karaf/README.txt

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Welcome to Apache ServiceMix Kernel 
====================================
Apache ServiceMix Kernel is a small OSGi based kernel which provides a 
lightweight container onto which various bundles can be deployed.

The following features are included:
    * Hot deployment: ServiceMix Kernel supports hot deployment of OSGi bundles by monitoring
      jar files inside the [home]/deploy directory. Each time a jar is copied in this folder,
      it will be installed inside the runtime. You can then update or delete it and changes will
      be handled automatically. In addition, the Kernel also supports exploded bundles and custom
      deployers (a spring one is included by default).
    * Dynamic configuration: Services are usually configured through the ConfigurationAdmin OSGi
      service. Such configuration can be defined in ServiceMix Kernel using property files inside
      the [home]/etc directory. These configurations are monitored and changes on the properties
      files will be propagated to the services.
    * Logging System: using a centralized logging back end supported by Log4J, ServiceMix Kernel
      supports a number of different APIs (JDK 1.4, JCL, SLF4J, Avalon, Tomcat, OSGi)
    * Provisioning: Provisioning of libraries or applications can be done through a number of
      different ways, by which they will be downloaded locally, installed and started.
    * Native OS integration: ServiceMix Kernel can be integrated into your own Operating System as
      a service so that the lifecycle will be bound to your Operating System.
    * Extensible Shell console: ServiceMix features a nice text console where you can manage the
      services, install new applications or libraries and manage their state. This shell is easily
      extensible by deploying new commands dynamically along with new features or applications.
    * Remote access: use any SSH client to connect to the kernel and issue commands in the console
    * Security framework based on JAAS
    * Managing instances: ServiceMix Kernel provides simple commands for managing instances of
      ServiceMix Kernel. You can easily create, delete, start and stop instances of ServiceMix
      Kernel through the console.

Getting Started
===============
For an Apache ServiceMix Kernel source distribution, please read 
BUILDING.txt for instructions on building Apache ServiceMix Kernel. 

For an Apache ServiceMix Kernel binary distribution, please read 
RELEASE-NOTES.txt for installation instructions and list of supported 
and unsupported features.

Alternatively, you can also find out how to get started here:
    http://servicemix.apache.org/kernel/

If you need more help try talking to us on our mailing lists
    http://servicemix.apache.org/mailing-lists.html

If you find any issues with ServiceMix Kernel, please submit reports 
with JIRA here:
    http://issues.apache.org/activemq/browse/SMX4KNL

We welcome contributions, and encourage you to get involved in the 
ServiceMix community. If you'd like to learn more about how you can 
contribute, please see:
    http://servicemix.apache.org/contributing.html

Many thanks for using Apache ServiceMix.


The ServiceMix Team
http://servicemix.apache.org/team.html