---
title: Build and install Java nodes
description: This section explains how to build and install Java nodes for use in authentication trees.
component: pingam
version: 8.1
page_id: pingam:auth-nodes:build-install-nodes
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingam/8.1/auth-nodes/build-install-nodes.html
keywords: ["Authentication", "Extensibility", "Customization", "Nodes & Trees"]
section_ids:
  proc-build-install-custom-node: Build and install a custom Java node
---

# Build and install Java nodes

This section explains how to build and install Java nodes for use in authentication trees.

## Build and install a custom Java node

1. Change to the root directory of the Maven project of the custom nodes.

   For example:

   ```bash
   $ cd /Users/Ping/Repositories/am-external/openam-auth-trees/auth-nodes
   ```

2. Run the `mvn clean package` command.

   The project will generate a `.jar` file containing your custom nodes. For example, `auth-nodes-version.jar`.

3. Include the custom `.jar` file in the AM `.war` file, as described in [Customize the AM `.war` file](../installation/customize-openam.html).

   |   |                                                                                                               |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   |   | Delete or overwrite older versions of the nodes `.jar` file from the `WEB-INF/lib/` folder, to avoid clashes. |

   |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
   | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   |   | If you are using custom nodes with version `0.0.0` in trees, you must remove them from the trees before restarting AM and reinsert them after the restart. If you do not do this, the entire tree cannot be viewed in the UI after the restart. |

4. Restart AM for the new nodes to become available.

   The custom authentication node is now available in the tree designer to add to authentication trees:

   ![Custom nodes appear alongside built-in authentication nodes in the Administration console.](_images/auth-node-custom-installed.png)Figure 1. Custom node in a tree

   Learn more about using the tree designer to manage authentication trees in [Create a tree in the UI](../am-authentication/create-auth-trees.html#create-authn-tree-ui).

For information on upgrading custom nodes, refer to [Upgrade nodes and change node configuration](node-upgrade.html).