Location of Websphere Application Server config files

Question

I have a Websphere Application Server v8.0, and my job requires me to change the location of my JDBC data source to different values to test in different environments. I traditionally would do this via the admin console and change the settings via the Resources > JDBC > Data sources section, but I'd like to write a script to change these settings. When I run the admin console, where do the settings get stored? I can run the console vis-a-vis the Servers tab in Eclipse (Rational Application Developer) or by navigating to localhost:9044, but I don't know where the settings are stored - which I'd need to write said script.

Can anybody help me out?

Answer 1

If you want to write a script, then rather than looking at file system write a proper jython script, which will do your modifications in the similar way as you would do it via console.

To make writing script easier you can use:

• Command assistance in the console - the Help portlet on the right shows last invoked command in jython
• Script library, which already provides some scripts - Automating data access resource configuration using wsadmin scripting
• And basic scripting commands - Configuring data access with wsadmin scripting

Answer 2

If it helps, I had a quick look locally and found a reference to my JDBC data source in "resources.xml" located within the websphere directory at...

<server profile root>\config\cells\<aNodeCell>\nodes\<aNode>\servers\<aServer>

In the past I've used xml config to read values for convenience, but not often to update. Instead I have made use of some of the jython script options available and can echo Jim's response to check out the options there in case there is something that would be a viable alternative.

Edit: There is another link that may be of interest Configuring data access with wsadmin scripting. I've not used this particular feature of wsadmin myself but it does appear to show promise at first glance.

Answer 3

From what I remember of WebSphere Application Server, the settings are ultimately persisted to the file system - however you shouldn't be changing them this way because application server config is a messy and complicated business and by directly changing settings you risk destroying your app server.

I'd recommend checking out this redbook, particularly Chapter 8 which describes how you can configure your app server with scripts. Also I seem to recall plans to display the equivalent scripting commands in the admin console.