The Java Web Console provides a common location for users to
access web-based system management applications. You access the web console
by logging in through a secure https port with one of several
supported web browsers. The single entry point that the web console provides
eliminates the need to learn URLs for multiple applications. In addition,
the single entry point provides user authentication and authorization for
all applications that are registered with the web console.
All web console-based applications conform to the same user interface guidelines, which enhances ease of use. The web console also provides auditing of user sessions and logging service for all registered applications.
The Java Web Console is a web page where you can find the Sun system management web-based applications that are installed and registered on your system. Any compliant J2EE™ web application can register with the web console to make itself available to authenticated and authorized users. Registration is automatically a part of an application's installation process. Thus, registration requires no administrator intervention.
The Java Web Console provides the following:
A single point of entry for login and the launching of browser-based system management applications
The Java Web Console is Sun's current direction for system management applications. The console provides a central location from which you can start browser-based management applications simply by clicking the application names. No compatibility exists between the Java Web Console and the Solaris Management Console. The Java Web Console is a web application that you access through a browser, and Solaris Management Console is a Java application that you start from a command line. Because the consoles are completely independent, you can run both consoles on the same system at the same time.
Single sign-on through a secure https port
Single sign-on in this context means that you do not have to authenticate yourself to each management application after you authenticate yourself to the web console. You enter your user name and password just once per console session.
Dynamically organized and aggregated applications
Applications are installed and displayed on the console launch page under the category of management tasks that is most applicable. Categories include the following:
Systems
Storage
Services
Desktop applications
Other
A common look and feel
All web console applications use the same user interface (UI) components and behavior, thereby reducing the learning curve for administrators.
Standard, extensible authentication, authorization, and auditing mechanisms
The Java Web Console supports Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM), role-based access control (RBAC) roles, and Basic Security Module (BSM) auditing.
The Java Web Console includes the following management commands:
smcwebserver – This command starts and stops the console's web server.
wcadmin – Starting with the Solaris Express 5/06 release, this command is used to configure the console, and to register and deploy console applications.
smreg – If you are not running at least the Solaris Express 5/06 release, this command is used to register all console applications.
Starting with the Solaris Express 5/06 release, use this command only to register legacy applications that were created for a version of the console that is not at least Java Web Console 3.0.
The commands are used to perform various tasks that this chapter describes.
For more information about each command, see the smcwebserver ( 1M ) , wcadmin ( 1M ) , and smreg ( 1M ) man pages.