Looking for the Proverbial Needle in a Haystack
Wednesday Dec 13, 2006
- "Water, water, everywhere,
- Nor any drop to drink."
Just like the thirsty sailors hankering for water in the midst of the ocean, users often complain that they are left high and dry by Sun's documentation that does not help them find the information they are looking for. This, despite Sun documentation being rated as exhaustive and helpful.
The search on docs.sun.com isn't particularly user-friendly, here are more effective alternatives:
1) Go to the search.sun.com page and click Advanced Search.
2) Type the following in the with all of the words text box: "Application Server" <version> <search string>
3) Click Search.
4) In the Search Results page, click the Documentation tab to view results only from official documentation.
Or
1) Go to www.google.com and click Advanced Search.
2) Type the following in the with all of the words text box: "Application Server" <version> <search string>
3) Type docs.sun.com in the Domain text box.
4) Click Google Search.
A sample Google search query: "Application Server" 9 upgrade cluster site:docs.sun.com
Other useful resources for information on Sun's Application Server:
- Articles, tech tips, and blogs on Glassfish
- News and Articles on Application Server on the SDN
- Java Weblogs (sorted by topic)
- Application Server blogs on blogs.sun.com
- Software Forums
And sometimes, users complain that they end up running in circles trying to find the download or documentation for a particular version of App Server. This table is my humble attempt at demystifying the various versions and avatars of Sun's Application Server.
| Version |
Download page |
Documentation |
Extra info |
| Sun Java System (SJS)
Application Server Platform
Edition 9.0 Update 1 (earlier release: Application Server Platform Edition 9.0) |
Standalone
installer; Or bundled with Java EE SDK 5
Update 1 |
App Server PE
9 Update 1 docs and App Server PE 9 docs |
The
instructions in the installation guide apply only to the standalone
installation. Here are the installation instructions for Java
EE SDK 5 and
instructions to unbundle and configure Glassfish. You can upgrade from 8 PE or 8 Update 1 PE. |
| SJS Application Server Platform Edition 8.2 | Standalone
installer ; Or bundled with J2EE 1.4 SDK |
App Server PE 8.2 docs |
You can upgrade to this version from 8 PE or 8.1 PE. |
| SJS Application
Server
Enterprise Edition 8.2 (beta) |
Will be available as
Standalone and as part of JES5 |
App Server EE
8.2 docs (beta) Or JES 5 beta |
You can upgrade to this
version from 7.x
PE/SE/EE, 8 PE, or 8.1 PE. |
| SJS Application Server Enterprise Edition 8.1 2005 Q2 Update 2 | Part
of JES 2005Q4 (JES4)
|
App Server EE 8.1
Update 2 docs or JES 2005Q4 docs |
You can
upgrade to this version from 7.x PE/SE/EE, or 8 PE |
| SJS Application
Server
Enterprise Edition 8.1 2005 Q1 |
Standalone
installer; or as part of JES
2005Q1 (JES3) |
App
Server EE 8.1 docs or JES2005Q1 docs |
You can upgrade to this version 8.1 EE from 7.x PE/SE/EE, or 8 PE |
| SJS Application Server Standard Edition 8.1 2005 Q1 | Standalone
installer |
No separate docs for SE. Refer to App Server EE 8.1 docs | |
| SJS Application
Server Platform Edition 8.1 Update 2 (Earlier releases include Application
Server
Platform Edition 8.1 Update
1 and Application Server
Platform Edition 8.1 ) |
Standalone installer |
App
Server PE 8.1 docs App Server PE 8.1 UR1 docs App Server PE 8.1 UR2 docs |
You can upgrade to
this version from
8 PE |
| SJS Application Server Platform Edition 8 Update 1 (earlier release: Application Server Platform Edition 8) | Standalone installer | App
Server PE 8 Update 1 docs and App Server PE 8 docs |
You can upgrade to this version from 8 PE. |
| SJS Application Server
Platform Edition 7 Update 9 (Earlier called the Sun ONE Application
Server) |
Standalone
installer |
Release
notes |
|
| SJS Application Server
Standard/Enterprise Edition 7 2004 Q2 |
Standalone
installer |
App
Server 7 docs |
Updates 1 through 9 are
available for Sun Java System Application Server 7 (or Sun ONE
Application Server). I have covered only the major releases. Documentation
for Updates 1 through 9 is available. |
| Sun ONE Application
Server Update 3 |
Part of JES 2004Q2 (JES2) |
JES
2004Q2 docs |
|
| Sun ONE Application
Server Update 1 |
Part of JES 2003Q4 | JES 2003Q4 docs | |
| Sun ONE Application
Server 6.5 SP1 and iPlanet Application Server 6.5 |
- |
Sun ONE App Server
6.5 docs or iPlanet App Server 6.5 docs |
Documentation for
older iPlanet releases is also avallable. |










