by Karun Subramanian
on June 14, 2014
All passwords are encoded within the WebSphere XML Configuration files such as resources.xml, security.xml etc.
In order to decode the passwords, you can use a freely available tool found at “http://www.sysman.nl/wasdecoder/”. Type in the encoded password without the {xor} when using this site.
Alternatively, you can use the PasswordDecoder classfile provided with WebSphere library. With WAS 6.1, the following command will do the trick.
java -classpath=WASHOME/deploytool/itp/plugins/com.ibm.websphere.v61_6.1.200/ws_runtime.jar com.ibm.ws.security.util.PasswordDecoder “password with {xor}”
(You need the double quotes around the password)
Enjoy
by Karun Subramanian
on May 9, 2014
Dealing with SSL issues is no fun, especially when you have no debug logs and all you see is an ugly ‘Page Cannot be displayed’ in your browser.
Thankfully you can easily enable SSL debug on your Application to start seeing verbose logs that will clearly show the SSL handshake process. Here is how to do it:
Add the following JVM command line parameter and restart the Application Server:
-Djavax.net.debug=all
Note that since it is a Java System Property ( used by JSSE – Java Secure Sockets Extension), it will work on any JEE ApplicationServer such as WebSphere, WebLogic, Jboss, Tomcat etc.
How to do this in WebSphere ?
Depending on your WAS version, adding the above parameter is typically done by navigating to WAS Admin Console > Servers > Application Servers > YourServer > Process Management > Java Virtual Machine > Generic JVM arguments
The verbose logs will usually go to SystemOut.log
Note: If you are unable to update System Property via the java command line above for whatever reason, try OS level network packet monitoring tool first. Now what exactly are they? If you are running on Unix/Linux, try ‘snoop/tcpdump’. On windows, you are in luck – use Microsoft Network Monitor, a very powerful tool. You can also try wireshark (etheral) on Windows.
by Karun Subramanian
on May 6, 2014
So you want to get IBM certified. Congratulations. Great start.
But you are simply daunted by the amount of material you have to read. Just one aspect of WebSphere Application Server (for example Security) can take weeks to master. Who has time to read 1000+ pages IBM redbooks ?
What we need is a concise study guide that, when read once, should equip you to take on the exam. Good news. I’ve just put together exactly that. And yes, its free for you to download and use.
BTW, these are the notes I personally developed and used for my certification. I’m not going to promise you that you will get 100% if you just read my material. Because the certification expects hands on experience using the product. But I can tell you that if you sincerely study these, you will get through.
Note that I don’t have couple of chapters done yet – Problem determination and some portion of performance monitoring tools (actually these two areas are my favorite – wonder why I have kept them for last).
Without further due, here are the downloads. I sincerely hope this material does add some value to your career as a Middleware Administrator.
IBM Certified WAS 8.5 Administrator – Architecture
IBM Certified WAS 8.5 Administrator – Installation-Configuration
IBM Certified WAS 8.5 Administrator – Application Management
IBM Certififed WAS 8.5 Administrator – Security
IBM Certified WAS 8.5 Administrator – Intelligent Management
IBM Certified WAS 8.5 Administrator – Administrative Tools
Note: IBM has withdrawn the exam ‘C2180-318: IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment V8.5 Core Administration’ for which this material was developed. IBM has replaced the test with ‘C2180-401: IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment V8.5.5 and Liberty Profile, System Administration’. Please refer to the objectives for the new exam. Most of the material in this post should be useful though.
Learn más !!
