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WebLogic Server Frequently Asked Questions

# FAQs: Deployment

- How can I set deployment order for applications?
- Can I refresh static components of a deployed application without having to redeploy the entire application?
- When should I use the -nostage option?
- When should I use the external_stage option?
- Can I generate deployment descriptor files automatically?
- Can I set the deployment order for application modules? For standalone modules?
- What is the difference between the WL_HOME/config/examples/applications folder and the WL_HOME/config/examples/stage folder?
- How do I turn the auto-deployment feature off?
- Where can I learn more about WebLogic 8.1 deployment?

Q. How can I set deployment order for applications?

A. WebLogic Server 8.1 allows you to select the load order for applications. See the ApplicationMBean LoadOrder attribute in Application. WebLogic Server deploys server-level resources (first JDBC and then JMS) before deploying applications. Applications are deployed in this order: connectors, then EJBs, then Web Applications. If the application is an EAR, the individual components are loaded in the order in which they are declared in the application.xml deployment descriptor.

Q. Can I refresh static components of a deployed application without having to redeploy the entire application?

A. Yes. You can use `weblogic.Deployer` to specify a component and target a server, using the following syntax:

>     java weblogic.Deployer -adminurl http://admin:7001 -name appname -targets server1,server2 -deploy jsps/*.jsp

Q. When should I use the -nostage option?

A. Set the staging mode to `-nostage` (using weblogic.Deployer or the Administration Console) if you don't want to copy deployment files but want to deploy an application from its present location. All target servers must be able to access the same set of deployment files.

Q. When should I use the external_stage option?

A. Set -external_stage using weblogic.Deployer if you want to stage the application yourself, and prefer to copy it to its target by your own means.

Q. Can I generate deployment descriptor files automatically?

A. Yes, WebLogic Builder automatically generates deployment descriptor files for your J2EE applications. See WebLogic Builder Online Help.

Q. Can I set the deployment order for application modules? For standalone modules?

A. The Load Order attribute controls the deployment order of standalone modules and applications relative to other modules and applications of the same type. For example, standalone EJBs with smaller Load Order values are deployed before those with higher values.

Modules that are deployed as part of an Enterprise Application (EAR file or directory) are deployed in the order in which they are specified in the `application.xml` deployment descriptor.

Q. What is the difference between the WL_HOME`/config/examples/applications` folder and the WL_HOME`/config/examples/stage` folder?

A. The `applications` folder is intended for applications that are not yet ready for a production environment. WebLogic Server dynamically deploys the contents of the `applications` folder. The `stage` folder (or a folder that you create for the same purpose) is for storing copies of deployment files that are ready for deployment in a production environment (deployments that use the `stage` or `external_stage` deployment modes).

Q. How do I turn the auto-deployment feature off?

A. The auto-deployment feature checks the applications folder every three seconds to determine whether there are any new applications or any changes to existing applications and then dynamically deploys these changes.

The auto-deployment feature is enabled for servers that run in development mode. To disable auto-deployment feature, use one of the following methods to place servers in production mode:

- In the Administration Console, click the name of the domain in the left pane, then select the Production Mode checkbox in the right pane.
- At the command line, include the following argument when starting the domain's Administration Server:

>     -Dweblogic.ProductionModeEnabled=true

Production mode is set for all WebLogic Server instances in a given domain.

Q. Where can I learn more about WebLogic 8.1 deployment?

A. Here: Deployment.