WebSphere Application Server - Express, Version 6.0.x     Operating Systems: AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, Windows

Using the launchpad to start the installation

The launchpad console is the starting point for installing WebSphere Application Server products.

Before you begin

The launchpad is a Web application. Before using the launchpad, you must have a supported Web browser. The launchpad supports the following browsers:
  • Mozilla
  • Internet Explorer
The launchpad program is available on the root directory of the product CD in a program named:
  • [Linux][UNIX]launchpad.sh
  • [Windows]launchpad.bat
Start the launchpad if it does not launch automatically.

Why and when to perform this task

Use this topic to learn how to use the launchpad.

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 opens in the language of the machine locale setting. The launchpad identifies components on the product disc that you can launch.

The launchpad can install the tools component in the primary packet of discs. The launchpad on the separate Rational Web Developer disc can install the tool on Windows and Linux (Intel) systems.

The launchpad has diagrams that show the possible application server topologies that you can create with all of the components in the primary packet.

A link exists for each installable component on the product compact disc and for the installable tools component that is on a separate disc in the primary packet of compact discs in the product package.

There is no launchpad for the compact discs in the secondary packet in the product package, such as the DB2 product. See Packaging for more information about the installable components in each package.

For example, the installation links on the initial launchpad panel for the Express product are:
  • The Welcome panel with its fastpath links that launch the installer programs for the following installable components:
    • Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server - Express
    • Launch the installation wizard for Rational Web Developer on Linux (Intel) and Windows platforms
    • Launch the installation wizard for IBM HTTP Server
    • Launch the installation wizard for Web server plug-ins
    • Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server Clients
  • A navigation frame on the left side of the launchpad has the following links:
    • Solution installation diagrams
    • WebSphere Application Server - Express installation
    • Rational Web Developer installation
    • IBM HTTP Server installation
    • Web server plug-ins installation
    • WebSphere Application Server Clients installation

The launchpad panel for each installable component in the primary packet includes a link to the installation program for the component and to documentation that describes the product, how to install it, and how to configure it for use.

For example, the links on the launchpad panel for the Express installable component are:
  • Launch the Installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server - Express
  • View the product overview for WebSphere Application Server - Express
  • View the installation guide for WebSphere Application Server - Express
  • View the readme file for WebSphere Application Server - Express

Perform the following procedure to use the launchpad.

Steps for this task

  1. Log on as root on a Linux or UNIX system, or as a member of the administrator group on a Windows system.
  2. Install the Internet Explorer Web browser or the Mozilla browser if neither browser is installed.
    1. [AIX]Install the two prerequisite packages that Mozilla on AIX requires and install Mozilla, as described in Preparing AIX systems for installation.
    2. [Windows]Download the latest supported version of Internet Explorer.

      Download Internet Explorer from the following location:

      http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx

    3. [Solaris][Linux][HP-UX]Download and install the Mozilla Web browser. If you do not have the Mozilla Web browser, download and install the browser from http://www.mozilla.org.
    4. [Linux][UNIX]Export the location of the supported browser.

      Export the location of the supported browser using the following command:

      export BROWSER=/usr/bin/mozilla   
  3. Start the launchpad.
    You can start the launchpad manually using a fully qualified command instead of changing directories to the CD-ROM and running the command locally from the root directory:
    • Mount the CD-ROM drive on Linux or UNIX platforms, if necessary. This procedure varies per platform. See Mounting CD-ROMS on Linux and UNIX operating systems.
    • Open a shell window and issue a fully qualified command to start the launchpad:
      • [Linux][UNIX] launchpad.sh
      • [Windows]launchpad.bat
  4. Use the launchpad to access the product overview, the readme file, and the installation guide.
  5. Click Launch the installation wizard for ... to launch the installation wizard for the installable component that you select.

Result

You can use 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 CD drive. Check the validity of the media. Otherwise, use the following procedure. If the links do not work at the end of the procedure, open the readme file for reference and launch the installation programs directly.

If you cannot start the launchpad, use the following procedure to correct any error that is preventing the launchpad from displaying, then start the launchpad again:
  1. Install Mozilla or Internet Explorer as described in the procedure.
  2. If the product CD is no longer accessible, insert the CD.

    Mount the drive as necessary on Linux and UNIX platforms.

  3. Enable the JavaScript function in your browser.
    [Linux][UNIX]Mozilla: Click Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Scripts & Plugins:
    • Enable JavaScript for: Navigator.
    • Allow scripts to select all boxes.

    [Windows]Internet Explorer: Click Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level for Internet > Scripting > Active scripting > Enable.

  4. Restart the launchpad by issuing the following command:
    • [Linux][UNIX] ./launchpad.sh
    • [Windows]launchpad.bat

If you still cannot use the launchpad console, access the readme file in the root directory of the product disc or launch each installer program directly. You can launch the following links directly:

Welcome page links
The fastpath links to installable components on the product disc are provided in the following table:
Installable component Directory Program
WebSphere Application Server - Express WAS install
IBM HTTP Server IHS install
Web server plug-ins plugin install
Application clients AppClient install
The fastpath link to the installable component on the Rational Web Developer disc is as follows:
Rational Web Developer:	/setup/setup
Mount the CD for the Rational Web Developer and use the launchpad on that disc.
Solution installation diagrams
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 in Packaging.

View the installation guide...
/WAS/docs/InstallGuide_en.html#install

This is the Getting Started guide. Language versions of the information are available only in the online information center in Installing the product and additional software.

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 installation guide from: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/webserver/appserv/library/wasv60express_gs.pdf

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 Configuration behavior of the Plug-ins installation wizard for an overview of how Web server configuration works.

What to do next

Return to Installing the product and additional software to continue.




Related reference
firststeps command

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Last updated: Jun 8, 2005 12:45:23 PM EDT
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