Welcome again!
This is a new beginning for my tutorials about vFabric tc Server where you are going to learn how to work with this powerful server. Practically with this server you are able to run your Java Spring applications. Something valuable for you is that vFabric tc Server is lightweight, even offering you the option to work together with vFabric Hyperic, therefore you can take advantage to management your application. In resume vFabric tc Server is the enterprise Tomcat App server
Before to start the tutorial be sure to create an account in VMWare Home Page
Figure 01: The Log In VMware Home Page
For this tutorial I am going to work with the follow software:
- Linux Fedora Core 17
- Oracle Java JDK 7 update 04
- VMware vFabric tc Server Standard 2.7.0
I am using the latest release for each one while I am writing this tutorial.
Step 01: Getting The vFabric tc Server Standard Edition
To make this step instruction easier, be sure to be already logged in VMware and just do click in All Downloads. Once done this, you must see the follow page.
Figure 02: The VMware’s All Downloads Page
In the same page, the section of our interest is Product Download Index how you can see below.
Figure 03: The Product Download Index Page
Now locate the sub section Application Platform and do click in the item or option named VMware vFabric tc Server. Once done this, you must arrive to the follow page.
Figure 04: The Download VMware vFabric tc Server 2.7 Page (Top Part)
In the same page go below and you must see the follow.
Figure 05: The Download VMware vFabric tc Server 2.7 Page (Bottom Part)
Now, we have two sections of our interest, these are:
- VMware vFabric tc Server Standard Edition
- VMware vFabric tc Server Spring Edition
I am going to work with the first option, within that you must see the item VMware vFabric tc Server 2.7.0 Standard Edition, in that, do click in View Download button. Therefore you must arrive to the follow page, I am including two images to complete the page.
Figure 06: The Download VMware vFabric tc Server 2.7.0… Page (Top Part)
Figure 07: The Download VMware vFabric tc Server 2.7.0… Page (Bottom Part)
We are able to download the installer in two presentations, these are:
- vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz
- vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.zip
But we have a warning message (See Figure 06). Then, we must do before a registration process for this installer, therefore do click in Download Free Trial (See Figure 06). Once done this, you must arrive to.
Figure 08: The VMware vFabric tc Server Product Evaluation Center Page
Just do click in the Register button, you must arrive to the Accept End-User License Agreement page
Figure 09: The Accept End-User License Agreement Page (Top Part)
Proceed to fill the mandatory fields requested. Once done this, proceed to accept the VMware vFabric tc Server End User License Agreement and press the Continue button.
Figure 10: The Accept End-User License Agreement Page (Bottom Part)
Once done this, you must arrive again into the page VMware vFabric tc Server Product Evaluation Center but now located in the tab pane named License & Download, for a better understanding see the follow image.
Figure 11: The VMware vFabric tc Server Product Evaluation Center Page – (License & Download Part)
In the same page, we have the section Download Packages, where We have three sections to choice, these are:
- Binaries
- Optional VMware vFabric Hyperic Server and Agent
- Optional VMware vFabric Spring Insight Operations
Check the follow image for a better understanding (be advised, the three sections are collapsed):
Figure 12: The VMware vFabric tc Server Product Evaluation Center Page – (Download Packages Part)
Note: Now with the Figure 12 where we have the software already registered, we must now ignore the Figures 06,07, because in such point, we had not the software registered. Furthermore, we have more options now how you perhaps did realize.
Lets expand the section Binaries to see what items we have available to download.
Figure 13: The VMware vFabric tc Server Product Evaluation Center Page – (Download Packages – Binaries Part)
Since we are working in Linux, I am going to download the option Binary (.tar.gz), therefore do click in Manually Download button, you must get the vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz file. I downloaded the file into my Desktop directory
Figure 14: The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz File Installer Downloaded Into The Desktop Directory
Note: Be sure to do a checksum for this file, it is a wise practice.
Step 02: Creating The Installation Directory
I am going to create and work in the follow path directory whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard.
Then, open the terminal 01 to create the path directory suggested above, but before, be sure to be located in your home user directory, I mean, /home/username. Bear in mind, when you open a new terminal by default it is already located in your home user directory. If you want confirm explicitly where you are located in some terminal, you can use the command pwd.
[section1@localhost ~]$ pwd /home/section1 [section1@localhost ~]$
Listing 01: Terminal 01 – Knowing The Current Location Within A Terminal
My username is section1. Then we can now create the path directory. In the current terminal 01 execute the command mkdir -p whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard.
