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Difference between revisions of "Ebpm/Getting Started"

(Introduction)
 
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</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h3> Start the Service Manager </h3>
+
== Start the Service Manager ==
 +
 
 
In order to start up the service manager, open the command window and start the eBPM executable that is within the Service Manager directory (from now on we will call it SERVICE_MANAGER).  
 
In order to start up the service manager, open the command window and start the eBPM executable that is within the Service Manager directory (from now on we will call it SERVICE_MANAGER).  
 
You can also optionally open an OSGi console, towards eBPM, opening a telnet connection on the port 9999. Use the command “help” to have the list of available commands.
 
You can also optionally open an OSGi console, towards eBPM, opening a telnet connection on the port 9999. Use the command “help” to have the list of available commands.
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<h3> Creation of a new Project </h3>
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== Creation of a new Project ==
  
 
In this document we’ll use the notation: WORKSPACE_DIR as the directory of the Eclipse workspace that you will create with Spagic Studio.
 
In this document we’ll use the notation: WORKSPACE_DIR as the directory of the Eclipse workspace that you will create with Spagic Studio.
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Placing all the resources used by services in project under the Resources folder before configuring the service, is more comfortable for the feature of drag and drop of files, available in several service configuration in Spagic 3.
 
Placing all the resources used by services in project under the Resources folder before configuring the service, is more comfortable for the feature of drag and drop of files, available in several service configuration in Spagic 3.
 
<p>[[Image:SC1.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:SC1.jpg]]</p>
After this we can configure the service: let's go under the project and choose File New Other.  
+
After this we can configure the service: let's go under the project and choose File --> New --> Other.  
The list of wizards appears. Let's go under the Spagic New Service, and click Next.
+
The list of wizards appears. Let's go under the Spagic --> New Service, and click Next.
 
<p>[[Image:SC2.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:SC2.jpg]]</p>
 
In the next window there is the list of all service and connectors available. In the text box “Container” you can specify the placement of the new service, typically under the Services folder of your project. If is not already present, click the Browse button. The wizard of folder selection appears:  click on the folder of your project, in our case the project_sample project and select the subfolder Services and click OK.  
 
In the next window there is the list of all service and connectors available. In the text box “Container” you can specify the placement of the new service, typically under the Services folder of your project. If is not already present, click the Browse button. The wizard of folder selection appears:  click on the folder of your project, in our case the project_sample project and select the subfolder Services and click OK.  
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In our case, we have to set an ID for the service and give it an xslt-Path. Set the ID filling the namesake field with “transformer” and set the xsl file as path making the drag and drop of the file identity.xsl we previously put in the Mappings folder, in the field XSLT-Path. In this way, our service will be configured.  
 
In our case, we have to set an ID for the service and give it an xslt-Path. Set the ID filling the namesake field with “transformer” and set the xsl file as path making the drag and drop of the file identity.xsl we previously put in the Mappings folder, in the field XSLT-Path. In this way, our service will be configured.  
 
<p>[[Image:SC5.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:SC5.jpg]]</p>
To expose the service and allow it to be called from external applications, we have to link it to a connector. So, let's create a new instance of connector. In our example our connector is an HTTP Server.  To do this, right click on File New Other and select Spagic New Service.
+
To expose the service and allow it to be called from external applications, we have to link it to a connector. So, let's create a new instance of connector. In our example our connector is an HTTP Server.  To do this, right click on File --> New --> Other and select Spagic --> New Service.
  
