The launchpad console is the starting point for installing IBM
WebSphere Application Server Network
Deployment.
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, Version 1.4 and 1.7.5 or later
- Internet Explorer, Version 5.5 with SP 2 or later
Install a supported Web browser if one is not installed:
You
cannot run the launchpad remotely to install a product. Only local use of
the launchpad is supported.
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 identifies
components on the product disc that you can install (launch).
The
launchpad can install the tools component in the primary packet of discs.
The launchpad on the separate Application Server Toolkit disc
can install the tool on Windows and Linux (Intel) systems.
Links
in the navigation frame of the product disc launchpad enable you to:
- View the Solution installation diagrams
- Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment
- 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
There
is no WebSphere launchpad for the discs in the secondary packet, such as the
DB2 product disc.
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 disc or the downloaded installation image.
You can start the launchpad manually using a fully qualified command instead
of changing directories to the disc 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
Network
Deployment 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 disc 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 Network Deployment |
WAS |
install |
IBM HTTP Server |
IHS |
install |
Web server plug-ins |
plugin |
install |
Application Client |
AppClient |
install |
Rational Web Developer |
setup |
setup |
Mount the disc 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 Network Deployment
.
- WebSphere Application Server Network
Deployment installation
- Links on the page include:
- Launch the installation wizard...
-
Installable component |
Directory |
Program |
WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment |
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