Cargo : Deploying to a running container

Cargo supports deploying to an already running container. This feature is called [Hot Deployment). You call it by using the (cargo:deploy) goal (e.g. mvn cargo:deploy).

Note that you can also do static deployment by simply defining the deployables to deploy in the <configuration> element as shown in the Starting and stopping a container tutorial. In that case the deployables will be deployed before the container starts.

Not all containers have a Deployer implemented

We haven't finished implementing Deployers for all containers yet. Please check if your favorite container has it implemented. If not you'll need to deploy your deployables by defining them in a standalone local configuration as shown in the Starting and stopping a container use case.

About WAR contexts

Many containers have their specific files for redefining context roots (Tomcat has context.xml, JBoss has jboss-web.xml, etc.). If your WAR has such a file, the server will most probably use the context root defined in that file instead of the one you specify using the CARGO deployer.

Using a local deployer

A local deployer is a deployer that deploys deployables on a Local Container (i.e. a container installed on the same machine where the deployer is executing). Thus you'll need to use a local container id in <containerId>. You can check that by reviewing the supported container list and selecting the container you wish to use.

Example of doing a local deploy to an existing configuration:

[...]
<configuration>

  <!-- Container configuration -->
  <container>
    <containerId>resin3x</containerId>
    <home>c:/apps/resin-3.0.9</home> or
    <zipUrlInstaller>
      <url>http://www.caucho.com/download/resin-3.0.9.zip</url>
      <downloadDir>${project.build.directory}/downloads</downloadDir>
      <extractDir>${project.build.directory}/extracts</extractDir>
    </zipUrlInstaller>
  </container>

  <!-- Configuration to use with the container -->
  <configuration>
    <type>existing</type>
    <properties>
      [...]
    </properties>
  </configuration>

  <!-- Deployer configuration -->
  <deployer>
    <type>local</type>
    <deployables>
      <deployable>
        <groupId>war group id</groupId>
        <artifactId>war artifact id</artifactId>
        <type>war</type>
        <properties>
          <context>optional root context</context>
        </properties>
        <pingURL>optional url to ping to know if deployable is done or not</pingURL>
        <pingTimeout>optional timeout to ping (default 20000 milliseconds)</pingTimeout>
      </deployable>
      <deployable>
        <groupId>ear group id</groupId>
        <artifactId>ear artifact id</artifactId>
        <type>ear</type>
        <pingURL>optional url to ping to know if deployable is done or not</pingURL>
        <pingTimeout>optional timeout to ping (default 20000 milliseconds)</pingTimeout>
      </deployable>
      [...]
    </deployables>
  </deployer>

</configuration>
[...]

As for the cargo:start goal if your project is a J2EE project then the generated artifact will be automatically added to the list of deployables to deploy.

Using a remote deployer

A remote deployer is a deployer that deploys deployables on a Remote Container (i.e. a container that is running and that has been started externally from Cargo). Thus you'll need to use an id for a remote container in <containerId> and a Runtime Configuration.

Example of doing a remote deploy using a runtime configuration:

[...]
<configuration>

  <container>
    <containerId>tomcat6x</containerId>
    <type>remote</type>
  </container>

  <configuration>
    <type>runtime</type>
    <properties>
      <cargo.remote.username>username</cargo.remote.username>
      <cargo.remote.password>password</cargo.remote.password>
    </properties>
  </configuration>

  <deployer>
    <type>remote</type>
    <deployables>
      <deployable>
        <groupId>war group id</groupId>
        <artifactId>war artifact id</artifactId>
        <type>war</type>
        <properties>
          <context>optional root context</context>
        </properties>
        <pingURL>optional url to ping to know if deployable is done or not</pingURL>
        <pingTimeout>optional timeout to ping (default 20000 milliseconds)</pingTimeout>
      </deployable>
      [...]
    </deployables>
  </deployer>

</configuration>
[...]

As you can see the information to connect and do the deployment to the remote container is specified in the runtime configuration (cargo.remote.username and cargo.remote.password). The properties to define are deployer-dependent.

Here's an another example, this time deploying the current project's artifact to a running JBoss 4.2.x container using a default 8080 port and default authorizations:

[...]
<configuration>
  <container>
    <containerId>jboss42x</containerId>
    <type>remote</type>
  </container>
</configuration>
[...]

Just type mvn cargo:deploy. Notice that we haven't specified a <deployer> element nor a <configuration> one. This is because the plugin is smart enough to create default instances for you. Cool, isn't it?