 
In the wizard set the placement of the connector under the directory WORKSPACE_DIR/project_sample/Connectors. If it is not already present, click on the Browse button and set it manually, in the folder selection window. Then go in the list and click on Connectors, in the list  below select the connector HTTP Server. Finally set the name of the connector writing “http_connector ” in the box name and click Finish
 
In the wizard set the placement of the connector under the directory WORKSPACE_DIR/project_sample/Connectors. If it is not already present, click on the Browse button and set it manually, in the folder selection window. Then go in the list and click on Connectors, in the list  below select the connector HTTP Server. Finally set the name of the connector writing “http_connector ” in the box name and click Finish
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<p>[[Image:SC7.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:SC7.jpg]]</p>
 
<h3>Deployment</h3>
 
<h3>Deployment</h3>
Before to deploy your service you need to start up the service manager (see 3.3-Start the Service Manager).
+
Before to deploy your service you need to start up the service manager (see [http://wiki.eclipse.org/Ebpm/Getting_Started#Start_the_Service_Manager Start the Service Manager]).
 
To deploy a service or a process, we have to call the Deployment Wizard and choose the services and processes you need to deploy. Click in the icon of deployment service that is in the main icon bar of Spagic Studio 3.
 
To deploy a service or a process, we have to call the Deployment Wizard and choose the services and processes you need to deploy. Click in the icon of deployment service that is in the main icon bar of Spagic Studio 3.
 
<p>[[Image:SC8.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:SC8.jpg]]</p>
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<p>[[Image:SC10.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:SC10.jpg]]</p>
 
<h3>Test</h3>
 
<h3>Test</h3>
After deploying services and connectors we can see all items in the Spagic console. For installation and use of Spagic Console, please refer to the document “Spagic3 Console.pdf”. In Spagic Console, clicking on the icon Process/Services List we have the list of all the processes, services and components deployed on the service manager.Clicking on the tab Services, you can see the service transformer we have deployed, and in the tab Connectors you can see the connector of the service deployed.
+
After deploying services and connectors we can see all items in the Spagic console. For installation and use of Spagic Console, please refer to the document [http://www.spagoworld.org/xwiki/bin/view/Spagic/ Spagic3 Console]. In Spagic Console, clicking on the icon Process/Services List we have the list of all the processes, services and components deployed on the service manager.Clicking on the tab Services, you can see the service transformer we have deployed, and in the tab Connectors you can see the connector of the service deployed.
 
<p>[[Image:T1.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:T1.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:T2.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:T2.jpg]]</p>
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In the wizard, there are all projects that are in workspace. Select the project project_sample and choose “Deploy processes and related services”. Then click to Next.
 
In the wizard, there are all projects that are in workspace. Select the project project_sample and choose “Deploy processes and related services”. Then click to Next.
 
<p>[[Image:DP1.jpg]]</p>
 
<p>[[Image:DP1.jpg]]</p>
To deploy the process, check to the name of the service and check also “Deploy JPDLs”: in this way the process will be published on the MetaDB and will be deployed on the service manager.
+
To deploy the process, check to the name of the service: in this way the process will be published on the MetaDB and will be deployed on the service manager.
 
<p>[[Image:DP2.jpg]]</p>  
 
<p>[[Image:DP2.jpg]]</p>  
 
The deployment wizard opens a new window where all the services and connectors that are used by the process are automatically selected, so we can simply click Finish if we want to deploy the process and all the services used.
 
The deployment wizard opens a new window where all the services and connectors that are used by the process are automatically selected, so we can simply click Finish if we want to deploy the process and all the services used.

Latest revision as of 12:14, 30 August 2010

Document Goal

The goal of this document is to provide you with an introduction on using eBPM looking at a demo application that should allow you to explore some of the most interesting features of the new platform.

Introduction

eBPM is a project whose goal is proposing an OSGi Enterprise Universal Middleware that enables the development of both single services and complex solutions including orchestration processes, workflows with human activities and features like support of rules engines, registries and multi-node distributions.

Introduction.PNG

In eBPM the atomic units of execution are the services that are exposed to the external world through connectors. These services can be deployed and executed alone or composed within complex processes.

Introduction2.PNG

In eBPM, processes are simply “special services” built by composition of OSGi services that are hosted within an OSGi container (actually Equinox).

