Support for UnitedLinux 1.0 for Intel, zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries platforms
 Technote (troubleshooting)
 
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.
  • Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8
    Note: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 is powered by UnitedLinux. The standard (non-enterprise) edition of SUSE 8 is not 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.
 
Related information
Supported Prerequisites - 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 > General
Operating system(s): OS/400
Software version: 5.1
Software edition:
Reference #: 1159925
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Dec 7, 2006