|
Problem(Abstract) |
The IBM® WebSphere® Application Server V5.1 supported
prerequisites page includes a list of officially supported operating
platforms supported for use with WebSphere Application Server. This
technote complements the information provided on the prerequisite page
concerning support for Linux®. |
|
|
|
Cause |
Clarification of WebSphere Application Server support for
certain Linux distributions on x86 (Intel®), zSeries®, iSeries®, and
pSeries® platforms.
The WebSphere
supported prerequisites page at:
(http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/doc/latest/prereq.html)
lists officially supported operating systems for use with WebSphere
Application Server.
The prerequisite pages for WebSphere Application Server V6.0 and beyond
do not list UnitedLinux among the supported operating systems. Instead,
the support status of individual Linux distributions are listed. Consult
the supported prerequisites page to determine the support status of a
particular Linux distribution for WebSphere Application Server V6
products.
|
|
|
Resolving the
problem |
Examples of Linux distributions powered by
UnitedLinux
The following list identifies some Linux distributions that are powered
by UnitedLinux. This list is not comprehensive. Refer to the support site
for your particular Linux distribution to determine if that release of
Linux is powered by UnitedLinux.
Examples of Linux distributions NOT powered by UnitedLinux
The following list shows some examples of Linux distributions which are
not powered by UnitedLinux. This list is not comprehensive.
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0
- SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9
WebSphere Application Server products support several non-UnitedLinux
operating systems. Refer to the supported prerequisites
page to determine whether a particular non-UnitedLinux operating
system is supported.
WebSphere on Linux: Support for x86 (Intel), zSeries, iSeries®, and
pSeries® systems
For the purposes of product support statements, similarly named Linux
distributions are considered distinct from each other on the x86 (Intel),
zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries hardware architectures. For example, support
for ExampleBrand Linux on x86 (Intel) systems does not imply
support for ExampleBrand Linux on zSeries systems. Support for
ExampleBrand Linux on zSeries does not imply support for
ExampleBrand Linux on iSeries or pSeries.
When consulting the WebSphere supported prerequisites page, note the
architecture for the version of Linux that is supported.
Linux distributions and UnitedLinux 1.0
Several Linux distributions are Powered by UnitedLinux 1.0. To
determine whether or not a particular distribution and version of Linux is
powered by UnitedLinux 1.0, check the support page provided by the company
supporting that product.
The supported prerequisites pages for current versions of WebSphere V5.0
products do not list specific distributions of Linux that are powered by
UnitedLinux 1.0. Instead, the supported prerequisites page lists the
support status of UnitedLinux 1.0. Note that certain distributions of
Linux Powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 SP2 are listed on the WebSphere V5.1
supported prerequisites page to help clarify the support for Linux
platforms with WebSphere V5.1.
For example, the SuSE product support pages for SuSE Linux Enterprise
Server 8 (SLES 8) state that the product is powered by UnitedLinux 1.0.
SLES 8 is powered by UnitedLinux 1.0, so SLES 8 is not specifically listed
on some WebSphere supported prerequisites pages. The support status for
UnitedLinux 1.0 shows the support status for SLES 8.
The UnitedLinux standard has been revised, and various service packs are
available to enhance Linux distributions powered by UnitedLinux 1.0. For
example, Service Pack 3 (SP3) is available for UnitedLinux 1.0. A Linux
distribution enhanced with UnitedLinux 1.0 Service Pack 3 is referred to
as UnitedLinux 1.0 SP3.
Support for UnitedLinux 1.0 x86 (Intel) systems
WebSphere Application Server version 5.0 introduced support for
all x86 (Intel) Linux distributions powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 as of
Fix Pack 1. Therefore, if a particular distribution of Linux is
powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 on Intel, it is supported starting with
WebSphere Application Server version 5.0.1.
WebSphere Application Server version 5.1 at its base level
supports all x86 (Intel) Linux distributions powered by UnitedLinux 1.0
SP2a on Intel.
Support for zSeries systems
WebSphere Application Server version 5.0 introduced support for
all zSeries Linux distributions powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 as of Fix
Pack 2. In other words, if a particular distribution of Linux is
powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 on zSeries, it is supported starting with
WebSphere Application Server version 5.0.2.
WebSphere Application Server version 5.1 at its base level
supports all OS/390-based Linux distributions powered by UnitedLinux
1.0 on OS/390®.
Support for iSeries and pSeries systems
WebSphere Application Server version 5.0 introduced support for
all iSeries and pSeries Linux distributions powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 as
of Fix Pack 2. In other words, if a particular distribution of
Linux is powered by UnitedLinux 1.0 on iSeries and pSeries, it is
supported starting with WebSphere Application Server version 5.0.2.
The prerequisite page states that this is supported on 64-bit hardware
only.
WebSphere Application Server version 5.1 at its base level
supports all iSeries and pSeries Linux distributions powered by
UnitedLinux 1.0.
General information about supported prerequisites
Supporting prerequisite page is the official support source
The WebSphere supported prerequisites page takes precedence over all
other WebSphere Application Server support statements, including this
document. If another document presents information that conflicts with the
WebSphere supported prerequisites page, the information on the WebSphere
supported prerequisites page overrides the conflicting statement.
WebSphere branded products, including WebSphere Application Server
WebSphere branded product refers to WebSphere Application Server
Enterprise Edition, WebSphere Portal Server, WebSphere Commerce Suite, and
other WebSphere products that are dependent on WebSphere Application
Server.
Other WebSphere branded products that are dependent on WebSphere
Application Server might have supported prerequisites pages of their own.
To use a WebSphere branded product, the prerequisites must be met for
both WebSphere Application Server and the
WebSphere branded product.
Be especially careful to check that the WebSphere branded product is
compatible with the fix pack level of the underlying WebSphere Application
Server. WebSphere Application Server might introduce support for a new
operating system at some point, but this does not imply that the WebSphere
branded product automatically supports that new operating system. The
following scenario helps illustrate the impact of this statement:
Assume that WebSphere Application Server introduces support for a new
operating system, newOS 2004, as of Fix Pack 10. A WebSphere
branded product (for example, WebSphere Portal Server), which is dependent
on WebSphere Application Server, supports operating system newOS 2004
only if the following two conditions are true:
- The supported prerequisite page for the WebSphere branded
product (in this case Portal Server) must explicitly state that it also
supports operating system newOS 2004.
- The supported prerequisite page for the WebSphere branded
product (Portal Server) must state that it supports WebSphere Application
Server at Fix Pack 10.
|
|
|
|