Questions for general use of JBoss 5.0?

[dickson1888]

Hi all,
I start to study how to use JBoss 5.0G.A. (before that, I used Tomcat or JRun). I have installed it and hot deploy a simple war application; also browse the function in JBoss Management Console. Before I deeply study it, I have several questions about how to use it. Thanks in advance for any help.

1. Is it possible that deploy a web application without using war, ear file format? For example, just create a folder and some jsp files under the "depoly" folder or other place. It seems that not working at all.

2. Any other GUI tools to help to setup/config or admin the JBoss server; except that "JBoss Management Console"? such start up or shutdown the JBoss server, setup data source, view the log...etc. (Easy config?)

3. Can we stop one application when JBoss server is running? (not the whole JBoss server)

4. Can the library be used for individual web application in JBoss? (not for globally use) For Example, I want to develop a jar or use a specific library (jar or zip files) that is only for a single web application. How can I do that?

5. Basic Authentication with Apache
Is it possible that login in Apache web server and then pass it to JBoss (maybe JAAS or other authentication module) so that it won't require to login again?

Thanks for any help.

[peterj]

1. See http://www.jboss.org/community/docs/DOC-9719

2. See http://www.jboss.org/embjopr/

3. Embedded Jopr (item 2) can do this for you.

4. Start with http://www.jboss.org/community/docs/DOC-9289 and then do more research in the wiki and documentation on "isolation"

5. I don't think so, you need to pass any login information through to JBoss AS

[dickson1888]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your help.

About the question 2 and 3, I install Embedded Jopr 1.1 in JBoss 5.0. Inside the Admin console (Embedded Jopr), it won't show the web application (war, ear, ...etc) and then I don't know what it can do. As the install guide said this current version is for JBoss 4.2.x, that is not for 5.0 (something is incompatible). I start to watch the demo video to explore the usage of this GUI.

About question 4, I will spend time to search the "isolation" for library later. Thanks for your advise.

About the question5 (basis authentication), I don't understand what you mean. I mean that I set some .htaccess to protect webpage in Apache (ldap, password file) and also I set some authentication (maybe custom JAAS to check against ldap or password file) in a web application of JBoss server. After I login Apache to view some webpage, I go to view the protected webpage in JBoss in the same browser session. This URL request send to JBoss (should include the authentication data in the header). Does the JBoss popup to ask the input username and password again? It seems something related to "single signon".
( Apache is front end web server; JBoss is backend application server. )

Thanks for any help.

[peterj]

I asked about when Embedded Jopr would officially support 5.0.0.GA, and was ignored http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&t=148121. You can always download the source and build it - it creates a 5.0-specific version.

Regarding question 5, I have never done this so cannot offer any insight.

[dickson1888]

Peter,

Thanks a lot.

As a starter to JBoss, I want to use a Java Web Server that use the jsp files , war web application, data source(connection pool), basic authentication,jaas. Should I just use JBoss Web (servlet container) for start point and then move (upgrade) to higher level of using JBoss AS in the future? Or is it the same to use JBoss AS as JBoss Web when manually do not use the rich/powerful features of JBoss AS?

[peterj]

JBoss Web Server is basically Tomcat with a different name. So there will be differences in configuration between it and JBoss AS.

With AS 5.0.0.GA, there is a new 'web' configuration (look in the 'server' directory). This configuration should give you the basic capabilities you are looking for.