webMethods Deployment mechanisms

Basically there are two deployment mechanisms available in webmethods. i.e.

       1.       Publish and subscribe

       2.       Deployer

-: Publish and subscribe:-

Publish and subscribe method (replication) is useful when we have to perform copy (publish) of the packages from one integration server to another. During replication process, a single Integration Server sends (publishes) a specified package to one or more recipient servers. The server on which the package originates is referred to as the publisher, and the recipients are referred to as subscribers.

 It is also a convenient way to distribute a package from one server to another anywhere on the Web.

 

         

 

Subscribing servers receive the package in their inbound directory (Integration Server_directory eplicateinbound). To activate the new package, an administrator on the subscribing server must install the package after it arrives.

Either a publisher or a subscriber can request a subscription. A publisher can send (push) the package and the subscriber can request (pull) the package. Before you send a package to another server, you must create a release. When you create a release, the server creates a distribution file that contains the package and information about the package, and makes the package available to subscribers.

Below example demonstrates the step by step process for this method.

     Ø  Log into integration server using administrator or any other user having access to perform this task. Go to Packages > Publishing and click on Create and Delete Releases.

 

 

     Ø  Now choose a package for which you want to create the release or replicate and then click on the link Create Release. In this case we have used MyTest package.

 

 

    Ø  Now choose the files for which you want to create the release. You can choose all files to create a full package release or choose few specific files to create a patch. With a full release, the new package entirely replaces the old package on the subscriber's server. With a patch release, the files in the patch release replace the versions of those files in the target package; all other files in the target package remain intact.

Release Types and version checking: There are two release types i.e.

1.       Full Package

2.       Patch Release

Whenever the subscribing server installs the package, it performs some version checking like target JVM version, package version.

 

Below difference will describe the version checking for package version in case of full and patch release:

 

Full Release	Patch Release
If the version of the package on the target server is not earlier than or the same as the  package release being installed, then the  package installation fails. This restriction prevents you from  inadvertently installing an old version of a package over a  newer one.	If the version of the package on the target server does not match with the version required by the release (as specified during release creation), then the  package installation fails. This restriction gives you greater control over how and where patches are applied. This is useful because patches are typically release. dependent.

 

Below screenshot will describe for patch release.

 

 

 

In below scenario, we have chosen full release.

In this, we have chosen all files. Once all necessary information is filled click on create release.

 

    Ø  You will see a success message like ‘Package MyTest_20dec2013 is released’. Now we can say that package release part if done.

 

    Ø  Now we have to add subscribers to our release MyTest_20dec2013, click on ‘Add Subscribers’ link and provide subscriber’s details:

 

 

     Ø  Once release is created, a link will be activated to send the release to the subscriber. Now click on the link ‘Send Release’.

 

 

     Ø  Now select the subscribers to which the release to be sent and click on send Release button.

 

 

     Ø  A message will be displayed stating ‘Package sent to 127.0.0.1:5566 successfully.’

     Ø  Now as release has already been sent to the subscriber’s server, we need to manually install the patch release on the subscriber’s server. Log into the subscriber’s  integration server and go to ‘Packages > Management’ and  click on ‘Install Inbound Releases’ link.

 

 

     Ø  We can see that release is ready to be installed on the subscriber’s server. Select the release from the drop-down and click on the Install ‘Release button’.

     Ø  A message will be displayed stating ‘MyTest package installed and activated’.

     Ø  Now open the package MyTest using ‘Packages > Management > MyTest’ . We can see the release information.

 

Please note that if we don’t send the release from publishers server (as we did in above) then the release has to be subscribed from the subscriber’s server. Below are the steps that can be followed to subscribe a release from publisher serer:

·         Log into the subscribers server and go to ‘Packages > Subscribing’. Here we can see the patch/package release of the publishers sever.

 

 

·         Now click on the ‘Subscribe to Remote Package’ link and fill in the details for the release to be subscribed. In this case we are subscribing a release for MyTest package.

 

 

·         Finally go to ‘Packages > Management > Install Inbound Releases’ and install the release.

 

-:Deployer:-

Deployer is a tool used to deploy assets from source webMethods servers (Integration Server, Broker, Designer, MWS, Optimize, TN) to target webMethods servers.

 

There are four major steps to complete the deployment process using wM Deployer.

-          Define: Selecting the wM assets to be deployed

-          Build: Create a build of defined assets which can be exported and imported on target deployer (like live servers).                                                                                                    

-          Map: Mapping the build to the target servers where deployment to be done.

-          Deploy: It performs the actual deployment via simulation and creating checkpoint for rollback.

 

Below example will demonstrate the step by step process for deploying wM assets using wM Deployer

 

     Ø  Open the wM Deployer as http://HOSTIP:5555/WmDeployer and then click on the create project link. Provide the details for project and click on create button.

 

 

     Ø  Modify the project properties as per your need, in this we have used default properties. Now click on the define button.

 

     Ø  Now click on create set link and then provide the name for the set and then click on create button.

 

 

     Ø  Select the source server and then click save.

 

 

 

     Ø  Click on the assets to be deployed and then save.

 

 

 

     Ø  Once wM Assets are selected, click on Build tab. Now, click on the Create Build link and provide a name for the build and click on create button.

 

 

     Ø  Once build is created, check for the status as green and have a look in the build report.

 

 

     Ø  As we are done with build part, click on the Map tab then on link Create Deployment Map and provide a name for the deployment map. Now click on the create button

 

     Ø  Once map is created, it has to be mapped with the target server. Click on the ‘Add Target Server’ and then choose the sever name and click on Add.

 

     Ø  Once target sever is added,  it will show reference check status as green i.e. mapping is done successfully.

 

     Ø  Now select Deploy Tab, click on Create Deployment Map link and give a name to deployment name. select the Deployment Map and other options. Once done with selection, click on create  button

 

     Ø  Now, click on simulation to see what will happen if we proceed with the deployment and refer simulation log. If simulation is ok, create a checkpoint (useful in case of rollback) by clicking on ‘Checkpoint’ and refer the checkpoint log. Once checkpoint is done click on Deploy (this is the actual deployment) and refer the deployment log.

 

     Ø  Go to the target server and verify the changes expected for this deployment.

These two mechanisms are most commonly used. Apart from these two methods, wM Developer can also be used to deploy the newly developed packages via copying-paste mechanism.