Cumulative Fix compatibility between WebSphere Application Server Base and Network Deployment Editions, and the Enterprise Edition
 Technote (troubleshooting)
 
Problem(Abstract)
Currently available Cumulative Fixes for Base and Network Deployment Editions are not always at the same level as the Cumulative Fixes available for Enterprise Edition.

For instance, at the time this technote was drafted, Cumulative Fixes 3, 4, and 5 are available for IBM® WebSphere® Application Server V5.0.2 Base and Network Deployment Editions. But, similarly-numbered Cumulative Fixes are not available for WebSphere Application Server Enterprise Edition V5.0.2.

This technote describes how to install current Cumulative Fixes for Base and Network Deployment Editions when Enterprise Edition is also installed.
 
Cause

Updates to WebSphere Application Server are issued following a Cumulative Fix strategy. For WebSphere Application Server version 5.0.2, Cumulative Fixes were released for Base, Network Deployment, and Enterprise product editions. The Cumulative Fixes for these editions are not necessarily released simultaneously. For this reason, the fix version number for Enterprise Edition might not match the fix version number for the Base or Network Deployment server with which it is installed.

For example, on 16 APR 2004, Cumulative Fix 5 for V5.0.2 (5.0.2.5) for Base and Network Deployment Editions was released; however, the latest Cumulative Fix available for Enterprise Edition on that date was 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 2. This means that version 5.0.2.5 for Base and Network Deployment Editions is compatible with Enterprise Edition 5.0.2.2.

On 30 JUN 2004, Cumulative Fix 6 for V5.0.2 (5.0.2.6) for Enterprise Edition was released. This is compatible with Cumulative Fix 6 for V5.0.2 (5.0.2.6) Base and Network Deployment Editions.

 
Resolving the problem
The latest Cumulative Fix available for Base and Network Deployment Editions is compatible with the latest Cumulative Fix available for Enterprise Edition. To install mixed Cumulative Fix versions, follow this specific installation procedure.

This procedure is not necessary for installing matching Cumulative Fix versions. For example, when installing Cumulative Fix 6 for Base or Network Deployment Edition and Cumulative Fix 6 for Enterprise Edition, simply install the Cumulative Fix for Base or Network Deployment first, then install the Cumulative Fix for Enterprise Edition.

General procedure

To install mixed Cumulative Fix versions on Base or Network Deployment and Enterprise Edition, the products must first be updated to synchronized Cumulative Fix versions. After the product editions are updated to synchronized version numbers, the new Cumulative Fix can be applied.

Example

This example outlines the procedure for updating Base or Network Deployment to 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 4 (V5.0.2.4) and Enterprise Edition to 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 2 (V5.0.2.2). As of early April 2004, these were the latest Cumulative Fix levels available. Therefore, these two Cumulative Fix levels are compatible.

In the context of Fix Packs and Cumulative Fixes, Enterprise Edition is sometimes referred to as PME, or Programming Model Extensions. Therefore, a Fix Pack labeled PME is intended for use with Enterprise Edition.

This example outlines the process of installing products, Fix Packs, and Cumulative Fixes to get to Base version 5.0.2.4 and Enterprise version 5.0.2.2. This outline can also be used for Network Deployment.

Note: Customers installing Base and Network Deployment for Linux® must install Network Deployment with Enterprise Edition before installing Base with Enterprise Edition. This is detailed in the release notes for Enterprise Edition in the V5.0 Enterprise Edition Information Center. Installing Network Deployment with Enterprise Edition first helps avoid an installation error in the installation of Enterprise Edition for Base.

  1. Download all the necessary Fix Packs and Cumulative Fixes outlined in the steps below. Additionally, download any Interim Fixes required for the WebSphere Application Server environment.

    Be aware that any Interim Fixes currently installed are removed when installing a Fix Pack or Cumulative Fix.

    Important: When applying any WebSphere Application Server update, it is important to use the latest available version of the updateInstaller. The version bundled with the Fix Pack or Cumulative Fix is not necessarily the latest version available. Download the latest version of the updateInstaller here.