[section1@localhost ~]$ mkdir -p whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard [section1@localhost ~]$
Listing 02: Terminal 01 – Creating The whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard Path Directory
Below the new directory created after of the command execution.
Figure 15: The whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard Path Directory Empty
Step 03: Copying The File Installer To Our Customized Installation Directory
Proceed to copy (or move if you want it) the vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz installer to our path directory whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard. You must see the follow.
Figure 16: The whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard Path Directory With The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz File Installer
Step 04: Moving Us To Our Customized Installation Directory
In the terminal 01 execute the command cd whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard
[section1@localhost ~]$ cd whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard [section1@localhost standard]$
Listing 03: Terminal 01 – Moving Us To The whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard Path Directory
You can know our new location executing again the command pwd in the terminal 01.
[section1@localhost standard]$ pwd /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard [section1@localhost standard]$
Listing 04: Terminal 01 – Knowing The Current Location Within A Terminal
Step 05: Unpacking The .tar.gz File Installer
Now is the turn to work around with the .tar.gz file, we only need to unpack it. Therefore again in the terminal 01 execute the command tar -zxvf vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz
[section1@localhost standard]$ tar -zxvf vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz ... [section1@localhost standard]$
Listing 05: Terminal 01 – Unpacking The .tar.gz File Installer
The three dots (…) represent a long output when you execute the command indicated.
After of the execution of the command a new directory named vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE must appear, like shown below.
Figure 17: The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE New Directory Created After To Unpack The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE.tar.gz File Installer
Step 06: Knowing The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE Directory (Optional)
Let’s see what directories exists within the vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE directory
Figure 18: The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE Directory Content
I am not going to explain each directory right now, in future tutorials, I will do the respective explanation when be appropriate.
Take your moment to analyze the files available for us, do realize yourself about the two Apache Tomcat distributions, these are:
- tomcat-6.0.35.B.RELEASE
- tomcat-7.0.27.A.RELEASE
Step 07: Moving Us To The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE Directory
Again in the terminal 01 just execute the command cd vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE
[section1@localhost standard]$ cd vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE [section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 06: Terminal 01 – Moving Us To The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE Path Directory
Step 08: Configuring The vFabric tc Server Runtime Instance
We have two important files for our consideration before to start up the server (See Figure 18), these are:
- tcruntime-instance.sh
- tcruntime-ctl.sh
The first file script tcruntime-instance.sh is used to create a server runtime instance. Therefore in the terminal 01 proceed to execute the command (really the script) ./tcruntime-instance.sh, the result is show below.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-instance.sh usage: tcruntime-instance.sh COMMAND [OPTIONS] [ARGS] The tc Runtime Instance commands are: create Create a new instance list List existing instances and their details modify-version Modify the version of Tomcat that an instance runs with upgrade Upgrade an instance created with a previous version See 'tcruntime-instance.sh help COMMAND' for more information on a specific command. [section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 07: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-instance.sh File Script
Do realize yourself we must use some parameters, therefore I am going to execute again in the terminal 01 the same file script but with the follow parameters ./tcruntime-instance.sh create servermanuel. Below the execution of this file script in this way.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-instance.sh create servermanuel
Creating instance 'servermanuel' ...
Using separate layout
Creating bin/setenv.sh
Applying template 'base'
Copying template's contents
Applying fragment 'context-fragment.xml' to 'conf/context.xml'
Applying fragment 'server-fragment.xml' to 'conf/server.xml'
Applying fragment 'web-fragment.xml' to 'conf/web.xml'
Applying fragment 'tomcat-users-fragment.xml' to 'conf/tomcat-users.xml'
Applying fragment 'catalina-fragment.properties' to 'conf/catalina.properties'
Applying template 'base-tomcat-7'
Copying template's contents
Applying fragment 'server-fragment.xml' to 'conf/server.xml'
Applying fragment 'web-fragment.xml' to 'conf/web.xml'
Applying fragment 'catalina-fragment.properties' to 'conf/catalina.properties'
Applying template 'bio'
Copying template's contents
Applying fragment 'server-fragment.xml' to 'conf/server.xml'
Configuring instance 'servermanuel' to use Tomcat version 7.0.27.A.RELEASE
Setting permissions
Instance created
Connector summary
Port: 8080 Type: Blocking IO Secure: false
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 08: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-instance.sh File Script With Parameters
Check our actual directory vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE and do realize yourself that we have a new directory named servermanuel. Below an image for a confirmation about this.
Figure 19: The servermanuel New Directory Created Within The vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE Directory
Let’s see what files are contained within the directory servermanuel. See the next image.
