                         TABLE 8                           Exemplary Tasks for Configuring JDBC in an Embodiment            TASK   DESCRIPTION               Configuring JDBC   Create ready-to-use pools of connections to a       Connection Pools   user DBMS. This task is a prerequisite for       (Optional)   configuring JDBC MultiPools.       Configuring JDBC   Set up a group of JDBC connection pools to       MultiPools   accommodate either a high-availability       (Optional)   algorithm or a load-balancing algorithm.       Assigning JDBC   Assign the JDBC connection pools to the       Connection Pools   defined JDBC MultiPools.       to MultiPools   This window only is displayed only if a user       (Optional)   define one or more JDBC connection pools and           JDBC MultiPools.       Configuring JDBC   Configure the data sources that are bound       Data Sources   to the JNDI tree and assign a JDBC connection       (Optional)   pool. A data source object enables           JDBC applications to obtain a DBMS connection           from a connection pool.       Testing JDBC   Test a user JDBC connection pool configurations       Connection Pools   on the local machine.       and Setting Up a       JDBC       Database(Optional)       Setting Up the   Set up the database content used by the       JDBC Database   applications in a user domain using pre-existing       Content (Optional)   SQL or database loading files. A configuration           template may contain a set of SQL files organized           by database type.                  
 
         [0064]     In one embodiment, a user can configure JMS. A wizard/user interface gives a user access to enterprise messaging systems that make it possible for applications to communicate with one another. In one embodiment, JMS configuration parameters are listed in Table 9.  
                         TABLE 9                           Exemplary Tasks for Configuring JMS in an Embodiment            TASK   DESCRIPTION               Configuring JMS   Configure connection factories, JMS objects that       Connection   encapsulate connection configuration information,       Factories   and enable JMS applications to create connections.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS destination keys that are used to       Destination Keys   define the sort order for messages that arrive           at a specific destination.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS templates which provide an       Templates   efficient means of defining multiple destinations           (queues and topics) with similar configuration           settings.       Assigning JMS   Assign destination keys to templates.       Destination Keys       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS file stores. A JMS file store is       File Stores   a disk-based file that is used to store           persistent messages.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS JDBC stores, a JDBC-accessible       JDBC File Stores   database used to store persistent messages.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS servers to manage connections       Servers   and message requests on behalf of clients.       Assigning JMS   Assign the JMS servers to Web/app server       Servers to Web/app   instances.       server Instances       Configuring IMS   Configure JMS topics. JMS topics support the       Topics   publish/subscribe (Pub/sub) messaging model           which enables an application to send a           message to multiple applications. Pub/sub           messaging applications send and receive           messages by subscribing to a topic.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS queues. JMS queues support the       Queues   point-to-point (PTP) messaging model which           enables one application to send a message to           another application. PTP messaging applications           send and receive messages using named queues.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS distributed topics, a set of       Distributed Topics   physical topics that can support service           continuity in the event of a Web/app server           failure within a cluster.       Configuring JMS   Configure JMS distributed queues, a set of       Distributed Queues   physical queues that can support service           continuity in the event of a Web/app server           failure within a cluster.       Assigning JMS   Assign JMS distributed queues or topics to       Distributed   a Web/app server or cluster.       Destinations       Configuring JMS   Assign members to a particular JMS       Distributed Topic   distributed topic.       Members       Configuring JMS   Assign members to the JMS distributed queue.       Distributed Queue       Members                  
 
         [0065]     Targeting of applications and services (e.g., JMS and JDBC) to servers or clusters is optional. A wizard/user interface (not shown) can allow a user to target the servers and clusters onto which a user want to deploy applications and services.  
         [0066]     In some situations, a user may need to extend an existing domain with an application, a component product, or a set of services. By way of a non-limiting example, if a user needs to develop an IDE application for a domain in which a user are already running a Web/app server application, a user can extend the functionality of the domain by adding IDE to it. The Configuration Wizard/user interface simplifies the task of extending an existing domain by using extension templates. An extension template can define applications and services that can be added to an existing domain. BEA delivers a set of predefined extension templates, which are described in Template Reference. Table 10 summarizes a procedure for extending an existing domain using the Configuration Wizard/user interface in one embodiment.  
                         TABLE 10                           Exemplary Tasks for Extending a Domain in an Embodiment            TASK   DESCRIPTION               Creating or Extending a   Choose whether to create a new WebLogic       Configuration   domain configuration or add to an           existing domain configuration. To           extend an existing domain configuration,           choose Extend an existing WebLogic           configuration.       Choosing a WebLogic   Select the host directory for the domain       Configuration Directory   a user want to update.       Selecting a   Specify an extension (or application)       Configuration Extension   template that allows a user to add       Template   applications and services to an existing           domain.       Configuring JDBC   Define parameters for Java Database       When Extending a   Connectivity (JDBC).       Domain       Configuring JMS When   Define parameters for Java Message       Extending a Domain   Service (JMS).       Targeting Applications   Define parameters for the target servers       and Services to Servers   and clusters onto which a user want to       and Clusters When   deploy application components, such as       Extending a Domain   Web applications and EJB modules, and           application services, such as JDBC or           JMS components, or startup and           shutdown classes.       Configuring JMS   Review a user current configuration       Domain Creating A   settings and launch the process that       user WebLogic   updates the domain.                  
 
