Migrating WebSphere Application Server
 Technote (troubleshooting)
 
Problem(Abstract)
This is a Special edition of the Proactive email directed at clients that have not migrated to the current version of WebSphere Application Server V7.0.

The primary purpose of this material is to provide the information required to plan and execute a successful migration between different versions of IBM WebSphere Application Server. The goal is to provide a central set of information and references to enable customers of WebSphere Application Server to complete this migration themselves without requiring assistance. There has been significant improvement over time in the area of WebSphere Application Server migration, but there are still some technical aspects involved in any migration scenario.
 
Resolving the problem



IBM WebSphere Application Server Customer,

As a valued IBM WebSphere Application Server customer who has contacted technical support in the past, we would like to bring to your attention the following important information. WebSphere Application Server versions 5.0 and 5.1 have reached End of Support.

This special edition of the Proactive email is meant to assist you in planning and implementing an migrating to the most current version of WebSphere Application Server.

Beginning in 2009, we invite you to join us for a series of migration tech talks, intended to provide you with more in-depth information. Watch for this Webcast series in the WebSphere Application Server Featured Document.

While you rely on IBM for industry-leading technology, unanticipated migration issues can sometimes prevent companies from maximizing their return on investment. Issues such as unforeseen interoperability requirements, incorrect application settings, and production environment outages yield critical PMRs and reduce your satisfaction. Use the following migration guide to create a migration plan and prevent unexpected errors from occurring.


Pre-Migration Activities

Before migrating, there are a number of preparatory activities that each company should complete. Most importantly, be sure that migration is planned well in advance during annual IT planning sessions.

Hide details for Discuss software upgrades.Discuss software upgrades.

When is it the correct time to upgrade to new software versions? The answer varies by company, depending on system stability, required specifications, and need for new product features. To get started review the following resources:

Features and benefits of WebSphere Application Server V7.0
IBM WebSphere Application Server drives business agility by providing millions of developers and IT Architects with an innovative, performance based foundation to build, reuse, run, integrate and manage Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) applications and services; especially business critical and key company wide applications that require the highest levels of reliability, availability, security and scalability.

Knowledge Collection: Migration planning for WebSphere Application Server
A focused compilation of links to documents and resources to help you plan and perform your migration to IBM WebSphere Application Server.

Hide details for Consider end-of-life planning.Consider end-of-life planning.

IBM Software Support Lifecycle
As new software versions are released, previous versions progress out of service. It's important to keep an eye on these dates and upgrade your systems accordingly.


Hide details for Consider hardware and operating systems migrations.Consider hardware and operating systems migrations.

Before migrating to WebSphere Application Server V7.0, review the following resources:

System Requirements for WebSphere Application Server V7.0
List of Supporting Software for all Editions of IBM WebSphere Application Server V7.0.

WebSphere Application Server detailed system requirements
This list identifies the supported releases of WebSphere Application Server from which you can select specific detailed system requirements.


Hide details for Create an end-to-end, comprehensive migration plan.Create an end-to-end, comprehensive migration plan.

Creating a detailed and realistic migration plan with a critical path can help you stay on track and meet your software upgrade goals. You might want to review articles like:

IBM WebSphere Developer Technical Journal: The Ideal WebSphere Development Environment.
This article describes the ideal environment for WebSphere Application Server and closely related WebSphere products, such as WebSphere Portal. The word "environment" is used in the largest sense possible -- it includes virtually every aspect of enterprise application ownership, from development to production. This article explains why each stage is necessary, and ways of reducing costs, when appropriate.

WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Roadmap
This document outlines all documentation and support material available with the general release of IBM WebSphere Application Version 7.0. You can use this document to locate Application Server V7.0 content, including download instructions, fixes, and more.
Migrating from WebSphere Application Server for z/OS V5.0 to V6.0 - An Example Migration
With IBM WebSphere Application Server for z/OS version 6.0 on the shelves, the question of migrating a configuration from version 5.0 naturally comes to mind. This white paper will provide an illustration of an actual migration, step-by-step, so that you can see how it is accomplished and what some of the problems might be when you attempt it.


Hide details for Review proposed project time lines.Review proposed project time lines.

Ensure that the planned time line is accurate by assessing risk, project change, and interoperability requirements such as operating system upgrades, networking information, Java Virtual Machine (JVM) settings, and 3rd party application impacts.
Hide details for Assess the environment and mitigate known migration pitfalls.Assess the environment and mitigate known migration pitfalls.

Eliminate common errors before migrating by installing available fix packs and checking your system health. For example, you might want to review resources such as:

Recommended fixes for WebSphere Application Server
A comprehensive list of recommended, generally available (GA) fixes for IBM WebSphere Application Server releases. Fix Packs are cumulative. When a prerequisite or co-requisite Fix Pack is recommended, that specific Fix Pack or a later Fix Pack may be applied. For example: if Fix Pack 6.0.2.17 is required, applying Fix Pack 6.0.2.17, 6.0.2.19, 6.0.2.21 or a later Fix Pack is valid.

