Integrated Web Application Server

The Integrated Web Application Server provides a Web container for dynamic Web applications that uses minimal system resources, is easy to configure, and is imbedded into IBM® i.

Details

The Integrated Web Application Server is ready for use without having to install any additional products. This Web container is capable of running Servlet or JSP applications. The Integrated Web Application Server is an ideal choice for less complex applications, or applications that are not required to be highly scalable. Since the Web container has a minimal resources foot print, low use applications that have a few users are ideal to run on the Integrated Web Application Server. This Web container is also a good choice when working on a proof of concept because no other products are necessary, the server is easy to create, and applications are easy to deploy. For applications that require a high degree of scalability, the IBM WebSphere Application Server product should be used.

The Integrated Web Application Server is available for IBM i 5.4, or later. The server supports dynamic Web applications running JSP and servlets. Support for database connectivity is also included for DB2 on either local or remote systems. Any Web application that was targeted to be run on a Web container such as AFS Tomcat would be a good candidate.

The IBM Web Administration for i interface has been updated to include full support for the Integrated Web Application Server. The interface provides several simple, easy to use wizards to create new server instances, stop and start servers, and deploy and manage the applications running on each server.

Prerequisites and assumptions

Ensure the HTTP Server prerequisites have been installed. In addition, load the latest HTTP Server group PTF.

Creating an Integrated Web Application Server

The Web Administration for i interface provides an easy to use wizard to create an Integrated Web Application Server on your IBM i server.

  1. Access the IBM Web Administration for i from your browser. For information about how to access the Web Administration for i interface, see Starting Web Administration for i.
  2. From the Web Administration for i interface, select the Setup tab, and then click Create Application Server to launch the Create Application Server wizard.
  3. Click Next after reading the wizards welcome page.
  4. From the Integrated Web Application Server: section select a version.
  5. Complete the wizards to create an Integrated Web Application Server. Click on the (?) icon to display the help information for a particular panel.

Installing an application on the Integrated Web Application Server

Now that you have created an Integrated Web Application Server you will want to install and run applications on the server. The Web Administration for i interface provides an easy to use wizard to install your applications. Remember, you can only install applications that are contained in a Web Archive (WAR) file.

Complete the following steps to install an application on an Integrated Web Application Server:

  1. Access the IBM Web Administration for i from your browser. For information about how to access the Web Administration for i interface, see Starting Web Administration for i.
  2. From the IBM Web Administration for i interface, select the Manage tab.
  3. Select the Application Servers subtab.
  4. Select the Integrated Web Application Server that you want to install the application from the Server list.
  5. Click Install New Application to launch the Install New Application wizard.
  6. Complete the wizards to install your application. Click on the (?) icon to display the help information for a particular panel.

Creating a database connection for an Integrated Web Application Server application

The Create Database Connection wizard helps the user create a new entity that allows them to connect the Integrated Web Application Server to a specified database. The database connection allows installed applications to retrieve and store information in a database. There are two different database connection types supported by the Integrated Web Application Server. The IBM Developer Kit for Java™ database provider is available if you need to connect to a DB2® database.

For applications to use the database connection wizard they must meet the following requirements:
  • The JNDI name used by the application must be unique in the Integrated Web Application Server..

Complete the following steps to create a database connection:

  1. Access the IBM Web Administration for i from your browser. For information about how to access the Web Administration for i interface, see Starting Web Administration for i.
  2. From the IBM Web Administration for i interface, select the Manage tab.
  3. Select the Application Servers subtab.
  4. Select the Integrated Web Application Server that you want to create a database connection from the Server list.
  5. Click Create Database Connection to start the Database Connection wizard
  6. Complete the wizards to install your application. Click on the (?) icon to display the help information for a particular panel.