Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform with Support by MidVision

My main use case for JBoss  is the administration of the application mostly.

My use case implies installation, configuration, and setting JBoss EAP  on different systems such as Linux, Windows and configuring the standalone or domain. This implies working with the web console, automation tools, and CLI. Additionally, it involves securing it, implementing authentication, RBAC or Role-Based Access Control, SSL, TLS, and so on. Performance tuning, thread pool management, logging, and clustering are mostly what I have done with the product.

JBoss  has positively impacted my organization by enabling deployment with enterprise extensions that were needed, particularly for integration with directory services. The difference came in implementation, and it offers a significant role in deployment that is scalable, especially when using a clustering way of working with it.

Specific outcomes include improved deployment times due to modular architecture leveraging lazy loading, which affects the time taken to deploy archive, war, or ear files, and the deployment success rate without server restarts. This impact has significantly enhanced stability and reduced downtime. Lower memory consumption during deployment has been apparent thanks to subsystem isolation, while asynchronous deployment handling has reduced spikes and led to fewer errors with better validation overlay support in cases of failed deployments or rollback events. Additionally, I have enabled quick fixes without full redeployments, particularly with frequent overlay-based updates.

In my experience, the best features JBoss offers include the modular architecture where the services are loaded when needed, and the cross-platform compatibility that allows it to run on any operating system that supports Java. The high availability and clustering, distributed support, session replication, and load balancing using Infinispan stand out. The security enhancement such as native support of OpenID Connect or JAS for flexible authentication is another outstanding feature. Others include flexible deployment modes and control of session affinity, which is fine-tune control over load balancer stickiness strategies for managing web sessions. Furthermore, global directory support allows for easily adding shared modules to deployments without class path. It stands out because it is a full-stack platform for building today's cloud-ready Java applications that are scalable and secure, blending enterprise-grade features with open-source flexibility. It is the top choice for organizations that need reliability today.

For underrated features, server group in domain mode allows grouping servers and applying configuration or deployments across them simultaneously. Not many people know about the CLI scripting with batch mode or Vault and Credential stores, where sensitive configuration values can be stored without hardcoding them into XML files. Additionally, built-in metrics and subsystem isolation, where every subsystem logging, messaging, or web services can be tuned independently, provide fine-grained control over performance and behavior. This is why subsystem isolation is important, and many administrators have not utilized it that way.

JBoss can be improved significantly, especially regarding deployment overlays that need updates to apply quick fixes or environment-specific changes without redirecting the archive. Enhancements in CLI scripting for automatic deployments or rollbacks and having an automated way of updating in the future for pack changes and version transitions are critical. More details about the update progress of package installations, artifacts downloading, as well as automation for modules and configurations applied are needed. Additionally, features for drifting and reverting would be worthwhile. We leverage domain mode with server groups to enforce synchronized rollout strategies across clusters without downtime or config drift.
Subsystem isolation doesn’t just reduce memory usage it allows us to apply GC tuning and diagnostic tracing at the service level, not the container level.
Our CLI scripting has been backed by pre-validated batch execution pipelines, eliminating human error during hotfix rollouts and version transitions.
Using overlays in conjunction with marker files, we've created an audit-friendly patching workflow that doesn't require full archive redeployments.
Changes in the future need to align with today's directions regarding the most evolutionary topics of Jakarta EE  progression. As Jakarta EE  progresses, newer specifications such as Jakarta Data and Jakarta NoSQL or AI-assisted diagnostics are necessary.
We’ve integrated JBoss metrics output with Prometheus exporters, enabling real-time subsystem-level observability and predictive scaling alerts.
By aligning with Jakarta EE's modular progression, we've positioned our stack to adopt emerging specs like Jakarta NoSQL without disruptive upgrades.
JBoss’s flexible threading model allowed us to apply workload-specific executor policies, preventing starvation in high-concurrency deployments.
More straightforward updates and rollbacks need to be done with the CLI, alongside improved observability, such as native support for OpenTelemetry  or enhanced DevOps tools with command-line interfaces and automation features. Support for YAML-based configuration is crucial, especially in a GitOps deployment style, along with cloud-native enhancements such as integration with Kubernetes , OpenShift, or newer technologies.
I would like to see JBoss reassess its executor configuration controls and consider offering default workload profiles such as I/O-bound, CPU-heavy, or async-first—to optimize threading strategies out of the box.
On the cloud-native side, it’s important to validate container readiness and expand operator-driven automation for Kubernetes , especially focusing on CRD evolution and stateless rollout support. I would also recommend improving workflow transparency by providing clearer feedback during pack updates, including artifact download status, config sync logs, and rollback outcome visibility.

