Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® 8.5 Applications on Apache Geronimo Server 3.1 Royal Cyber Inc. Modernized e-business solutions Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server Overview This white paper explains how to run, test and deploy IBM Host Access Transformation Service® (HATS) web application on Apache Geronimo Application server. Part 1 - Introduction In the 'Introduction' part the overview of the White Paper is provided. Basic introduction to the IBM Host Access Transformation Service (HATS) and Apache Geronimo Server are provided in this part. Part 2 - Deploying and Installing Apache Geronimo Server In the 'Deploying and Installing Geronimo Server' part, the entire process of deploying the Geronimo Server is explained. Along with that using IBM HATS projects in the Geronimo Server are also explained Part 3 - Benefits In the 'Benefits' part, the overall benefits of the combination IBM HATS-Apache Geronimo Server are discussed. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server PART 1- INTRODUCTION Application server is a very important component in the overall scheme of the web systems as it provides platform for launching or executing applications. It manages all the involved resources like Hardware, OS, Network, etc. It is not just mere hosting of the application, an application server acts as a stage for the deployment and development of Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs), Web services, etc. In short, Application server interacts between the front end (end users) and system resources at backend. There are various Application servers available in market both paid and unpaid. However, for working with IBM HATS, Apache's Geronimo server is one of the top Application server choices. This paper explains the process of running, testing and deploying IBM Host Access Transformation Service (HATS) web application on Apache Geronimo Application server. It is assumed that the readers have the preliminary knowledge of IBM HATS development which includes creating, running, testing and deploying HATS web application on WebSphere Application Server. For this white-paper document following tools & technologies are mentioned: IBM HATS Toolkit v 8.5 which is installed on top of IBM RAD/RBD v 8.5 Apache Geronimo Application Server v 2.2.1 IBM Host Access Transformation Service (HATS) IBH Host Access Transformation Service or HATS is a transformation service that allows creating modernized, user friendly web applications, portlets or rich client applications for 3270 and 5250 applications (also known as host applications) hosted on IBM System z® IBM i® platforms respectively. Furthermore, it also supports web services creation and consumptions to support connectivity of multiple systems. Modernization of screen includes displaying the host screen data in the UI of the day with complete branding and look and feel with the default advantage of accessing the application online without any compromise on security or performance. With HATS, web applications for generic and specific mobile devices like Cell Phones (including Smart Phones), PDAs, Data terminals, Tablets, could also be created. HATS also permits creation of rich client apps. There is no need to make any changes in the Host applications, meaning the stable host application continues to work without any change and modernized layer is built on top of the host application. Transformation from green screen to modernized screen is not very costly and risk factor is also minimal. Overall improvement in organizational productivity is inevitable as the modernized application does not require much training effort. In a nutshell, HATS permits following: Modernizing Green Screens with methods like Default rendering, customization, Macros, etc. Fetching and using Data from Multiple Green Screens Transformation of Green Screen Menus to Web Dynamic Menus Creation of Dynamic Graphs 3 Modernized e-business solutions | Royal Cyber Inc. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server HATS mainly consists of two major components, namely HATS Toolkit and HATS Runtime code. HATS Toolkit: It is the collection of multiple plug-ins for Eclipse-based IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform (Rational SDP). HATS toolkit allows gradual step by step creation or modernization of application or portlets (or both). It facilitates the developers to start working without actually knowing the exact functionality of the host application and provides them with the preview of the host application in parallel. Furthermore, it also helps the companies to modernize as per their convenience considering the factors like budget, training, etc., gradually rather than at one go. Deployment process of HATS application is quite similar to deploying any web based application and application could be deployed at WebSphere® Application Server, WebSphere Portal, or rich client servers/platforms. HATS Runtime Code: Once the HATS application is deployed at the desired environment like Live, Staging, QA, etc, HATS runtime code comes into action. Runtime code is recognized by the Application server and is responsible for back and forth interaction between the front end and host application. Figure 1 HATS Architecture 4 Modernized e-business solutions | Royal Cyber Inc. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server Introduction to Apache Geronimo Application Server Apache Software Foundation's Apache Geronimo application server is portable, scalable open source server runtime distributed under Apache's license. Geronimo server is fully JEE certified and uses open source software to provide runtime environment for managing J2EE applications. Introduced in 2006, Apache Geronimo server is improved continuously based on industry’s feedback and to resolve the bugs. The current version of the server is 3.0.1. There are more than 20 minor and major releases in between the first version 1.0 and current version 3.0.1. Geronimo is being used for supporting small to large scale Enterprise Applications. Apache's Geronimo does not compromise by any means on the two most important aspects of any application, Performance and Security. Apache has built Geronimo with the intention of making it as simple as possible to use. Geronimo comes with multiple modules, where selection of module could be decided per the very application requirement. It is fully customizable and can be extended or contracted as per the requirements. From the perspective of this paper it is important to note that Geronimo's version 2.2.1 is perfectly compatible with IBM Rational HATS 8.5 5 Modernized e-business solutions | Royal Cyber Inc. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server PART 2 - DEPLOYING & INSTALLING GERONIMO SERVER In this part of the White Paper, the entire process of downloading and installing Apache Geronimo server and using it to host HATS applications is explained. There are certain wizard-like steps that need to be followed in order to have the Geronimo-HATS combination work. In the section below, the whole process is explained with the instructions and pictorial representation of each step. Download & Install Apache Geronimo Server Download Geronimo Server from this page (You must download Geronimo v2.2.1 with Tomcat 6) http://geronimo.apache.org/apache-geronimo-v221-release.html Direct Download link http://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi/geronimo/2.2.1/geronimo-tomcat6-javaee5-2.2.1-bin.zip Extract the downloaded ZIP file of Geronimo server and it will be an installation directory of the server. Installing Geronimo Eclipse Plug-in (GEP) within HATS IDE There are three ways to install Geronimo Server Adaptor or Geronimo Eclipse Plug-in (GEP) in HATS IDE 8.5. 1) Installing GEP within Web Tools Platform (WTP) Project - Eclipse 2) Installing GEP using Eclipse update manager 3) Manual Installation This paper focuses on the very first method listed above, i.e. Installing GEP within WTP. 6 Modernized e-business solutions | Royal Cyber Inc. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server Installing GEP within WTP 1. Launch HATS 8.5 IDE from HATS Toolkit shortcut or from the defined installation path 2. By default HATS is launched with HATS perspective. 3. Select the Servers tab, Right Click and select New Server 4. Click Download Additional Server Adapters 5. Select Geronimo v3.0 Server Adapter and click Next. 7 Modernized e-business solutions | Royal Cyber Inc. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server 6. Select Accept the License Agreement radio button and click Finish button. 7. Next screen prompts for confirmation, Click OK button. Upon completion Geronimo 3.0 server adapter gets downloaded and installed 8 Modernized e-business solutions | Royal Cyber Inc. Testing and Deploying IBM Rational HATS® Applications on Apache Geronimo Server 8. System prompts to restart the HATS IDE. Click Restart Now button. Unsuccessful Installation If the explained adaptor installation gives any problem or errors then follow these instructions first and then install Geronimo server adaptor. Ignore this section, if there installation is successful. Follow these steps to install the required plug-in first on RAD/RBD/Eclipse o Enable update site: http://download.eclipse.org/dsdp/tm/updates/3.2, by choosing menu: Help-->Install New Software o Select expanded TM and RSE Uncategorized 3.2.2 and choose the Target Management Terminal option