Thursday, June 5, 2014

Advanced WebLogic Server Automation : Book Review

Great news for WebLogic users, administrators. The first WLST and JMX book now available in the market and online!! Almost 2 years of efforts. Here I am happy to share my first interaction with the author Martin Heinzl

First review and foreword of Advanced WebLogic Server Automation book

I started working on Jython automation in 2009. That time there were very few online forums such as StackOverflow on the automation scripts. Most documents where either insufficient or with same repeated contents. I thought why not to start a WLST community to help JEE application users who uses WebLogic as application server. Initially starting with the first prominent social network “Google’s Orkut”, I created the WLST community and started working on various Jython scripting issues and initiatives to automate the WebLogic administration tasks. Now it was It’s the time for new social network, like where Linkedin which is exclusively developed for professionals. I have opened a ‘WLST’ group, later renamed to ‘WLST by Examples’. It has continuous growing Middleware experts who are looking for WLST. Here is where I first time saw Martin Heinzl discussion posting on the group with "Work-in-progress: Weblogic automation book”. We both had exchange of thoughts on the book to come up with the best.

Martin is my and many more aspirants’ mentor, guide. Martin is endowed with an ocean of profound automation knowledge and the best part is, Martin never hesitates to share his thoughts and suggestions. The book is having three parts, part 1 gives you the intent of the each part and why you need to choose that part.

The way WLST is developed from WebLogic 8.1 onwards, enhancing with new features with every new released version 12c to be more user friendly and efficient. WebLogic Jython implementation with robust scripting capabilities is much better than other application server in the JEE market.

The second part is a deep dive of Jython scripting for the WebLogic configurations, deployment, and monitoring, tuning concepts. Whereas Oracle developing the strategies to stand in the number one position in the Middleware market with huge scope on cloud computing focused in WebLogic 12c suite. The business People changed and they are looking for cost-cutting options with private or public clouds. Oracle Fussion Middleware suite come with SOA, BPEL, Developer, WebCenter suites.

The third part is JMX, it is targeted for those who are already know the Java programming. If you are thinking ‘What if there is a better way than using Jython for WLST?’ Then this is part to refer. I am a JMX newbie. I ran through this part and understood the greatness of the JMX. It has achieved many of the technical goals that JMX API strives for.

Martins ‘Advanced WebLogic Server Automation’ book will be a perfect guide for experience and novice WebLogic users. The book is formatted with focus on many real-life scenarios, most of the WebLogic administrators, architects use them. This book enables those Administrators to work on automation to save their productive hours. I liked Martin way of explanation, motivation to readers, and in-detailed orientation for each scenario. Hope I forever remain shadowed under his exorbitant wisdom.

The book starts from the nothing to building blocks for the enterprise architecture with dynamic automations with fine intent to grow or customized further for the technical needs.

Specifically I wondered for the JMX part, where it covered various resource configurations and also equally had the monitoring capabilities that it does with WLST. One requires good knowledge on

Java programming and also idea on JMX APIs.

The book is one place to find most of the Jython scripting for effective system administration on WebLogic suites and shows the greater automation power. And not to forget the way the book is drafted as “Simplicity at its best ".

Thank you Martin for being guide with great book ‘Advanced WebLogic Server Automation’.