WebSphere Extended Document Root

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v6r0/topic/com.ibm.websphere.express.doc/info/exp/ae/rweb_jspengine.html
Use the extended document root facility when applications require access to files outside of the application Web archive (WAR) directory. This facility enables you to configure an application with one or more directory paths from which you can serve static files and JSP files. You can use this attribute when an application requires access to files that exist outside of the application Web archive (WAR) directory. For example, if several applications require access to a set of common files, you can place the common files in a directory to which you can link each application as an extended document root directory.

WAS 8 Plugin Configuration - a new tool

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v8r0/topic/com.ibm.websphere.nd.doc/info/ae/ae/tins_webplugins.html

For transitioning users: In WebSphere Application Server Version 7 and earlier, you use the Plug-ins installation wizard to install the plug-in module, configure the web server for communicating with the application server, and create a web server configuration definition in the application server if possible. In WebSphere Application Server Version 8 and later, you must first install the Web Server Plug-ins, the web server, and the WebSphere Customization Toolbox; then, you run the Web Server Plug-ins Configuration Tool that is contained in the toolbox to configure the web server to communicate with the application server and, if possible, create a web server configuration definition in the application server. If you know how to set up your initial web server and plug-in configuration manually, you can do so in Version 7 and Version 8.

WebSphere Plugin MaxConnections

The WebSphere Plugin Max Connections Parameter may be misunderstood. It does not signify the maximum number of connections that can be processed by a server; but the maximum number of connections that can be pending. If the number of connections pending is high, it means that WAS has started to slow down in processing requests. This is an indicator to how busy the server is.
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21318463