How to setup a WebDAV based document repository on GlassFish?

WebDAV has several advantages over others, and here are some of them:

• It is HTTP extension, so it should be firewall friendly, and it can make use HTTPS
• It is supported by main stream OS, and application servers such as GlassFish
• It supports check-in/check-out of a document (locking)

To setup a WebDAV based document repository on GlassFish, follow steps below:

1. create a web app project in NetBeans;
2. add web.xml and glassfish-web.xml files to the project;
3. configure the WebdavServlet follow the GF manual;
4. add File Realm users via GF admin console if necessary;
5. deploy the project onto GF;

To edit a file in the repository, you need a client. Windows' 'Web Folder' has problem in performance, and difficulty on Windows 7 (unless you install a patch originally for XP). I choose BitKinex, and here is how to:

1. download and install BitKinex on your PC;
2. create a new WebDAV connection;
3. set your server address and port;
4. set security to SSL;
5. put your credential in places;
6. in Site Map, set path to /<webapp>/webdav/

Once you have connected, you will see your whole webapp mounted under webdav node, which is editable.