The services can simply be configured with a connector (also hosted on the OSGi container) like “My Service 4” in the previous figure, or they can be orchestrated in a complex process by a service called “Process Orchestrator” like “My Service 2” and “My Service 3” in the previous figure. Also this kind of complex processes can be configured with a connector, for the activation of the process.

Man work.jpg The eBPM Project

Before proceeding with the guided tour we have to explain what is contained in the eBPM package: eBPM is the result of the contribution to Eclipse of most of the core of an open source project called Spagic (http://spagoworld.com/xwiki/bin/view/Spagic/). The contribution work is still in progress: this means that using eBPM without auxiliary tools is quite complex. For this reason, in this tour we’ll use some complementary tools provided by the original project Spagic and the eBPM runtime provided is the basic one with some additional Spagic bundles. Spagic has been refactored for the eBPM contribution: most of the core bundles has been renamed, some code has been changed to use libraries that are compatible with the EPL license, and the license of all bundles was changed.


In the following table we summarize the features that are included in eBPM, and the ones that are included only in Spagic. As you can see, some features will be ported on eBPM, while others will remain on Spagic (that is the eBPM supported version).

Table1.PNG


Software Requirements

Table2.PNG

eBPM Package

The eBPM package consists of several separated applications, it contains:

  • The eBPM Service Manager (a standalone Equinox server)
  • The designer environment Spagic Studio (a customized Eclipse IDE).
  • The monitoring application Spagic Console to install into Tomcat (or another servlet container).

Start the Service Manager

In order to start up the service manager, open the command window and start the eBPM executable that is within the Service Manager directory (from now on we will call it SERVICE_MANAGER). You can also optionally open an OSGi console, towards eBPM, opening a telnet connection on the port 9999. Use the command “help” to have the list of available commands. Then start the Tomcat containing the console: remember to install the H2 driver in Tomcat before starting it.


Creation of a new Project

In this document we’ll use the notation: WORKSPACE_DIR as the directory of the Eclipse workspace that you will create with Spagic Studio. Once created the workspace after the start of Spagic Studio, in order to create a new Project, select File->New->Project…, choose Spagic3 Project under the category Spagic and click on Next. A Wizard is opened where you can define the name of the project you want to create. Write “project_sample” as the project name, and click on the Finish button.

NewProj.PNG

Within the project main folder you will find different subfolders where you can place the components of your project: connectors, processes, services, forms, metadata and resources, further divided in other several subfolders. Before to start the design of your project components you need to setup the Target Directory inside your Spagic Studio. The Target Directory is a folder where Spagic Deploy Manager will copy all files necessary for the execution of Spagic processes and services. By default the Target Directory is set to the folder SERVICE_MANAGER\default. If you want to change it, go in Windows-> Preferences-> Spagic->Deploy Service Preferences and change the value of the Target Directory field.

If you change the Target Directory value in Spagic Studio you need to do it also for Spagic Service Manager: you simply need to change the value of -Dspagic.home parameter of eBPM.ini file inside the SERVICE_MANAGER directory (by default it’s commented).

NewProj2.PNG

Services/Connectors

Configuration of a new service

In the folder Services we can place all the services definitions we need. In our example we will configure a service that performs a XSLT transformation. For simplicity we provide all the resources used in this demo, within the folder sample_resources in the eBPM package.

First, we need the resources necessary to configure the services we are creating: in our sample the resource used by the service is an xsl file. So we place this file in the folder Mappings, under the Resources folder. Placing all the resources used by services in project under the Resources folder before configuring the service, is more comfortable for the feature of drag and drop of files, available in several service configuration in Spagic 3.

SC1.jpg

After this we can configure the service: let's go under the project and choose File --> New --> Other. The list of wizards appears. Let's go under the Spagic --> New Service, and click Next.

SC2.jpg

In the next window there is the list of all service and connectors available. In the text box “Container” you can specify the placement of the new service, typically under the Services folder of your project. If is not already present, click the Browse button. The wizard of folder selection appears: click on the folder of your project, in our case the project_sample project and select the subfolder Services and click OK.

