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# Start and stop servers

Before you begin

- Install WebLogic Server on the computer on which you want to run the server. See Installation Guide.

  Note: The Administration Server and all Managed Servers in a domain must be the same WebLogic Server version. See Version Requirements for a Domain.

- Create servers. A domain always contains the configuration information for at least one server. You can create additional servers. See Create Managed Servers.

WebLogic Server provides several ways to start and stop server instances. The method that you choose depends on whether you prefer using a graphical or command-line interface, and on whether you are using the Node Manager to manage a server's life cycle.

You can start a server instance on any computer on which WebLogic Server has been installed. The server's configuration information always resides in the domain's `config.xml` file, which is located on the computer that hosts the Administration Server. The first server instance you start in a domain assumes the role of Administration Server. Additional server instances assume the role of Managed Server.

No matter how you start a server, the end result passes a set of configuration options to initialize a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The server instance runs within the JVM, and the JVM can host only one server instance.

The main steps for starting and stopping servers are:

1. Start the Administration Server.
2. Start Managed Servers. See any of the following:
   - Start Managed Servers from the Administration Console
   - Start Managed Servers with a Startup Script
3. Stop servers. See any of the following:
   - Shut down a server instance
   - Control graceful shutdowns
   - Shutting Down Servers with a Stop Script

Related Tasks

- Create Managed Servers
- Start a Managed Server when the Administration Server is not accessible
- Restart a Failed Administration Server
- Restart Failed Managed Server instances

Related Topics

- Understanding Server Life Cycle
- Using Node Manager to Control Servers
- WebLogic Server Exit Codes and Restarting After Failure