Figure 20: The servermanuel Directory Content
Practically it has the same directory structure than Apache Tomcat
Step 09: Startup The vFabric tc Server
Bear in mind the second file script, it is tcruntime-ctl.sh and it is used to control our server runtime instance just created before, It is servermanuel. Therefore in the terminal 01 proceed to execute the file script ./tcruntime-ctl.sh. The result is show below.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-ctl.sh
ERROR An instance name must be specified
Usage from tc Runtime installation directory:
./tcruntime-ctl.sh [options] instance_name cmd
[options]
-n <dir> - The full path to the instances directory [default:
current working directory]
-d <dir> - The full path to the tc Runtime installation
directory [default: location of this script]
cmd is one of start | run | stop | restart | status
start - starts a tc Runtime instance as a daemon process
run - starts a tc Runtime instance as a foreground process
stop [timeout] - stops a running tc Runtime instance, forcing termination
of the process if it does not exit gracefully within
timeout seconds [default: 5 seconds]
restart [timeout] - restarts a running tc Runtime instance, forcing
termination of the process if it does not exit
gracefully within timeout seconds [default: 5 seconds]
status - reports the status of a tc Runtime instance
verbose-status - gives a tc Runtime instance details and status
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 09: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-ctl.sh File Script
Do realize yourself again we must use some parameters, therefore I am going to execute again in the terminal 01 the same file script but with the follow parameters ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel start. Below the execution of this script in this way.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel start Using CATALINA_BASE: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/servermanuel Using CATALINA_HOME: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/tomcat-7.0.27.A.RELEASE Using CATALINA_TMPDIR: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/servermanuel/temp Using JRE_HOME: /home/section1/whiteroom/sun/jdk/jdk1.7.0_04 Using CLASSPATH: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/tomcat-7.0.27.A.RELEASE/bin/bootstrap.jar:/home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/tomcat-7.0.27.A.RELEASE/bin/tomcat-juli.jar Using CATALINA_PID: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/servermanuel/logs/tcserver.pid Status: RUNNING as PID=2479 [section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 10: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-ctl.sh File Script With Parameters (Start Mode)
Step 10: Checking The vFabric tc Server Startup
To check if the two files script really did well its executions, open your favourite Web Browser and write the URL http://localhost:8080. If all is fine, you must see the follow image.
Figure 21: Checking The vFabric tc Server Startup With The URL http://localhost:8080
Step 11: Checking The vFabric tc Server Status (Optional)
Let’s see the status of our server runtime instance, to do that in the terminal 01 execute the follow file script with the follow parameters ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel status. Below the result output execution.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel status Instance name: servermanuel Runtime version: 7.0.27.A.RELEASE tc Runtime Base: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/servermanuel Status: RUNNING as PID=2479 [section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 11: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-ctl.sh File Script With Parameters (Status Mode)
Do realize yourself that the Status‘s value is RUNNING
Step 12: Shutdown The vFabric tc Server
To shutdown our server runtime instance, in the terminal 01 execute the follow file script with the follow parameters ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel stop. Below the result output execution.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel stop Instance is running as PID=2479, shutting down... Instance is running PID=2479, sleeping for up to 60 seconds waiting for shutdown Instance shut down gracefully [section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 12: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-ctl.sh File Script With Parameters (Stop Mode)
Step 13: Checking The vFabric tc Server Status (Optional)
If you are a curious developer, let’s see the status of our server runtime instance when it is already shutdown, again in the terminal 01 execute the follow file script with the follow parameters ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel status. Below the result output execution.
[section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$ ./tcruntime-ctl.sh servermanuel status Instance name: servermanuel Runtime version: 7.0.27.A.RELEASE tc Runtime Base: /home/section1/whiteroom/vmware/vfabrictcserver/2.7.0/standard/vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE/servermanuel Status: NOT RUNNING [section1@localhost vfabric-tc-server-standard-2.7.0.RELEASE]$
Listing 13: Terminal 01 – Executing The tcruntime-ctl.sh File Script With Parameters (Status Mode)
Do realize yourself that the Status‘s value is NOT RUNNING
Final Notes:
Congratulations!!!. You have learned how to adquire, install, configure, startup, check status and finally shutdown the vFabric tc Server Standard 2.7.0
If you did realize, I am not covering yet these topics:
- Optional VMware vFabric Hyperic Server and Agent
- Optional VMware vFabric Spring Insight Operations
Because both are optional, and bear in mind these two sections were mentioned on Step 01. For the coming tutorials, I am going to cover deeply each one due its own level of complexity
