Build and install nodes

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

Build and install a custom authentication node

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

For example:
```
$ cd /Users/Forgerock/Repositories/am-external/openam-auth-trees/auth-nodes
```
Run the mvn clean package command.

The project will generate a .jar file containing your custom nodes. For example, auth-nodes-version.jar.
Copy the .jar file to the WEB-INF/lib/ folder where AM is deployed:
```
$ cp auth-nodes-version.jar /path/to/tomcat/webapps/openam/WEB-INF/lib/
```
Delete or overwrite older versions of the nodes .jar file from the WEB-INF/lib/ folder, to avoid clashes.
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:

Figure 1. Custom node in a tree

For more information on using the tree designer to manage authentication trees, see Configure authentication trees.

For information on upgrading custom nodes, see Upgrade nodes and change node configuration.