I have been using JBoss for more than 10 years.

JBoss has remained reliable and fully functional across workloads, and I haven’t encountered any critical failures that would impact operations—especially when compared to prior solutions like Oracle WebLogic. Its resilience continues to make it a dependable backbone for enterprise middleware needs.

JBoss's scalability is effective. Its architecture is elastic, meaning it can handle growing workloads smoothly, whether it's scaling up for high demand or scaling out across clustered nodes. This elasticity makes it ideal for dynamic environments where resource usage can vary.

With newer Java versions, memory management has become noticeably more efficient. Improvements in garbage collection and memory recovery mean the platform performs well under load, with less risk of memory leaks or bottlenecks. This leads to better application stability and faster response times, especially during peak usage.

I would describe the experience as reliable and professional especially valuable when you're running JBoss in production and uptime matters. My experience with JBoss customer service and support has been dependable overall.  When using the Red Hat-supported version, the service team was responsive and knowledgeable.  For issues involving configuration, security realms, or integration quirks, I usually received clear guidance and practical solutions. The response time was more reasonable than questionable and in most cases, the support escalated technical problems efficiently when needed.
That said, for more complex or niche setup scenarios, I sometimes had to dig through documentation or lean on community channels like forums or GitHub  discussions.
The support is solid, but having technical familiarity helps speed things along.

Positive

Before JBoss, I used Oracle WebLogic. I switched primarily because Oracle changed their solution's availability as well as the way they handled licenses, which became unfriendly for customers, leading to extensive discussions regarding licensing costs. Therefore, the most crucial factor for switching was the company direction of Oracle.

When using JBoss in standalone mode, installation is quick and simple you can get it running with minimal effort, especially for development or testing. It’s also great that it works on any operating system that supports Java and compatibility isn’t usually an issue. However, things can get more complex when you start configuring domain mode, especially if you’re setting up host controllers, managing server groups, or trying to centralize control across multiple servers. Integrating with other services by setting up LDAP for authentication or configuring secure connections it requires more time and planning. Once preparing it for production use, tuning the JVM, thread pools, logging levels or isolating subsystems requires deeper understanding. Support-wise, JBoss offers a lot of documentation, but beginners might find it a bit hard to follow at first.
The community is active and helpful, especially on Red Hat channels, but solving specific issues sometimes means a bit of experimentation.
if you're planning to use JBoss seriously, make sure you invest time in learning the architecture, automate where possible using command-line scripts and start monitoring from the first implementation day. Those choices can make the difference between a smooth experience and a frustrating one.

We implemented JBoss using our in-house team. Our engineers were already familiar with Java-based middleware and deployment strategies, we didn’t need to rely on an external vendor. That gave us more control over the setup process, especially around automation, performance tuning, and integration with existing services. It also saved us from additional consulting costs and helped us tailor the implementation to fit our environment exactly as needed.

We’ve seen a marked reduction in downtime and a major boost in system stability, resulting in fewer outages. One of the biggest wins has been the cost savings especially compared to Oracle WebLogic thanks to JBoss’s more affordable licensing model, particularly when bundled with Red Hat or OpenShift.

Its scalable design, whether deployed as a standalone system, clustered setup or through modular subsystems, JBoss has allowed us to tailor infrastructure to match demand. Using deployment overlays and scripting, we've sped up rollouts and maintained performance through smart JVM tuning.

Overall, we calculated a payback period of just around 5 months and a few days which speaks volumes and it’s been a strategic move with clear financial benefits.

My advice is to carefully review the licensing options before setting up JBoss. While using the free version WildFly, most companies go for the paid Red Hat JBoss version, which comes with extra features and support. The setup itself isn’t expensive, but getting it right often involves extra costs for team training, automation setup and performance tuning. For could environments loke OpenShift or Kubernetes it is important to make sure your licensing covers that so you don’t run into surprises later.
It’s smart to plan ahead and look beyond the software cost your return on investment will likely come from less downtime, smoother deployments and better scalability.

