In addition to the information center, there are several Web-based
resources for researching and resolving problems related to the WebSphere
Application Server.
The WebSphere Application Server support page
The
official site for providing tools and sharing knowledge about WebSphere Application
Server problems is the WebSphere Application Server support page:
http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/support.html. Among the features it provides are:
- A search field for searching the entire support site for documentation
and fixes related to a specific exception, error message, or other problem.
Use this search function before contacting IBM Support directly.
- Solve a problem links take you to specific problems and resolutions
documented by WebSphere Application Server technical support personnel.
- The Download links provide free WebSphere Application Server maintenance
upgrades and problem determination tools.
- fixes are software patches which address specific WebSphere Application
Server defects. Selecting a specific defect from the list in the Fixes
by version page takes you to a description of what problem the fix addresses.
- Fix packs are bundles of multiple fixes, tested together and released
as a maintenance upgrade to WebSphere Application Server. Refresh packs are
fix packs that also contain new function. If you select a fix pack from this
page, you are taken to a page describing the target platform, WebSphere Application
Server prerequisite level, and other related information. Selecting the fix
list link on that page displays a list of the fixes which the fix pack
includes. If you intend to install a fix which is part of a fix pack, it
is usually better to upgrade to the complete fix pack rather than to just
install the individual fix.
Accessing WebSphere Application Server support page resources
Some
resources on the WebSphere Application Server support page are marked with
a key icon. To access these resources, you must supply a user ID and password,
or register if do not already have an ID. When registering, you are asked
for your contract number, which is supplied as part of a WebSphere Application
Server purchase.
WebSphere Developer Domain
The Developer Domains
are IBM-supported sites for enabling developers to learn about IBM software
products and how to use them. They contain resources such as articles, tutorials,
and links to newsgroups and user groups. You can reach the WebSphere Developer
Domain at http://www7b.software.ibm.com/wsdd/.
The IBM Support page
IBM Support has documents that
can save you time gathering information needed to resolve this problem. Before
opening a PMR, see the Must gather documents for information to gather to
send to IBM Support.