Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) Skill Level: Introductory
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Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) Skill Level: Introductory Mr. Martin Brown ([email protected]) Professional writer MCslp 19 Jul 2005 Management through Web services simplifies the numerous interfaces and solutions that provide management tools for network-attached systems and devices. These range from simple printers to more complex operating system management issues. The Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) standard defines two different environments, Management Using Web Services (MUWS) and Management of Web Services (MOWS), that define the structure and environment required to support these systems. This tutorial looks in detail at the definition and implementation issues of WSDM and how you can use WSDM within grid environments for the management of grids and grid services. Section 1. Start here Who should take this tutorial? The Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) specification defines the methods, structure, and specification of a system for managing network resources (printers, routers, servers and services, for example) and for managing Web services (used to support your network functionality). You can also use WSDM to manage the Web services that support your business applications. If you are interested in developing WSDM services, either to support your resources, or as a consumer, this tutorial will help you understand the basic mechanics and implementation fundamentals required to build your WSDM environment. Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) © Copyright IBM Corporation 1994, 2008. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 28 developerWorks® ibm.com/developerWorks What is this tutorial about? The main content of this tutorial describes the WSDM specification with respect to deploying the solution within your network. The tutorial includes background information on the standard along with basic implementation notes on generating the necessary XML used to support the standard and Java™ code required to manipulate and use them. The tutorial incorporates the following topics: • WSDM overview • WSDM Management Using Web Services (MUWS) • WSDM Management of Web Services (MOWS) • WSDM events • WSDM in grids The first half of the tutorial is devoted to the conceptual ideas behind the WSDM standard, covering the basic mechanics of the standard and how it fits into your existing network and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) environment. The second half of the tutorial covers the basics of implementation of the WSDM standard, including looking at sample WSDL and XML schema files that could be used to build a sample system. The examples in this tutorial use the "network printer" model. OASIS uses this model in its documentation, and it should enable you to connect the descriptions given here to the specific components of the WSDM specification in the official OASIS documentation. Prerequisites You will not need any specific tools to understand the majority of the content of this tutorial. However, some of the examples do require understanding of the OASIS standards and Web services mechanics such as WS-Addressing, WS-ResourceFramework, and WS-Notification. The Resources section at the end of this tutorial contains links to the specifications for WSDM, WSDL, WSRF, and other specifications discussed in this tutorial. To be successful with this tutorial, you should understand XML, XML Schemas, and the Web Services Description Language (WSDL). You will also benefit from having Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) Page 2 of 28 © Copyright IBM Corporation 1994, 2008. All rights reserved. ibm.com/developerWorks developerWorks® knowledge of the Web Services Resource Framework (WSRF) standard that is used during the definition of resources and capabilities of WSDM resources. You might find the Emerging Technologies Toolkit (ETTK) useful; it contains some examples and utilities that demonstrate some of the WSDM principles. For information on the ETTK and download links, look at the ETTK page. Section 2. Overview of WSDM Modern management Ask most system administrators what their biggest issue with administration in the enterprise is and they will probably answer, "management tools." Ask those in the heterogeneous enterprise the same question and the answer will be the same. The problem is that while there are plenty of management tools and infrastructures available that provide management of specific services within specific environments, obtaining tools that work across environments of the modern network are hard to find, difficult to work with, and generally based on proprietary technology. The WSDM standard aims to solve many of these problems through the use of open standards for the definition of management tools and interfaces used in combination with Web services to provide the functional requirements of the service. WSDM also defines a standard for managing Web services in the enterprise. This should give WSDM broader appeal than simple system-level administration and management. Because the standard is being designed as a practical method for managing resources and information, WSDM can also be used for other systems that might be used within a distributed environment. WSDM is expected to be a practical standard for the management of business process information. For example, adding a WSDM interface to your order process system might enable clients and partners to place orders, raise invoices, and even to automatically re-order goods or adjust invoicing costs. WSDM target audiences Because WSDM is based on open standards, companies can produce Web services Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) © Copyright IBM Corporation 1994, 2008. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 28 developerWorks® ibm.com/developerWorks that any Web service client can use to support specific areas of functionality. For example, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) such as Hewlett Packard could create a WSDM-defined interface for switching a printer between online and offline modes. Other printer manufacturers could provide the same functionality through WSDM on their products. Then, using a suitable Web service-enabled client, a user could control any printer, regardless of the manufacturer. You can see from this example that WSDM will help users, independent software vendors (ISVs), and OEMs: • Customers will be able to manage the equipment, systems, and services in their networks much more easily due to implementation of WSDM. A single management application could be used to manage and monitor all the systems within either a homogenous or heterogeneous network. • ISVs will be able to produce software that supports the management process users require. Because the WSDM standard is employed across the components and systems in the network, developing the management application should be a simple case of applying the WSDM standard and using the resources published by WSDM-compliant systems. • Manufacturers will benefit because it will simplify the exposure of their devices and systems to the outside world for the purposes of management. Many companies, OEMs especially, spend millions of dollars each year developing the software that allows users and administrators to interface to their products. By using WSDM, they can simplify the external interface, and make both their lives and their client's lives significantly easier. You can see the relationships, and the audiences affected, in Figure 1. Figure 1. Where WSDM fits in your network Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) Page 4 of 28 © Copyright IBM Corporation 1994, 2008. All rights reserved. ibm.com/developerWorks developerWorks® Now we'll take a closer look at the WSDM standard. What is WSDM? The WSDM standard is an attempt to resolve the problems described in the previous section. Essentially, WSDM is a standard for describing the management information and capabilities for a particular device, application, or component. All the descriptions are produced using the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) and at the time of writing this tutorial, no specifications exist, implied or otherwise, for implementing the WSDM standard to achieve your goals. The WSDM standard is actually made up of two different standards: • Web Services Distributed Management: Management Using Web Services (WSDM-MUWS) Understand Web Services Distributed Management (WSDM) © Copyright IBM Corporation 1994, 2008. All rights reserved. Page 5 of 28 developerWorks® ibm.com/developerWorks • Web Services Distributed Management: Management of Web Services (WSDM-MOWS) WSDM-MUWS provides the definition for how to represent and access interfaces to MUWS resources. For example, the MUWS standard provides the necessary structure for advertising the service, the services capabilities, and the information that needs to be supplied or received to manage the resource. WSDM-MOWS provides the definition for managing Web services. MOWS uses many of the concepts and systems defined by the MUWS standard, but also adds resources and capabilities specific to the needs of management of Web services. The MOWS component provides the methods and systems to enable Web services to be managed remotely. It is MOWS that is expected to be used more for the management of business processes. WSDM in your network You will likely come across WSDM in your network either as a user, ISV, or manufacturer. Take a closer look at these environments and how WSDM would affect your network. You can see in Figure 2 the relationship between MUWS, MOWS, and traditional Web services