You can use several of the WDT tools
in a CI/CD pipeline. For example, the
createDomain
tool creates a new domain based on a simple model, and
updateDomain
(and deployApps
) uses the same model concept to update
an existing domain (preserving the same domain encryption key). The deployApps
tool is very similar to the updateDomain
tool, but limits what can be updated
to application-related configuration attributes such as data sources and
application archives. The model used by these tools is a sparse set of
attributes needed to create or update the domain. A model can be as sparse
as providing only the WebLogic Server administrative password, although not very
interesting. A good way to get a jumpstart on a model is to use the
discoverDomain
tool in WDT which builds a model based on an existing domain.
A Model in Image domain takes advantage of WDT by letting you specify an operator domain directly with a model instead of requiring that you supply a domain home.
Other than the tools themselves, there are three components to the WDT tools:
You can use WLST scripts to create and update domain homes in a CI/CD pipeline for Domain in Image and Domain in PV domains. We recommend that you use offline WLST for this purpose. There may be some scenarios where it is necessary to use WLST online, but we recommend that you do that as an exception only, and when absolutely necessary.
If you do not already have WLST scripts, we recommend that you consider using WebLogic Deploy Tooling (WDT) instead. It provides a more declarative approach to domain creation, whereas WLST is more of an imperative scripting language. WDT provides advantages like being able to use the same model with different versions of WebLogic, whereas you may need to update WLST scripts manually when migrating to a new version of WebLogic for example.
WebLogic Server provides tools called “pack” and “unpack” that can be used to “clone” a domain home. These tools do not preserve the domain encryption key. You can use these tools to make copies of Domain in PV and Domain in Image domain homes in scenarios when you do not need the same domain encryption key. See Creating Templates and Domains Using the Pack and Unpack Commands.