Before choosing JBoss, I evaluated other options, but the only one that adequately covered all needed aspects from different customers was Oracle WebLogic.

My advice for others looking into using JBoss is to understand the architecture before deploying and to differentiate between standalone and domain mode. Automating early and using command-line based scripts is essential. Monitoring everything, tuning JVM and thread pools, and using deployment overlays for quick fixes to minimize downtime through patches is crucial as well. Careful planning regarding licensing is the most important factor for customers.

It is crucial to invest time into learning the security standards for authentication and encryption in JBoss. This flexibility offers more than legacy JS solutions.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate JBoss an 8 out of 10.

Private Cloud

Other

Our product is agnostic, so we have been using JBoss  as our default app server. We have been using it for over ten years.

JBoss  is more flexible and keeps up with modern technologies, supporting newer versions of different libraries. This is crucial as the lifecycle of these technologies is short, and staying up to date is essential to avoid issues.

They are trying to make it less heavyweight since app servers often deliver a lot of functionality. Still, if we aren't leveraging them, they can be too much for certain use cases. Making it lighter and more modular would probably be beneficial.

We have been using JBoss for over ten years.

I haven't dealt with their support or customer service. Some of our clients have bought support, but I haven't heard anything about its quality, so I cannot comment.

Positive

We deploy on app servers chosen by clients, including WebSphere and WebLogic, which are more expensive.

JBoss has a very easy way of setting up. We use it since it doesn't cause a lot of issues.

We just use JBoss and sometimes buy support for certain things. We are not affiliated with any vendors.

Having automation around JBoss is very beneficial. It allows for quick deployment and rolling out new applications easily. This flexibility translates to a lower total cost of ownership.

JBoss is the cheaper option out of the three when compared to WebSphere and WebLogic. Though I haven't done a detailed price comparison, the licensing fee is cheaper, and due to its flexibility, the maintenance is easier and cheaper.

We also considered WebSphere and WebLogic.

JBoss is definitely a flexible option and achieves what other app servers do but with more ease and support of new technologies. 

I rate JBoss nine out of ten.

Hybrid Cloud

Other

We are currently using Ansible  for Jira  installations and all the management tasks. We perform some tasks manually, however, Ansible  helps in automating some of these processes.

I find JBoss  to be lightweight and easier to manage compared to WebSphere. It allows for simple modification of applications and provides better clustering capabilities. The setup was straightforward and suitable for enterprise-level needs.

I would like to see improved booting of applications altogether on one page to manage all data instances from one location, similar to an AWS  console. 

Additionally, access and sessions could be improved in the scalable device.

I have used the solution for over three years.

I would rate the stability around eight out of ten. It is quite stable for our needs.

Scalability is a concern because it is not online, which limits online processes. This aspect can be improved.

Red Hat support is good. We receive support from RDS  and Red Hat, and the response time and quality meet our expectations.

Positive

There are no competitors. WebSphere is still there, and we also use it alongside JBoss .

The setup was simple.

The price is somewhat high for an enterprise, however, it depends on organizational negotiations. Additionally, Red Hat support can be costly.

I evaluated WebSphere.

Overall, I would rate the solution around seven out of ten. Despite some concerns, I would still recommend it.

What do you like best about the product?

Jboss is one of the best application servers available currently and cost effective and secure for all java based applications. User interface is very user friendly and integration with web servers are very easy. Also we can manage almost all tasks from the jboss console.

What do you dislike about the product?

Nothing as such. Sometimes if a JVM heap is high the management console becomes unstable.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

This is providing a secure platform for java based applications deployment.

What do you like best about the product?

One of the best application servers available in the market. Interface is very easy to explore having all related functionality written in all features. One can manage almost all configuration and deployment from the management console. Also applying patch is easy from console itself. Red Hat vendor support is really good. Integration with web server is also easy. Managing SSL configuration also pretty simple.

What do you dislike about the product?

Nothing as such but it would be great if host can be restarted or reconnected from management console itself without getting into CLI and perform restart.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

It is helping us on deploying and hosting our complex applications. It also has features to integrate with external APIs in the domain.xml itself so it's pretty easy manage an application in jboss.