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Programming WebLogic jCOM

# Upgrading Considerations

The following sections describe upgrading from WebLogic jCOM 6.1 to WebLogic jCOM 8.1:

- Advantages of jCOM 8.1 over jCOM 6.1
- Changes to Your COM Code
- Security Changes
- Configuration Changes

Upgrading from WebLogic jCOM 7.0 to WebLogic jCOM 8.1 requires only minor changes, which are discussed in Upgrading from jCOM 7.0 to jCOM 8.1.

# Advantages of jCOM 8.1 over jCOM 6.1

WebLogic jCOM 8.1 is dramatically simpler to implement than WebLogic jCOM 6.1, for the following reasons:

- You no longer need to write and install a bridge. The jCOM runtime is now included in WebLogic Server. In fact, when you install WebLogic Server, the jCOM functionality is installed automatically.
- You obtain the software you need on the COM machine by copying `.dll` and `.exe` files from your WebLogic Server installation directory.
- jCOM is automatically enabled. This means that the WebLogic Server is automatically configured to listen for COM calls on its listen port.
- jCOM properties are now configurable through WebLogic Server's Administration Console only.

# Changes to Your COM Code

The upgrade to WebLogic Server 8.1 from jCOM 6.1 may affect your COM application code in the following ways:

- If you are running a zero client application you can now obtain an object reference moniker (ORM) programmatically from a servlet running on WebLogic Server. You also have the option of obtaining it the old way—by running `com.bea.jcom.GetJvmMoniker`.

To obtain the ORM from the servlet, open a Web browser on WebLogic Server to http://[wlshost]:[wlsport]/bea_wls_internal/com.

- Purge from your COM code any references to a separate jCOM bridge.

# Security Changes

Previously handled through jCOM-specific software, security is now implemented through WebLogic Server's security mechanism of roles and policies. Specifically, to allow COM clients access to WebLogic Server objects, you must export those objects for use by the COM client. You do this through the WebLogic Server Administration Console.

For details, see Configuring Access Control, in Calling into WebLogic Server from a COM Client Application.

# Configuration Changes

You now configure properties through console rather than at command-line and many of the properties have gone away. The following table maps 6.1 properties to 8.1 properties:

This 6.1 property: | Is handled this way in 8.1:
--- | ---
`ENABLE_TCP_NODELAY` | No longer needed.
`JCOM_DCOM_PORT` | No longer needed. The new port defaults to the port WebLogic Server is listening on, typically 7001.
`JCOM_COINIT_VALUE` | Configure via the `Apartment Threaded` property in the WebLogic Server Console
`JCOM_INCOMING_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT` | Configure via the `Complete Message Timeout` property under Server -> Protocols -> General -> Advanced Options in the Administration Console.
`JCOM_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT` | Causes outgoing connections (connections initiated by the WebLogic jCOM runtime) which have not been used for specified number of milliseconds to disconnect. Configure by adding the 'JCOM_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT = [number of milliseconds]' parameter on the command-line (for example, to the Java option of your WebLogic Server start script).
`COM.BEA.JCOM.SERVER` | WebLogic Server's listen port is used.
`JCOM_MAX_REQUEST_HANDLERS` | jCOM threading has been integrated with the WebLogic Server thread pool so this setting now corresponds to the number of threads configured for the WebLogic Server.
`JCOM_NATIVE_MODE` | Configure via the `Native Mode Enabled` property in the WebLogic Server Administration Console.
`JCOM_NOGIT` | No longer needed.
`JCOM_NTAUTH_HOST` | Configure via the `NTAuth Host` property in the WebLogic Server Administration Console.
`JCOM_LOCAL_PORT_START` | No longer needed. WebLogic Server listen port is used for this range.
`JCOM_LOCAL_PORT_END` | No longer needed. WebLogic Server listen port is used for this range.
`JCOM_PROXY_PACKAGE` | No longer needed.
`JCOM_SKIP_CLOSE` | No longer needed. WebLogic Server closes connections based on the value of the `Complete Message Timeout` property.
`JCOM_WS_NAME` | No longer needed. WebLogic jCOM uses the name of the server instance you invoke in a `CreateObject` statement.

# Upgrading from jCOM 7.0 to jCOM 8.1

There are no code changes required for upgrading from jCOM 7.0 to jCOM 8.1. However, you now configure COM packet timeout values and the maximum length of COM message packets via a different location in the Administration Console.

These changes are summarized in the following table:

Value | Configure this way in 7.0 | Configure this way in 8.1
--- | --- | ---
COM packet timeout value | Set the `COM Message Timeout` property under Server -> Connections -> jCOM in the Administration Console | Set the `Complete Message Timeout` property under Server -> Protocols -> General -> Advanced Options in the Administration Console.
The maximum length of COM message packets | Set the `COM Max Message Size` property under Server -> Connections -> jCOM in the Administration Console | Set the `Complete Maximum Message Size` property under Server -> Protocols -> General -> Advanced Options in the Administration Console.