  2. Install WebSphere Application Server Base, version 5.0.0.0.

    For some platforms, the initial installation version is higher than 5.0.0.0. In those cases, it is not necessary to apply some of the Fix Packs listed below. Also, this step and the next step can optionally be combined because the Enterprise Edition installer is capable of installing the Base product, if necessary (umbrella installation).

  3. Install WebSphere Application Server Enterprise Edition, version 5.0.0.0.

  4. Install Fix Pack 2 for WebSphere Application Server Base or Network Deployment, bringing the Base or Network Deployment version to 5.0.2.0.

  5. Install Enterprise Edition Fix Pack 2 for WebSphere Application Server Enterprise Edition, bringing the Enterprise Edition to version 5.0.2.0.

  6. Install 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 2 for WebSphere Application Server Base or Network Deployment, bringing the Base or Network Deployment to version 5.0.2.2.

    Note: Installing 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 2 for Base or Network Deployment is a required step, even though this Cumulative Fix Pack is replaced with Cumulative Fix 4 in a later step. This is a necessary part of synchronizing the Cumulative Fixes between Base and Enterprise Edition.

  7. Install Enterprise Edition V5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 2 for WebSphere Application Server Enterprise Edition, bringing the Enterprise Edition to version 5.0.2.2.

  8. Install base 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 4 for WebSphere Application Server Base or Network Deployment, bringing Base or Network Deployment to version 5.0.2.4.

    Base or Network Deployment is now at version 5.0.2.4 and Enterprise Edition is at a compatible version, 5.0.2.2.

Installing later Cumulative Fixes on Base or Network Deployment
When a later Cumulative Fix version is published for Base or Network Deployment, that Cumulative Fix can be applied on top of the existing Cumulative Fix.

The example process outlined above can be extended to illustrate this point. Base edition is at version 5.0.2.4 and the Enterprise Edition is at a compatible version, 5.0.2.2. In the example outlined below, the goal is to apply 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 5 to this environment.

5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 5 for Base edition was published on 16 APR 2004. A check of the Enterprise Edition support site shows that no new 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix for Enterprise Edition was published at that time. Therefore, the newly-published 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 5 for Base and Network Deployment editions is compatible with the existing 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 2.

5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 5 for Base and Network Deployment editions can be applied to the environment outlined in the example. There is no need to uninstall 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 4 for Base or Network Deployment. Furthermore, do not uninstall the 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix for Enterprise Edition before installing the Cumulative Fix for Base or Network Deployment edition.

After completing this process, Base is at version 5.0.2.5 and Enterprise Edition remains at a compatible version 5.0.2.2.


Installing later Cumulative Fixes on Enterprise Edition
When a later Cumulative Fix version is published for Enterprise Edition, the new Enterprise Edition cumulative must be re-synchronized with the Base or Network Deployment Cumulative Fix level. That is, the Cumulative Fix version on Base or Network Deployment edition must match the Enterprise Edition Cumulative Fix version being installed. Enterprise Edition Cumulative Fixes install only on a Base or Network Deployment edition with a matching Cumulative Fix version.

The example outlined above can be extended to illustrate this point. Base is at version 5.0.2.5 and Enterprise Edition is at a compatible version, 5.0.2.2. In the example below, the goal is to apply a new Cumulative Fix for Enterprise Edition, 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix n to this environment. In this example, n is used to represent the latest Cumulative Fix.
  1. Install the compatible 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix n for Base or Network Deployment edition. This Cumulative Fix can be applied on top of the existing 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix 5 in this example environment. There is no need to uninstall the existing Cumulative Fixes.
  2. Install the 5.0.2 Cumulative Fix n for Enterprise Edition.

    Base or Network Deployment is at version 5.0.2.n and the Enterprise Edition is at a compatible version, 5.0.2.n.
 
Related information
Cumulative Fix Strategy for Application Server
 
 
Cross Reference information
Segment Product Component Platform Version Edition
Application Servers WebSphere Application Server Enterprise
Application Servers Runtimes for Java Technology Java SDK
 
 


Document Information


Product categories: Software > Application Servers > Distributed Application & Web Servers > WebSphere Application Server > Install
Operating system(s): Windows
Software version: 5.0.2
Software edition:
Reference #: 1162831
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Jun 23, 2008