SC3.jpg

In the next Wizard go to Service and click on it, select XSLT Transformer, and finally set the name of the service in the “File name” field. For this example call it xslt_transformer and then Click Finish.

SC4.jpg

Now a new instance of service is created in the Service folder whose name is xslt_transformer.service. Automatically, the wizard service configuration appears and you can set all the values of the properties of a service, filling the fields in the configuration wizard. All services have a unique identifier that allows us to reuse them; this identifier is briefly named ID. In our case, we have to set an ID for the service and give it an xslt-Path. Set the ID filling the namesake field with “transformer” and set the xsl file as path making the drag and drop of the file identity.xsl we previously put in the Mappings folder, in the field XSLT-Path. In this way, our service will be configured.

SC5.jpg

To expose the service and allow it to be called from external applications, we have to link it to a connector. So, let's create a new instance of connector. In our example our connector is an HTTP Server. To do this, right click on File --> New --> Other and select Spagic --> New Service.

In the wizard set the placement of the connector under the directory WORKSPACE_DIR/project_sample/Connectors. If it is not already present, click on the Browse button and set it manually, in the folder selection window. Then go in the list and click on Connectors, in the list below select the connector HTTP Server. Finally set the name of the connector writing “http_connector ” in the box name and click Finish

SC6.jpg

So a new instance of connector is created in the Connector folder whose name is http_connector.connector. Automatically, the wizard connector configuration appears, where you can set all the values of the properties of a connector, filling the fields in the configuration wizard. Set the ID filling the namesake field with “connector” and set the URI file with “http://0.0.0.0:10000/sample” and select in the field Server Type “in-out”. To link the service to the connector, just drag and drop the xslt_transformer service we have previously configured and place it in the target field. The ID of the service will appear in the target field. In this way, our connector will be configured.

SC7.jpg

Deployment

Before to deploy your service you need to start up the service manager (see Start the Service Manager). To deploy a service or a process, we have to call the Deployment Wizard and choose the services and processes you need to deploy. Click in the icon of deployment service that is in the main icon bar of Spagic Studio 3.

SC8.jpg

In the wizard, there are all workspace projects. Select the project project_sample and choose “Deploy services”.

SC9.jpg

In the next window check the connector of the service you want to deploy. To deploy the services (and the related resources) you can proceed in two ways:

  • Manually, selecting all the services you want to deploy.
  • Selecting the first connector of the flow of control (in our case the HTTP Server) and click the Resolve Dependencies button. The service or process linked will be automatically checked.

When all the items you want to deploy are selected, click Finish. The services will be published in the Target Directory folder. The Deployment wizard is a tool that copies the resources and the services definition (.connector and .service files) in the Server target directory: it’s useful because, for example, the resources must be copied before the services definition, and this order is automatically managed by the wizard.

SC10.jpg

Test

After deploying services and connectors we can see all items in the Spagic console. For installation and use of Spagic Console, please refer to the document Spagic3 Console. In Spagic Console, clicking on the icon Process/Services List we have the list of all the processes, services and components deployed on the service manager.Clicking on the tab Services, you can see the service transformer we have deployed, and in the tab Connectors you can see the connector of the service deployed.

T1.jpg

T2.jpg

Then, let's execute the service we've deployed. Take the file “Test Page.html” that is in the directory sample_resources/html and open it. This page allows us to send some XML to an HTTP endpoint, and to see the result. Click on send, and in the window on the right will appear the xml text transformed by the xml transformation.

T3.jpg

If you take a look in the Instances List you can find the instances of service and the connector we have deployed.

