This topic provides an overview of how to install IBM WebSphere Application Server - Express, Version 6.
See Installing the product and additional software for information about installing any of the products in the WebSphere Application Server family of products. This topic describes installing the Express product.
The launchpad gives you important clues about creating typical topologies. The installation solution diagrams identify some of the system topologies that you can create. The launchpad is in the root directory of the product CD.
Use the launchpad to launch the installation program for each of the installable components in the primary disc packet. See Using the launchpad to start the installation.
The launchpad also provides access to the documentation for each of the installable components on the product CD.
Install the Express server to create a single stand-alone application server named server1. You can use the Profile creation wizard to create multiple stand-alone application servers on the machine.
Install the Rational Web Developer to create an integrated development environment.
See the description of the startServer command for more information.
Installing the Express product again on the same machine is not necessary. Simply use the Profile creation wizard to create additional application server profiles. Each profile contains one server1 application server.
Each application server profile is a unique run-time environment, with its own configuration, applications, data, logs, and administrative interface. All of the application server instances on a machine share the same set of core product files.
For example, the following procedure shows the basic steps for creating two profiles on one machine:
Give the new profile a unique name, such as Profile02.
No further steps are necessary to create a fully integrated development environment. Start the tutorial on the product disc to learn how to use Rational Web Developer.
Select the Solution installation diagrams link in the navigation area on the launchpad to view typical topologies for installing the Express product. The diagrams are also in Planning to install WebSphere Application Server - Express, where the installation steps for each solution are described in detail.
The installation program uses the InstallShield for Multiplatforms (ISMP) product to perform the installation. You can use the Installation wizard or perform the installation from a command line, using the silent installation method.
If you encounter a problem such as not having enough space or not having the right prerequisite updates on your system, cancel the installation, make the required changes, and restart the installation. The installation procedure has a description of more comprehensive troubleshooting procedures.
This topic is available on the product CD-ROM and online in an information center. The information center always has the most current information. The information center displays in the language of your machine locale if possible.
The information center for Version 6 is at the http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/ws60help/index.jsp IBM Web site.
The Getting Started PDF is updated occasionally. Download a new Getting Started guide guide by clicking the "Installing your application serving environment (PDF)" link on the WebSphere Application Server library page for Version 6.0.x at http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/was/library/index.html. The name of the file is different than the one on your product CD to keep from overlaying other PDF files you might download. (All of the PDF files on the product CD have the same file name.)
The HTML version of the Getting Started guide is not available for downloading because you can download and install the entire information center for the Express product. See Using this documentation offline for more information.
After installing the Express product or the Rational Web Developer, the next step is to use either product.
If you install the Express product, you can start the application server and use the administrative console to deploy an existing application. See Fast paths for WebSphere Application Server for more information.
If you install Rational Web Developer, you can use the tutorials on the product Welcome page to begin learning how to develop and deploy applications.
Related tasks
Installing the product and additional software