Java Web Services: Up and Running, 2nd Edition

GlassFish Basics

GlassFish can be installed in various ways, including via installers for the standard operating systems. The entire download is also available as a ZIP file. However GlassFish is installed, the installation process includes prompts for an administrator username (the default is admin) and a password. GlassFish has a web console (localhost:4848 by default) and a command-line utility named asadmin (in Windows, asadmin.bat) that can be used to administer the JAS. The web console (see Figure 7-2) can be used only if GlassFish is already running.

Figure 7-2. The GlassFish web console home page

During installation, it is possible to have GlassFish made into a system service so that GlassFish starts automatically whenever the system reboots. At startup, GlassFish checks for available ports on which to listen for connections. For example, if Tomcat or some other application is running and listening already on port 8080 for client connections, GlassFish notes this and asks for an alternative port to receive HTTP connections. (On my system, Tomcat listens on port 8080 for HTTP connections and GlassFish listens on port 8081.) By default, GlassFish listens for HTTPS connections on port 8181. GlassFish allows administrative overrides of all defaults.

The GlassFish web console is well organized and informative. GlassFish groups together, under the tab Applications, websites, web services, ...