deploying cfml on j2ee: opportunities & challenges charlie arehart, cto new atlanta...
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Deploying CFML on J2EE:Opportunities & Challenges
Charlie Arehart, CTONew Atlanta Communications
charlie@newatlanta.com
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Overview• Protecting your CFML investments in
2004• Why deploying CFML on J2EE is useful
to us, enterprise mgt, and more• How to install and configure J2EE
deploymentsOn BlueDragon and ColdFusion MX 6.1
• Alternative beneficial deployment scenarios
• Resources for learning more
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
About Your Speaker
• CTO of New Atlanta Communications since April ‘03• 7 yrs CF experience (20+ yrs Enterprise IT)• Co-author of ColdFusion MX Bible• Frequent contributor to ColdFusion Dev Journal• Past accomplishments of note
Tech Editor, CFDJTeam Macromedia MemberAllaire/Macromedia Certified InstructorAllaire/Macromedia Certified Adv CF Developer (4, 5, MX)Macromedia Customer Advisory Board MemberContributor to Macromedia Devnet , Dev Exchange
• Frequent speaker to user groups, conferences worldwide
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
CFML in 2004• The technology platform “highway” has split, and most
organizations today are faced with choosing directions between Sun's J2EE and Microsoft's .NET
• Are you hearing “Thou shalt move to J2EE”? Or .NET?Management being persuaded by “standard architectures”Architectural committees often prefer J2EE or .NET, see CF
as proprietaryVendors focus on JSP/servlets as only tools in J2EE toolkit
• And ASP.NET as only tools in .NET web toolkit
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Moving to J2EE/.NET• All parties in J2EE world think JSPs/servlets are the
only way to go (or ASP.NET in .NET world)You and mgt may feel that converting CFML apps
to JSP (or ASP.NET) is the only alternative• Conversion is no trivial undertaking
For all but simplest applications, not a simple matter
Can be very expensive• One company was quoted $10 million and 2 years to
convert an enterprise-class CFML application to JSP/servlets
Retraining folks in Java, JSP, J2EE, EJB, (or .NET) is not trivial
• Studies show 9-12 months, and even then 60% will fail• From JavaPro Oct ’03, “Power of Patterns”
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Protecting Your CFML Investment• Are you facing sunsetting of CFML
applications?• Don’t need to throw away your
CFML investment!Can instead move the CFML to
J2EE server and keep it runningCan start integrating with Java, if
you’d likeOr start converting CFML to
JSP/servlets at your own pace
• Can even gain benefit deploying CFML on J2EEAs we’ll see later
• Both CFMX and BlueDragon can deploy CFML on J2EE
• BlueDragon can also deploy CFML on .NET
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
How Easy It Can Be• Let’s walk through deploying CFML as a J2EE web app
Show CFML code running “normally” on CF ServerCopy that code into a J2EE web appDeploy that web app on a J2EE serverShow the CFML code running on the J2EE serverEdit the CFML code, show that it detects changes
It’s still just CFML—deployed on a J2EE Server
Can also create a WAR file from the deployed applicationCan redeploy that WAR file
• Concept is that you might develop on one machine, deploy WAR on another
• Some J2EE servers or administrators will only accept a WAR file
• And will not allow editing or configuring the app once deployed
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Installation for BlueDragon• Steps for J2EE deployment using BlueDragon
Download BlueDragon/J2EE edition (available as trial)• www.newatlanta.com/bluedragon/
Extract the zip, tar, or self-extracting exe file• Creates directory with a standard J2EE web app
Duplicate that web app (using original as a template)Copy your CFML into that new web app directoryDeploy it on any J2EE server, any number of times, on any
OS• J2EE servers vary on options for deployment• May offer auto –deployment by dropping webapp into special dir• Most offer a web-based admin console to deploy as well
• Often there are benefits granted to admin-deployed appsOptionally, configure web server integration in app server to
point to code elsewhere
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Installation for CFMX• Steps for J2EE deployment using ColdFusion MX
Download CFMX 6.1 EnterpriseRun the installer, choosing 3rd option to creates either WAR or EAR
fileUnpack that EAR or WAR file and deploy that
• May involve additional steps • See www.macromedia.com/go/cfmxj2ee-cert for more on
details for each J2EE serverAs needed, configure for Verity, COM, C++, Corba, Charting,
Security, etc. Deploy result onto J2EE serverRun CF Administrator, first time after deploying, to execute
“configuration and settings wizard”Move your code into the deployed web application
• Or configure web server integration in app server to point to code elsewhere