New IBM Education Assistant content for WebSphere Application Server V7.0
New online multimedia educational content was recently published on IBM Education Assistant (IEA) for IBM WebSphere Application Server V7.0.
Webcast replay: WebSphere Application Server Migration - Best Practices and Sources
This WebSphere Support Technical Exchange is designed to demonstrate how the migration from one version of IBM WebSphere Application Server to another has been a steadily improving story. Good planning and applying known Best Practices to your environment is critical to your success. Learn what you can do to make this job easier for yourself based on experiences of others.

IBM Education Assistant: Common mistakes and solutions for upgrade
A collection of documents that offer extra information and solutions related to the upgrade best practices tutorials.
Webcast replay: Malpractices: How Customers get in trouble
This WebSphere Support Technical Exchange conducted on 24 August 2006 presented by Katie Barrett, is designed to talk about the top problem causes that WebSphere Application Server Support SWAT team has observed when working with customers. You may not do them, or you may and not realize it yet.
These malpractices have also been observed by various other IBM Software Group SWAT teams.

Common malpractices whitepaper (Eleven ways to wreck a deployment)
The WebSphere Serviceability Team has the opportunity to visit customer sites to solve complex situations. Although this situation is not a regular practice, we extend our service when on-site support is absolutely necessary. After each visit, we document what we have done and observed on site. Often, we revisit our database to determine how and why our customers got into trouble. This white paper explains the practices and patterns that we have observed while assisting customers.

A quick guide for migrating to IBM WebSphere Application Server V6.0
This guide provides a high level overview of the process for migrating from IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 4.0 or 5.0 to WebSphere Application Server version 6.0.

During Migration

After completing the Pre-Migration activities, migration should consist of executing the plan and monitoring progress.

Hide details for WebcastWebcast

IBM Education Assistant: Installation best practices tutorials
Best practice tutorials to help minimize risk when performing a wide range of installation scenarios, available to you on demand. Start with this document to locate the module that resolves your problem.
Hide details for RedbooksRedbooks

WebSphere Application Server V6.1: System Management and Configuration
This IBM Redbook provides system administrators, developers, and architects with the knowledge to configure a WebSphere Application Server version 6.1 runtime environment, to package and deploy Web applications, and to perform ongoing management of the WebSphere environment.

WebSphere Application Server V6.1: Planning and Design
This IBM Redbook discusses the planning and design of IBM WebSphere Application Server version 6.1 environments. The content of this redbook is oriented to IT architects and consultants who require assistance when planning and designing small implementations to large and complex implementations.


Post Migration

At the completion of any project, review the execution of the migration plan.

Hide details for Recovering from Migration FailureRecovering from Migration Failure

How to restore a migrated configuration.
When performing an IBM WebSphere Application Server V5.0 to V5.1 Migration, it is recommended that you not have any region constraints in place, such as IEFUSI limits, as these can cause unpredictable JVM errors.
How IBM Premium Support Services can help with product upgrades and migration

Hide details for Client success storyClient success story

The Premium Support team helped a client upgrade their WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere MQ servers. The company encountered three critical issues during their preparation and was hesitant to migrate their WebSphere MQ configuration. Because their current release was going out of support within 5 months, the company engaged their Premium Support Manager to help complete the migration. The Premium Support Manager led the problem determination effort for the three critical issues, and prepared the customer environment for a successful upgrade by:
  • Identifying specific fix packs for WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere MQ that were crucial to the success of the upgrade.
  • Tuning the Java™ virtual machine (JVM) settings based on the company's load and performance requirements. The company had recently migrated from the Solaris platform to IBM AIX, but was still tuning the JVM based on the Solaris environment.
  • Notifying the company's technical team of potential certificate issues, and developed a plan to maintain stability in the production environments.
  • Without the guidance of the Premium Support Manager, the company would not have upgraded before the software was out of service. Additionally, they might have encountered serious errors and outages in their production environment.


Instead of encountering these types of migration issues on your own, ensure success when upgrading WebSphere Application Server Version by incorporating Premium Support Services into your software investment.

Contact us to learn how Software Premium Support Services can benefit your enterprise, regardless of the size of your footprint! Clients realize overall annual returns on their Premium Support investment ranging from 1.1 to 2.7 times costs, and an average of 1.7 times costs – a higher rate of return than is realized by most IT investments.

Read what our customers are saying:

IBM Software Premium Support services are designed for customers with complex environments, high availability requirements, or applications that use IBM Software middleware products in cutting-edge ways. The Premium Support team assists customers in proactive planning and best practices so you can anticipate and avoid problems. Each Premium Support customer is assigned a Premium Support Manager (PSM) who understands the customer’s needs, plans and IT environment. Companies who migrate with the help of a PSM display greater customer satisfaction and maximize their return on software investment.
 
 
 


Document Information


Product categories: Software > Application Servers > Distributed Application & Web Servers > WebSphere Application Server
Operating system(s): z/OS
Software version: 7.0
Software edition:
Reference #: 1329184
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Dec 2, 2008