T4.jpg

T5.jpg

Processes

Creation of a new process

The steps for creating a new process in Spagic 3 are:

  • Create a new BPMN process with Spagic Studio
  • Configure all the services that will be used by the process steps. Each service is configured in a declarative way.
  • Define the connectors that will be used to activate the process. Also this step is done in a declarative way.
    • Before to start the process design we need to install Graphviz and configure Spagic Studio to know the location of the Graphviz executable. Go to Windows->Preferences->Spagic and set Graphviz Dot Program Location(the path to graphviz dot program) and Graphviz Temp folder (the path for graphviz temporary folder, it must be created manually). Now to create a new Process, do right click on File --> New --> Spagic --> Spagic3 Bpmn Diagram Wizard.

      P1.jpg

      Set the name and location of the process you want to create. Give the name “process_sample” and place it under the folder Processes.

      P2.jpg

      Let's model a process: from the Palette on the right select the Empty Start, an Empty End and a Task. Replicate the item Task twice. Then link them with the Flow Connector. The first task is choosing the process technology: select the Pool properties and in the tab Technology choose JBPM runtime. To attach the services to the steps of the process you just have to drag and drop the services to the steps of the process, and choose “Create Automatic Task for Service”. The service will be attached to the task. For this example, we can drag and drop the service xslt_transformer to the task of the process we are drawing.

      P3.jpg

      P4.jpg

      The BPMN Diagram Wizard created automatically also the service needed in order to execute our process, it is under Services folder and it’s called process_sampleOrchestration.service. Then we have to create two connectors that can activate the process, and write its result somewhere. Let's create the input connector, in our case a file poller. To do this, right click on File --> New --> Spagic --> New Service. In the wizard set the placement of the connector under the directory WORKSPACE_DIR/project_sample/Connectors. Then go in the list and select Connectors --> File System Poller. Finally set the name of the connector writing “file_connector ” in the box name and click Finish.

      P5.jpg

      In the Service editor of the file_connector we have to define the ID, the directory to check in, and the target. Leave the default ADAPTER. The target field will be defined later.

      P6.jpg

      Then we have to create the output connector, in our case a Console connector. To do this, right click on File --> New --> Spagic --> New Service. In the wizard set the placement of the connector under the directory WORKSPACE_DIR/project_sample/Connectors. Then go in the list and click on Connectors, in the list below select the connector Console. Finally set the name of the connector writing “console_service ” in the box name and click Finish.

      P7.jpg

      This connector has no parameters, except the ID.

      Once created the start and end connector you can associate it to the process simply by drag and drop it on the process step. Once released it a popup menu will display, you simply need to click on "Bind Connector[connectorID] to Start/End event". In the image below an example of an end connector association is shown.

      P8.jpg

      This works only for connectors, if you try to drag and drop a service or another file, the association menu is disabled.

      Deployment

      Before deploying your process, you need to start up the service manager (if not already running).To deploy the process you have to call the deployment Wizard and choose the process and all the services related to it. Click on the deployment service icon that is in the main icon bar of Spagic 3 IconDeploy.jpg.

      In the wizard, there are all projects that are in workspace. Select the project project_sample and choose “Deploy processes and related services”. Then click to Next.

      DP1.jpg

      To deploy the process, check to the name of the service: in this way the process will be published on the MetaDB and will be deployed on the service manager.

      DP2.jpg

      The deployment wizard opens a new window where all the services and connectors that are used by the process are automatically selected, so we can simply click Finish if we want to deploy the process and all the services used. So the process of deployment starts: it appears the window in which is defined the name of the process and we have to click OK, then the deployment continues by itself.

      Test

      After the deployment of the process, we can test the whole process. We have the process whose beginning is implemented by a File Poller. So, we have to place an xml file under the folder C:/test . When the file is placed in the folder, the file poller will pick it up and send it to the main task that is the service xslt_transformer. After being transformed by the service that supports the task, the message will be displayed in the console. All the process, services and connectors will be monitored by the Spagic Console. It is remarkable that when you execute a process, and decide to monitor it in Spagic Console the services used by the process are monitored only within the process; you will not find their instances in the tabs Services and Connectors List.

      PT1.jpg

      PT2.jpg

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