Deploying an HTML Web Site on Application Server 10g

Aug 18,  2004
John Garmany
 

I get this question over and over again.  Here is a quick method to deploy a web site onto your AS10g middle (or J2EE) tier.

The actual work in serving an HTML web site is performed by the Web Cache and the Oracle HTTP Server (OHS).  OHS is a modified version of the Apache 1.3 web server. 

OHS serves HTML documents from the Document Root directory.  The Document Root is defined when AS10g is installed and contains the web pages that show when you log onto the tier.

http://host_name:7778/

The above example shows that the AS10g tier is installed on the server local host and that Web Cache is listening on port 7778.  If Web Cache is used it will forward the request for objects not in the cache to OHS on the OHS port. 

You can find your Document Root in two ways. In the httpd.conf file or by using Application Server Control, opening the HTTP Server objects, selecting Administration and Server Properties.

The httpd.conf file is located at:

$ORACLE_HOME/Apache/Apache/conf/httpd.conf

To deploy your HTTP web site, go to the Document Root directory and create a subdirectory.

cd "Your Document Root"
mkdir YourWeb

Ftp (or copy) your web site into the YourWeb directory.  The index.html file will be the base document for you web site and needs to be in the YourWeb directory.

How open a browser and add the directory name to the URL.

http://host_name:7778/YourWeb/

The web cache will serve any part of the site in it's cache and pass a request for all other objects or documents back to the OHS.

Last two points:

1.  The Document Root can be changed and Virtual Hosts can also be used.  Make the changes in Application Server Control rather than directly in the httpd.conf file

2.  If Web Cache and OHS are located on the same server and you are mostly serving static documents, you "MAY" get better performance by turning off Web Cache and allowing OHS to directly server the documents.

For details on OHS and Web Cache get the Oracle Application Server 10g Administration Handbook from Oracle Press.

If you are a DBA that inherited the administration of AS10g, this is the book for you.  Written by a DBA for DBAs Oracle Application Server 10g Administration Handbook by Oracle Press. In Book Stores Now!

Regards,

John Garmany

Burleson Oracle Consulting

Kittrell, NC, USA, 27544
www.dba-oracle.com
www.remote-dba.net