         [0067]     A configuration template can define the full set of resources within a domain, including infrastructure components, applications, services, security options, and general environment and operating system parameters. In various embodiments, a Configuration Template Builder makes it easy to create templates. By way of a non-limiting example, the template builder enables: 
        Definition and propagation of a standard domain across a development project     Distribution of a domain along with an application that has been developed to run on that domain        
 
         [0070]     Any template a user create with the Configuration Template Builder can be used as input to the Configuration Wizard/user interface. The Configuration Wizard/user interface uses it, in turn, as the basis for creating a domain that is customized for a user target environment. Table 11 summarizes the procedure for creating a configuration template using the Configuration Template Builder.  
                         TABLE 11                           Tasks for Creating a Template in an Embodiment            STEP   DESCRIPTION               Creating a New Template   Choose the type of template a user want           to create: configuration or extension.           To create a configuration template,           choose Create a Configuration Template.       Selecting a Template   Select the configuration template or the       Configuration Source   directory of the domain from which a           user want to create a new configuration           template.       Describing the Template   Specify a description of the template           that will be displayed within the Select           a Configuration Template window of the           Configuration Wizard/user interface.       Adding Applications to   Review and modify, if desired, the list       A user Configuration   of applications to be included in the       Template   template.       Adding Files to A user   Review and modify, if desired, the files       Configuration Template   to be included in the template.       Adding SQL Scripts Into   Add SQL scripts for each database that       A user Configuration   a user expect to be used with the       Template   domains created from this template and           specify the order in which the scripts           are executed.       Configuring Managed   Optionally, define parameters for the       Servers, Clusters, and   Managed Servers, clusters, and host       Machines When Creating   machines in a user domain.       Configuration Templates       Configuring JDBC When   Optionally, define parameters for Java       Creating Configuration   Database Connectivity (JDBC).       Templates       Configuring JMS When   Optionally, define parameters for Java       Creating Configuration   Message Service (JMS).       Templates       Targeting Servers and   Optionally, define parameters for the       Clusters When Creating   target servers and clusters onto which a       Configuration Templates   user want to deploy application components           (such as Web applications and EJB modules)           and application services (such as JDBC or           JMS components), or startup and shutdown           classes.       Configuring Security   Specify a user name and password to be       When Creating   used for starting the       Configuration Templates   Administration Server and, if desired,           configure additional security.       Building Start Menu   Optionally, define entries for the       Entries   Windows Start Menu.       Preparing Scripts and   Replace specific paths, filenames, and       Files With Replacement   other configuration environment settings       Variables   with replacement variables in text files           contained in the template. The           Configuration Wizard/user interface           later substitutes the variables with           exact strings to set up a specific           WebLogic configuration.       Creating A user   Review the configuration template       Configuration Template   details, specify the name and directory           for the configuration template, and           launch the process that creates it.                  
 
         [0071]     In one embodiment, an extension template can define applications and services that can be used to extend an existing domain. This type of template can be used when a user is updating a domain. The applications and services stored in the selected extension templates can be imported into the domain using the Configuration Wizard/user interface. The Configuration Template Builder provides a simple means for creating extension templates which can be used as input to the Configuration Wizard/user interface. The process used to create an extension template is virtually the same as the process used to create a configuration template except that a user are not prompted to define any infrastructure components.  
         [0072]     One embodiment includes a computer program product which is a storage medium (media) having instructions stored thereon/in which can be used to program a computer to perform any of the features presented herein. The storage medium can include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrive, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or optical cards, nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), or any type of media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data.  
         [0073]     Stored on any one of the computer readable medium (media), the present invention includes software for controlling both the hardware of the general purpose/specialized computer or microprocessor, and for enabling the computer or microprocessor to interact with a human user or other mechanism utilizing the results of the present invention. Such software may include, but is not limited to, device drivers, operating systems, execution environments/containers, and applications.  
         [0074]     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art. Embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention, the various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.