The launchpad console is the starting point for installing
IBM WebSphere Application Server - Express.
Before you begin
Supported configurations:
sptcfg
The launchpad is a Web application. Before using the
launchpad, you must have a supported Web browser.
Avoid trouble: You cannot run the launchpad remotely to install
a product. Only local use of the launchpad is supported.
gotcha
About this task
WebSphere® Application Server is
an integrated platform that contains an Application Server, a set
of Web development tools, a Web server, and additional supporting
software and documentation. The launchpad is the single point of reference
for installing the entire Application Server environment.
The
launchpad can install the tools component in the primary packet of
disks. The launchpad on the separate Rational® Web Developer disk can install the tool on Windows and Linux
(Intel) systems.
Links in the navigation
frame of the product disk launchpad enable you to:
- View the Solution installation diagrams
- Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server - Express
- Launch the installation wizard for IBM HTTP Server
- Launch the installation wizard for Web server plug-ins
- Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Client
Links in the
navigation frame of the tools disk launchpad enable you to launch
the installation wizard for Rational Web Developer on Linux (Intel)
and Windows platforms.
There is no WebSphere launchpad for the
disks in the secondary packet, such as the DB2 product disk.
Procedure
- Log on as root on an operating system
such as AIX or Linux, or as a member of the administrator group on
a Windows system.
- Start the launchpad.
The launchpad program
is available in the root directory of the product disk or the downloaded
installation image. You can start the launchpad manually using a fully
qualified command instead of changing directories to the disk and
running the command locally from the root directory:
- The launchpad opens in the language of the locale setting
of the machine.
- Use the launchpad to access the product overview, the readme
file, and the installation guide.
Each launchpad panel
for an installable component includes a link to the component installation
program and to component documentation for installation and configuration.
For example, links on the WebSphere Application Server
- Express panel enable you to:
- Launch the installation wizard.
- View the product overview.
- View the installation guide.
- View the readme file.
- Click Launch the installation wizard for ... to
launch the installation wizard for the installable component that
you select.
Results
This procedure results in using the launchpad to start the
installation and to access information through a browser.
Troubleshooting
If you
can start the launchpad, but clicking a link does not resolve to a
page in the launchpad, you might have the media for the wrong operating
system in the disk drive. Check the validity of the media.
If you are attempting to use the Mozilla
browser on a Windows system, Internet Explorer might open instead.
The launchpad does not recognize Mozilla as the default browser if
Internet Explorer is also installed on the same system. The launchpad
is fully functional with Internet Explorer, so no action is required.
Issue
the following case-specific command at a command prompt, to create
an environment variable that forces the use of Mozilla:
set BROWSER=Mozilla
If the launchpad links still do not work after
following this procedure, refer to the following locations of the
component installation programs and launch the programs directly.
- Welcome page links
The fastpath links to installable components are:
Installable component |
Directory |
Program |
WebSphere Application Server - Express |
WAS |
install |
IBM HTTP Server |
IHS |
install |
Web server plug-ins |
plugin |
install |
Application Client |
AppClient |
install |
Rational Web Developer |
setup |
setup |
Mount the disk for Rational Web Developer to use its launchpad.
- Solution installation diagrams
- Solution installation diagrams show application server topologies
that you create using links to component installation programs.
See
the installation scenarios in Planning to install WebSphere Application Server - Express.
- WebSphere Application Server - Express installation
- Links on the page include:
- Launch the installation wizard...
-
Installable component |
Directory |
Program |
WebSphere Application Server - Express |
WAS |
install |
- View the product overview...
- /WAS/docs/InstallGuide_en.html#over
This
is a section of the Getting Started guide. Language
versions of this information are available only in the online information
center.
- View the installation guide...
- /WAS/docs/InstallGuide_en.html#install
This
is the Getting Started guide.
- View the readme file...
- /WAS/readme/readme_en.html
The Getting Started guide is
also available in Adobe PDF format. Viewing this document requires
that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is a free download from
the Adobe Acrobat Web site. Download the guide
from: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/webserver/appserv/library/
- IBM HTTP Server installation
- Links on the page include:
- Launch the installation wizard...
-
Installable component |
Directory |
Program |
IBM HTTP Server |
IHS |
install |
- View the installation guide...
- /IHS/docs/InstallGuide_en.html
- View the readme file...
- /IHS/readme/readme_en.html
- Web server plug-ins installation
- Links on the page include:
- Launch the installation wizard...
-
Installable component |
Directory |
Program |
Web server plug-ins |
plugin |
install |
- View the installation roadmap...
- /plugin/index_roadmap_en.html
See Selecting a Web server topology diagram and roadmap.
- View the installation guide...
- /plugin/docs/InstallGuide_en.html
See Installing Web server plug-ins.
- View the readme file...
- /plugin/readme/readme_en.html
See Plug-ins configuration for an overview of
how Web server configuration works.
- Application Client installation
- Links on the page include:
- Launch the installation wizard...
-
Installable component |
Directory |
Program |
Application Client |
AppClient |
install |
- View the installation guide...
- /AppClient/docs/InstallGuide_en.html
See Installing Application Client for WebSphere Application Server silently.
- View the readme file...
- /AppClient/readme/readme_en.html