IBM BS029ML - WebSphere Portal Server Self Help Manual page 179

You access the XML configuration interface using a command-line tool. This
command-line client is a small separate program that connects to the server using a
HTTP/HTTPS connection. You can therefore use it remotely. You can use the XML
configuration interface to process portal resources, but not portal actions or tasks.
You can use the XML configuration interface to process the configuration of portal
resources that already exist, for example, pages. In this context, the XML configuration
interface processes derived resources, but it does not automatically create them.
The XML configuration interface does not reflect the access control authorization model
with delegated administration. You only need the access permission to use the XML
configuration interface. An administrator who works with the XML configuration interface
does not need access permission for the portal resources processed by the XML request.
(The reason for this is that access control gives users access permissions on actions and
not on resources.)
You can use the XML configuration interface for the following tasks:
Exporting, importing, and updating complete or partial portal installations. This can be for
the transfer or migration between machines.
Backing up the portal configuration. (Remember that XMLAccess is not a solution for the
complete Portal environment backup; for a complete Portal environment backup, refer to
Appendix B, "Maintenance: Fix strategy, backup strategy, and migration strategy" on
page 207.)
Overview of the portal configuration.
Cloning of a portal.
Copying parts of a configuration, such as specific pages, from one portal to another.
XMLAccess should only be used to transfer the initial content when moving from staging
to production. Subsequent differences and updates should be transferred using the
ReleaseBuilder.
Creating a portal configuration file by XML export. You do this by performing an XML
export.
Installing additional resources on a portal.
Performing recurring administration tasks in an automated and reproducible manner.
Performing these administrative tasks remotely, that is, from another server through an
HTTP connection.
For more information about how to use XML access and understand the complete process,
refer to the IBM Redbooks publication WebSphere Portal Version 6 Enterprise Scale
Deployment Best Practices, SG24-7387, found at:
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247387.pdf
Troubleshooting the XML configuration interface
The topic gives information to assist you with preventing, identifying, and correcting possible
problems that might occur when using the XML configuration interface.
Unexpected syntax errors.
A possible reason is that your files are being truncated before they are processed by the
portal. This can typically occur for the following reasons:
– Your input file contains invalid UTF-8 characters. A good way to check your input files is
to view them with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Microsoft Internet Explorer shows errors
if your input contains invalid characters.
Chapter 5. WebSphere Portal runtime and services
165