Unfortunately, many J2EE admins don’t want (or won’t allow) post-deployment modifications
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Installation Resources• Where to learn more about installation for J2EE?• BlueDragon J2EE resources
New Atlanta manual, “Deploying CFML on J2EE Servers with BlueDragon”
www.newatlanta.com/products/bluedragon/self_help/docs/index.cfm
My June 2004 CFDJ Article, “CFML on J2EE: Easy as 1-2-3”
• Available on New Atlanta web site, under “editorials”• CFMX for J2EE Resources
Macromedia manual, “Installing and Using ColdFusion MX”
• Chapter 4, “Installing the J2EE Configuration”www.macromedia.com/go/cfmxj2ee-cert Several technotes
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Other CF/BD Differences• Cost
CFMX Enterprise: $5999 for 2 CPUs (includes JRun)
BlueDragon/J2EE: $2499 per CPU• For those new to BlueDragon
BlueDragon 6.1 now supports CFMX 6.1 features, such as CFCs, XML, web services
• Lacks only: CFAPPLET, CFGRID, CFLOGIN, CFCHART, CFREPORT, CFTRACE
BlueDragon has many other advantages to consider• See http://bluedragon.blog-city.com/read/601768.htm
• WebSphere users: Note that while CFMX does NOT supports Network Deployment, BlueDragon does
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Resource Differences
• Resource utilizationBe aware that each web app deployed has some
overhead for the CFML runtime support• Important when deploying multiple instances (next)
Can measure size of web app as installed, before deployment
Cfusion.war 77 mb
Bluedragon.war 9 mb
Cfusion open web app 111 mb
BlueDragon open web app 9 mb
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Deployment Alternatives
Deploying multiple instances of a J2EE server
• Applies to both BlueDragon and CFMX• Benefits (may depend on server)
Isolation – one app can go nuts and not affect others Independent control of apps – can stop one for maintenanceSeparate Admin per application – settings as suitable per
instanceSecurity – segregation of custom tags, datasources, CFCs,
etc.
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Deployment Alternatives• More Benefits
Performance - increased throughput, mult. JVMs, etc.Possibly clustering, load balancing, failover
• Either over multiple boxes• Or even on a single box• Including persistence, clustering of session variables
Cost• Single license of CFMX/BlueDragon can be used to create
multiple instances on single machine• Also, no longer need multiple boxes to create isolated
instances• All great for both enterprises and hosting providers
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Deployment Alternatives• Resources on Multiple Instances
“When One ColdFusion is Not Enough” – July ’03 CFDJ
• http://www.sys-con.com/coldfusion/article.cfm?id=626
Introducing Multiple Server Instances in ColdFusion MX Enterprise 6.1
• http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/articles/multiple_61.html
Advantages of Using Multiple Instances of ColdFusion MX for J2EE
• http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/j2ee/articles/multiple.html
Macromedia manual: “Configuring and Administering ColdFusion MX”
• Chapter 7, “Using Multiple Server Instances”
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Other CFML/J2EE Benefits• CFML on J2EE is super-charged!• CFML can act as a standard J2EE component
Can integrate with other components: JSP, servlets, EJB, JMS
Can benefit from servlet filters, listeners, etc.Can participate in frameworks such as Struts, Portlets
• Enables CFML to run virtually anywhereAny OS, platform for which a J2EE server exists
• Mainframe or zSeries, AS/400 or iSeries, Netware, and more• In addition to Windows, Linux, Unix, OS X, etc.
• See my April 2004 CFDJ article, “Making the Case for CFML on J2EE”http://sys-con.com/story/?storyid=44481&DE=1
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
BlueDragon/.NET
• Run CFML on .NETAll the same benefits as J2EE edition
• Run CFML on the .NET framework• No ColdFusion Server, No BD Server• BlueDragon is a native .NET component, runs in
GAC• Your CFML remains CFML
• Can share session/application/request vars with ASP.NET
• Can include/forward between CFML and ASP.NET
• Can use CFOBJECT to call .NET components and more
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Conclusion• Deploying CFML on J2EE can be easy
It can bring many benefits, solve many problemsBlueDragon/.NET will bring same benefits to .NET
• Management, developers, vendors all need to be educatedCFML can be deployed as a native J2EE/.NET web
app• Opens many doors for improvement:
IntegrationPerformanceBetter ManagementMore
• Allows CFML to live on as a valuable component in enterprise web application development
June 2004 New Atlanta Communications, LLC
Contact Information
• Charlie Arehart
• CTO, New Atlanta Communications
• charlie@newatlanta.com
• newatlanta.com/bluedragon/
• (678) 256-5395
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