WebLogic server Life Cycle:

Starting state:

During the starting state that instances ready the domain configuration data from its configuration directory. Whereas the Manager server will get their configuration data from Admin server. It is in this state that the instance the basic services such as the kernal and execute queues, the container service for logging and Node manager service. The server also deploy during this phase.

Stand by: 

In this state the server Instance will allow you to issue just to administrative requests. You can me the server state either running or shutdown state. Normally the server instance will automatically transition through the stand by state to next stage unless you start the instance with the start in stand by command.

Note: All ports are closed in this stat. But you can quickly transition to a running state.

Admin mode: 

The admin mode permits only Administrative task, deploying applications with those applications being able to only request from users with the admin and App tester roles. Running a server in admin mode is also useful when trying to diagnose problems with application gone badly.

Note: Servers will run in admin mode when there is problem with deployed application or JDBC connection pool.we can resume the server from Admin state to resume state.

Resuming state:

This is purely transitional state the server instance goes through after it transitions automatically through Admin state or you issue the resume command after first placing the instance in the stand by or Admin state. You can do this state change from command line or through the Admin console.

Running state: 

This is off course final state the server instance reaches after you either issue a start up command or resume command to move the server out of the Admin or stand by state. It is in the running state that the server can accept the service client request for it services.