WebSphere Application Server V6.1.0.11 and later, 32-bit edition, is supported on Linux platforms using 64-bit kernels on x86-64 (Intel EM64T / AMD Opteron) hardware
 Technote (troubleshooting)
 
Problem(Abstract)
IBM® WebSphere® Application Server V6.1.0.11, 32-bit edition, for Linux® platforms is supported on systems using a 64-bit kernel when using x86-64 (Intel® EM64T / AMD Opteron) hardware architecture.

However, earlier versions of the 32-bit edition product (including all V5.1 and 32-bit V6.0 versions) are not supported on a 64-bit kernel on that hardware architecture. WebSphere Application Server 32-bit editions of earlier versions must be installed on a 32-bit kernel on that hardware architecture.
 
Cause
WebSphere Application Server 32-bit edition for Linux platforms is based on a 32-bit version of the Java™ SDK. Prior to V6.1.0.11, WebSphere Application Server 32-bit edition was not certified for use on 64-bit kernels running on Linux systems booted with a 64-bit kernel on x86-64 based hardware architecture. The "x86-64 architecture" represents processor architectures including Intel EM64T (utilized by Intel Xeon processors), and also AMD64 (utilized by AMD Opteron processors).
Therefore, WebSphere Application Server 32-bit edition is not supported when running on a Linux 64-bit kernel on x86-64 based hardware architecture prior to version 6.1.0.11. In order for the 32-bit edition to be supported on Linux using on x86-64 based hardware, it is either necessary to boot the operating system using a 32-bit kernel, or upgrade the product to version 6.1.0.11 and boot the operating system with either a 32-bit kernel or a 64-bit kernel.

Concerning WebSphere Application Server V5.0 and V5.1
WebSphere Application Server V5.0 and V5.1 are based on 32-bit Java™ SDKs, and therefore neither V5.0 nor V5.1 are supported on 64-bit Linux kernels using x86-64 based hardware architecture.

Concerning WebSphere Application Server V6.0
WebSphere Application Server V6.0 products available in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. The 32-bit editions of WebSphere Application Server V6.0 are not supported for use with 64-bit Linux kernels using x86-64 based hardware architecture. Instead of installing the 32-bit edition of WebSphere Application Server V6.0 in such an environment, install the 64-bit edition, or boot the operating system with a 32-bit kernel.

Concerning WebSphere Application Server V6.1
WebSphere Application Server V6.1 products available in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. The 32-bit edition of the product, prior to V6.1.0.11, is not supported for use on Linux booted with a 64-bit kernel on x86-64 hardware architecture. Upgrading the 32-bit product to V6.1.0.11 will bring the product to a supported level.


The following table indicates whether various product versions are supported on particular kernel levels. This table applies to WebSphere Application Server Express Edition, Base Edition, and Network Deployment Edition.

Product Version Product Edition Linux Kernel Hardware Is it supported?
V5.1
(all versions)
32-bit 32-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Supported
V5.1
(all versions)
32-bit 64-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Not supported
V6.0
(all versions)
32-bit 32-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Supported
V6.0
(all versions)
32-bit 64-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Not supported
V6.0
(all versions)
64-bit 64-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Supported
V6.1
(all versions)
32-bit 32-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Supported
V6.1.0.0, V6.1.0.1, V6.1.0.3, V6.1.0.5, V6.1.0.7, V6.1.0.9 32-bit 64-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Not supported
V6.1.0.11 and later 32-bit 64-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Supported
V6.1
(all versions)
64-bit 64-bit x86-64: Intel EM64T and AMD64 Supported
 
Resolving the problem
For WebSphere Application Server V5.1, it is necessary to use the product on a Linux platform booted with a 32-bit kernel.
For WebSphere Application Server V6.0, either install and use the 64-bit edition of the product on a Linux platform booted with a 64-bit kernel, or install the 32-bit edition of the product on a Linux platform booted with a 32-bit kernel when using x86-64 based hardware architecture.

For WebSphere Application Server V6.1, either install and use the 64-bit edition of the product on a Linux platform booted with a 64-bit kernel, or install the 32-bit edition product on a Linux platform booted with a 64-bit kernel, and upgrade the product to version 6.1.0.11 prior to starting any application server processes.

If issues are encountered while installing WebSphere Application Server V6.1, 32-bit edition, on a Linux platform booted with a 64-bit kernel, refer to the technote, "A supported operating system architecture is not detected when installing 32-bit editions on newly-supported 64-bit operating systems". That technote explains how to adjust the prerequisite checker to accept this newly-supported configuration. Alternatively, it is possible to specify the -OPT disableOSPrereqChecking="true" option during a silent installation


Additional Information
For more information about the hardware and software requirements for all versions of WebSphere Application Server, refer to the Detailed System Requirements page.

The 32-bit edition of WebSphere Application Server V6.0 and V6.1 cannot be "converted" to 64-bit by installing a 64-bit maintenance pack. When the 32-bit edition of WebSphere Application Server V6.0 or V6.1 is installed, that installation instance is committed to 32-bit mode. The 32-bit edition of WebSphere Application Server V6.0 must be installed on a 32-bit based Linux kernel when using x86-64 based hardware architecture. The 32-bit edition of WebSphere Application Server V6.1 is supported when running on a 64-bit kernel, but the product must be updated to version 6.1.0.11.

This document applies to environments using Linux on x86-64 based hardware. For information regarding support of Linux platforms using non-x86-64 hardware architecture (such as PowerPC®, iSeries™, or zSeries®), refer to the Detailed System Requirements page. For information regarding software support of other UNIX®-based platforms (such as AIX®, HP-UX, or Solaris), refer to that same page.
 
 
Cross Reference information
Segment Product Component Platform Version Edition
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): Linux
Software version: 6.1
Software edition:
Reference #: 1237439
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Sep 2, 2007