WebSphere Application Server Fix Pack installation might, in some circumstances, incorrectly update the IBM HTTP Server
 Technote (troubleshooting)
 
Problem(Abstract)
IBM WebSphere Application Server Fix Packs come with updates to the IBM HTTP Server. In some instances, this can down level code that is installed on your server.
 
Cause
WebSphere Application Server Fix Packs come with an update for the IBM HTTP Server. The version of the update is the same as the version that would install with the WebSphere Application Server installation program. If you have installed a version other than the one that comes as part of the WebSphere installation program, you might corrupt your IBM HTTP Server installation.

This has become particularly evident with the advent of WebSphere Application Server V5.0 and V5.1 releases where you are greatly increasing your use of IBM HTTP Server V2.0 releases. However, it is also a problem where any version of the IBM HTTP Server is used that is outside of the normal installation of WebSphere, as would using the 1.3.28 version with WebSphere Application Server V4.0 where it is shipped with 1.3.19. The readme for the Fix Packs does mention that the Fix Pack is only for an installation of the IBM HTTP Server that was installed with the WebSphere installation.
 
Resolving the problem
The solution is to use the IBM HTTP Server Support page as a resource for updating your current version of the IBM HTTP Server when a version has been installed that did not come with your WebSphere Application Server installation. The IBM HTTP Server is installed as a full installation and can be found from the Downloads section on the main IBM HTTP Server Support page.

IBM HTTP Server and plug-in only installation
In the case of a remote Web server plug-in only installation with the IBM HTTP Server, you can still install the WebSphere Application Server Fix Packs. In this scenario, you would choose to update the application server. The Fix Pack installation code knows to only update the plug-in components and then you could also specify the updating of your IBM HTTP Server since it was installed as part of the WebSphere installation.

Updated functionality in the V5.1.1.3 Update Installer
Starting with the Update Installer for WebSphere Application Server V5.1.1 Cumulative Fix 3 (5.1.1.3), the capability for the Update Installer to review the directory where you specify to update the IBM HTTP Server has been added. Below is the panel showing a user specifying an IBM HTTP Server V2.0 installation for the 5.1.1.0 Fix Pack.



If a version is found other than the one that is installed with the WebSphere installer, the following dialog box is displayed:



How does this apply to the installation of Fix Pack 1 (5.1.1) if the functionality did not exist before Cumulative Fix 3 (5.1.1.3)?
Every fix, Fix Pack and Cumulative for V5.1, that is downloaded from the IBM Support pages has an associated link for the Update Installer download. Starting with releases of V5.0, the installation of fixes, Cumulative Fixes and Fix Packs is done with the most current version of the Update Installer. To download, see the V5.1 Update Installer page.

For your convenience, the latest copy of the Update Installer that was available when a cumulative or Fix Pack is released is included in the Cumulative or Fix Pack download. The functionality to check for the version of the IBM HTTP Server became available in the version of the Update Installer that was distributed in Cumulative Fix 3 (5.1.1.3). Instructions on all cumulative, Fix Packs and fixes specify that the latest Update Installer should be used to apply the fix. This allows IBM to fix defects found in the Update Installer as they are encountered. So defects found at the 5.1.1.0 level might apply even if you are applying 5.1.0.1, but if you download the latest Update Installer, you would not encounter them.

This practice of downloading the latest Update Installer only started at the V5.0 level and is not applicable for older versions of the WebSphere Application Server.
 
 
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): AIX
Software version: 5.1
Software edition:
Reference #: 1199595
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Mar 31, 2005