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Introduction to Installing WebLogic JAM

Proper installation is essential to successfully operating BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe (WebLogic JAM). The following sections will provide an overview of the WebLogic JAM installation process.

About BEA WebLogic Product Distribution

BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe (WebLogic JAM) is distributed on both the Web and CD-ROM. Service Packs for WebLogic JAM are distributed only on the Web.

Web Distribution of WebLogic JAM

An evaluation copy of WebLogic JAM is available for download from the BEA corporate Web site at http://commerce.bea.com/downloads/weblogic_server.jsp#jam. When you download WebLogic JAM, you get a built-in evaluation license. At the end of the evaluation period, you can purchase a non-expiring license for your WebLogic JAM product.

CD-ROM Distribution of WebLogic JAM

If you purchased WebLogic JAM from your local sales representative, you will find the following items in the product box:

- Two CD-ROMs:

- BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe product CD-ROM

- BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe Online Documentation CD-ROM

- The following printed documents:

- WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe Installation Guide (this document)

- WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe Release Notes

- "BEA Software License and Limited Warranty" pamphlet

- "Customer Support Quick Reference and Other Important Information" card

You can also access the WebLogic JAM Online Documentation at:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/index.html

About the WebLogic JAM Components

To meet the demands of today's business environment, WebLogic JAM integrates back-end systems with Web-based e-business applications. Business transactions supported by these applications often require direct integration with existing mainframe legacy applications. WebLogic JAM meets these integration requirements by providing bi-directional, online request-response integration between Java applications and mainframe applications.

WebLogic JAM enables applications running on WebLogic Server and mainframe systems to interact using two main components:

- WebLogic JAM Gateway

The WebLogic JAM Gateway component is a server that runs within WebLogic Server and communicates with the CRM using the TCP/IP protocol. The WebLogic JAM Gateway acts as a gateway to route requests and responses between WebLogic Server (Java) and mainframe systems, such as CICS and IMS. The Gateway component also forwards configuration information to the CRM at startup.

A WebLogic JAM Gateway used in conjunction with the CRM enables applications running on an instance of WebLogic Server to connect to back-end applications. Each WebLogic Server instance that needs to access back-end applications should have a WebLogic JAM Gateway defined for it. This WebLogic JAM Gateway routes requests received from Java client applications running on this instance of WebLogic Server to the CRM, which then will forward them to the back-end application. The Gateway also routes requests made by mainframe client applications that have come through the CRM to the necessary WebLogic Server applications.

- Communications Resource Manager (CRM)

The CRM is the WebLogic JAM component that manages communications resources. The CRM coordinates the flow of data between Java applications running on a WebLogic Server platform and applications running on a mainframe.

The CRM uses SNA and TCP/IP communication protocols to communicate with the mainframe and WebLogic JAM Gateway respectively. TCP/IP protocols always flow between the WebLogic JAM Gateway and the CRM. SNA protocols always flow from the CRM to the mainframe and from VTAM on the mainframe to the CRM depending upon the configuration option.

About the BEA WebLogic Installation Program

The InstallAnywhere installation program is the BEA standard tool for WebLogic product installation. InstallAnywhere installs the WebLogic JAM Gateway on the target Windows or Unix system.

Installation Methods

InstallAnywhere supports the following installation methods:

- Graphical user interface (GUI) mode installation

See the Installing the WebLogic JAM Gateway Using Graphical-Mode Installation section.

- Console-mode installation (Unix systems only)

See the Installing the WebLogic JAM Gateway on Unix Systems Using Console-Mode Installation section.

About the BEA Home Directory

When installing WebLogic JAM, the installer program prompts you to specify a BEA Home directory. The BEA Home directory is a repository for common files that are used by multiple BEA products installed on the same machine. For this reason, the BEA Home directory can be considered a "central support directory" for the BEA products installed on your system.

The files in the BEA Home directory are essential to ensuring that the BEA software operates correctly on your system. They perform the following types of functions:

- Ensure that licensing works correctly for the installed BEA products

- Facilitate checking of cross-product dependencies during installation

- Facilitate Service Pack installation

The structure of a sample BEA Home directory created by the WebLogic installer program is shown in the following illustration.

Figure 1-1 BEA Home Directory

About the BEA WebLogic License

WebLogic JAM uses an XML-format license called license.bea. This license file, stored in the BEA Home directory, is used for the BEA WebLogic products installed on the target system. For details about the BEA Home directory, see the About the BEA Home Directory section.

The first time you download and install a BEA WebLogic product that uses the BEA Home directory convention, the installer program installs a license.bea file in the BEA Home directory that you created during installation and populates the file with an evaluation product license. Subsequently, when you download and install additional BEA products that contain a license.bea file as part of the distribution, the installer program automatically adds the new evaluation product licenses to the license.bea file.

Evaluation Licenses

An evaluation copy of WebLogic JAM comes with a 30-day evaluation license so that you can start using WebLogic JAM immediately. BEA also provides an extended 60-day evaluation license that can be downloaded from BEA web site. To use WebLogic JAM beyond the evaluation period, contact your salesperson about purchasing a non-expiring license.

Non-Expiring Licenses

If you purchase WebLogic JAM, you will receive a development or production product license through e-mail. After installing the WebLogic JAM software and receiving the product license, you must update the existing license.bea file with the license file you received.

Roadmap for Installing WebLogic JAM

Proper installation of the WebLogic JAM software involves the following tasks:

- Prepare to Install WebLogic JAM.

See the Preparing to Install BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe section of this guide.

- Determine the Installation Method.

- Determine Your Hardware Requirements.

- Verify WebLogic JAM Software Requirements.

- Choose a BEA Home Directory.

- Install WebLogic JAM.

See the Installing WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe section of this guide.

- Install the WebLogic JAM Gateway.

- Install the CRM.

- Verify Your Installation.

See the Verifying Your Installation section of this guide.

- Verify Installation Files and Directories.

- Run the Installation Verification Sample.

- Perform Post-installation Task.

See the Performing Post-Installation Tasks section of this guide.

- Update Your license.bea File.

- Deploy WebLogic JAM in the WebLogic Server Environment.

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