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

firststeps command

The firststeps command starts the First steps console.

The First steps console

The First steps console is a post-installation ease-of-use tool for directing WebSphere Application Server elements from one place. Options display dynamically on the First steps console, depending on features you install. With all of the options present, you can use the First steps console to start or stop the application server, verify the installation, access the information center, access the administrative console, launch the Migration wizard, or access the Samples gallery.

Select the check box to start the First steps console at the end of the product installation.

You can also start the First steps console from the command line as described later.

Installation verification
This option starts the installation verification test (IVT). The test consists of starting and monitoring the application server during its start up.

If this is the first time that you have used the First steps console since creating an application server profile, click Installation verification to verify that all is well with your installation. The verification process starts the application server.

If you select the Installation verification option, the Start the server option is grayed out while the IVT is running.

The IVT provides the following useful information about the application server:
  • The server name: server1
  • The name of the profile
  • The profile file path
  • The type of profile: default
  • The cell name
  • The node name
  • The current encoding
  • The port number for the administrative console
  • Various informational messages that include the location of the SystemOut.log file and how many errors are listed within the file
  • A completion message
Start the server
This option toggles to Stop the server when the application server is running.

After selecting the Start the server option, an output screen displays with status messages. The success message informs you that the server is open for e-business. Then the menu item changes to Stop the server.

If you select the Start the server option, the Installation verification option is grayed out while the application server is running.

Administrative console
This option is grayed out until the application server is running.

The administrative console is a configuration editor that runs in a Web browser. The administrative console lets you work with XML configuration files for the application server. To launch the administrative console, click Administrative console. You can also point your browser to http://localhost:9060/ibm/console to start the administrative console. Substitute your own host name in the address if the localhost variable does not resolve correctly. As the administrative console opens, it prompts you for a login name. This is not a security item, but merely a tag to identify configuration changes that you make during the session. Secure signon is also available.

Profile creation wizard
This option starts the Profile creation wizard. The wizard lets you create additional application servers. A profile consists of files that define the run-time environment for the application server. Each environment has its own administrative interface. This means that the new application server has its own administrative console.

Each application server has its own First steps console. The location of the command is within the set of files in the profile. A prompt to launch the First steps console displays on the last panel of the Profile creation wizard.

Samples gallery
This option starts the Samples gallery. The option is grayed out until you start the application server. The option displays when you have installed the Samples during installation. The typical installation includes the Samples by default.

From the First steps console, click Samples gallery to explore the application Samples. Alternatively you can point your browser directly to http://localhost:9080/WSsamples. Substitute your own host name in the address if the localhost variable does not resolve correctly. The Web address is case sensitive. Substitute your own host name in the address.

Information center for WebSphere Application Server
This option links you to the online information center at the http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/ws60help/index.jsp IBM Web address.
Migration wizard
This option starts the Migration wizard. The Migration wizard is a new graphical interface to the migration tools. The migration tools are described in WASPreUpgrade command and WASPostUpgrade command.
Exit
This option closes the First steps console.

Location of the command file

Installing the product creates a default profile for the server1 application server. The location of the First steps console for the default profile is:
  • [Linux][UNIX]install_root/profiles/default/firststeps/firststeps.sh
  • [Windows]install_root\profiles\default\firststeps\firststeps.bat
The location of the firststeps.sh or firststeps.bat script for any profile is:
  • [Linux][UNIX]install_root/profiles/profile_name/firststeps/firststeps.sh
  • [Windows]install_root\profiles\profile_name\firststeps\firststeps.bat

Parameters

No parameters are associated with this command.

Syntax for the firststeps command

Use the following syntax for the command:
  • [Linux][UNIX]./firststeps.sh
  • [Windows]firststeps.bat

Usage tips

The following links exist on the First steps console for the WebSphere Application Server - Express product:

Option Link
Installation verification Calls the ivt command.
The location of the installation verification test varies per platform:
  • [Linux][UNIX]install_root/profiles/profile_name/bin/ivt.sh
  • [Windows]install_root\profiles\profile_name\bin\ivt.bat
Start the server Calls the startServer command.
The location of the startServer command varies per platform:
  • [Linux][UNIX]install_root/profiles/profile_name/bin/startServer.sh server1
  • [Windows]install_root\profiles\profile_name\bin\startServer.bat server1

When you have more than one application server on the same machine, the command starts the same application server that is associated with the First steps console.

Stop the server Calls the stopServer command.
The location of the stopServer command varies per platform:
  • [Linux][UNIX]install_root/profiles/profile_name/bin/stopServer.sh server1
  • [Windows]install_root\profiles\profile_name\bin\stopServer.bat server1
Administrative console Opens the default browser to the http://localhost:9060/ibm/console Web address.

When you have more than one application server on the same machine, the port varies. The First steps console starts the administrative console that is associated with the First steps console.

Profile creation wizard Calls the pctplatform command.
The command is in the install_root/bin/ProfileCreator directory. The name of the command varies per platform:
  • [AIX] pctAIX.bin
  • [HP-UX] pctHPUX.bin
  • [HP-UX] 64-bit platforms: pctHPUXIA64.bin
  • [Linux] pctLinux.bin
  • [Linux] 64-bit platforms: pct.bin
  • [Linux] Power platforms: pctLinuxPPC.bin
  • [Solaris] pctSolaris.bin
  • [Windows] pctWindows.exe
  • [Windows] 64-bit platforms: pctWindowsIA64.exe
Samples Gallery Opens the default browser to the http://localhost:9080/WSsamples Web address.

If you do not install Samples, the option does not appear on the First steps console. If you do not install the Samples during the initial installation of the product, the option does not display on the First steps console. You can perform an incremental installation to add the Samples feature. After adding the Samples, the options displays on the First steps console.

When you have more than one profile on the same machine, the port varies. The First steps console starts the Samples gallery that is associated with the First steps console.

Information center for WebSphere Application Server products Opens the default browser to the online information center at the http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/ws60help/index.jsp Web address.
Migration wizard Calls the migration command.
The location of the migration command is:
  • [Linux][UNIX]install_root/bin/migration.sh
  • [Windows]install_root\bin\migration.bat

The migration tools are also in the /migration folder on the product disc.




Related tasks
Using the Migration wizard
Using the installation verification tools
Using the Profile creation wizard

Reference topic    

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