System and method for supporting patching in a multitenant application server environment

A method for patching in a multitenant application server environment, including support for session handling and incompatibility, comprising:

• providing a plurality of managed server instances that operate within an application server environment as part of a domain that includes a plurality of partitions, wherein each partition, of the plurality of partitions, provides a subdivision of the domain;
• and
• updating, using a patching process, the plurality of managed server instances while providing support for session handling and incompatibility, including, during rollout of a patch to the plurality of managed server instances,
• loading session data associated with a plurality of replicated sessions at particular managed server instances of the plurality of managed server instances,
• receiving a request associated with a particular session,
• attempting to load the particular session at a first managed server instance of the plurality of managed server instances associated with a first patch version, and
• if the first managed server instance of the plurality of managed server instances cannot load the particular session, due to an incompatibility in patch version, then directing the particular session to be loaded at a second managed server instance of the plurality of managed server instances associated with a second patch version.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform a method comprising:

• providing a plurality of managed server instances that operate within an application server environment as part of a domain that includes a plurality of partitions, wherein each partition, of the plurality of partitions, provides a subdivision of the domain;
• and
• updating, using a patching process, the plurality of managed server instances while providing support for session handling and incompatibility, including, during rollout of a patch to the plurality of managed server instances,
• loading session data associated with a plurality of replicated sessions at particular managed server instances of the plurality of managed server instances,
• receiving a request associated with a particular session,
• attempting to load the particular session at a first managed server instance of the plurality of managed server instances associated with a first patch version, and
• if the first managed server instance of the plurality of managed server instances cannot load the particular session, due to an incompatibility in patch version, then directing the particular session to be loaded at a second managed server instance of the plurality of managed server instances associated with a second patch version.