New to portlets

[Avishek Banerjee]

Hi,

I am absolutely new to portlets. I have a few questions.

1. What is special about a portal server. How is it different from a web-server or app-server.
2. What is needed for a portlet container run. I mean is it required that it run inside some web-server, app-server or portal server.
3. Does Tomcat have a portlet container plugin?

Thanks in advance

[Cameron Wallace McKenzie]

Why do I feel like I'm doing a student's homework?

1. What is special about a portal server. How is it different from a web-server or app-server.

A portal factors out the look and feel into skins and themes, and allows a portlet developer focus on delivering highly targeted content, through a portlet. The portal also provides facilities for personalization and customization beyond what you see in a typical J2EE/web application.

Here's a free presentation on what a portal is:

What is a Portal Server? What is a portal?


2. What is needed for a portlet container run. I mean is it required that it run inside some web-server, app-server or portal server.

The portal builds heavily upon the Servlet/JSP API. The portal container will run on top of a Servlet/JSP container. This is certainly true with WebSphere and Tomcat/JetSpeed.


3. Does Tomcat have a portlet container plugin?

JetSpeed2 is an apache project that provides a portlet container that runs on Tomcat. It's a easy download, and easy install.

How to install the JetSPeed2 Portal Server from Apache

-Cameron McKenzie

[Avishek Banerjee]

Thanks Cameroon.

And just to confirm, you didn't do a students homework. Actually, its my first day with portlets. And all the bombardments at java.sun.com really dazed me. So, I decided to come to the experts who realize that the whole world is not equally expert.

Thank You.
[ April 20, 2007: Message edited by: Avishek Banerjee ]