Installing maintenance packages overview

Before you install maintenance to your WebSphere® product, you should be familiar with the following important considerations and precautions.

Note: If you previously imported WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0 into Installation Manager, you cannot use Installation Manager to update it. You must use the instructions given in this section and use the Update Installer to install any fixes. After you use the Update Installer to apply maintenance to the base WebSphere Application Server product or the IBM SDK, you must reimport the WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0 installation into Installation Manager.

Overview of the installation procedure

The Update Installer wizard is an InstallShield for Multiplatforms wizard that runs with either a graphical user interface or in silent mode with a response file.

  1. Download, unpack, and install the Update Installer for WebSphere Software from the IBM Support site; or install the Update Installer that is on the WebSphere Application Server supplements disc. For more information, see the documentation on installing the Update Installer.
    Best practice Best practice: Download the latest version of the Update Installer from the IBM Support site.bprac
  2. Download the most current version of the interim fix, fix pack, or refresh pack file from the Support site into the maintenance directory.
    Note: If you have not installed features, such as language packs and samples, consider installing the features if there is a chance you might use them in the future. If you choose not to install the features and then later install maintenance, you will have to uninstall all maintenance, install the features, and then reapply all maintenance or the features might be corrupted.
  3. Use the Update Installer to install the interim fix, fix pack, or refresh pack. The Update Installer will uninstall any old interim fixes. The Update Installer also creates a backup file in the app_server_root/properties/version/nif/backup directory. IBM® does not support restoring a backup file that you have modified.

Permissions

Permissions can only be given to one user account. To install and launch the Update Installer, use the same user account that installed WebSphere Application Server, or give permission to another user. If permission is given to a non-root user, then the non-root user should give permission to the root user when finished installing maintenance. If the non-root user does not return permission to the root user, then the root user cannot read or write to the file system.

Updating existing profiles in WebSphere Application Server products

The Update Installer updates the core product files in a WebSphere Application Server product. Service in a maintenance package might update the following files in the installation root directory:
  • The SDK, Java technology edition, in the java/jre directory
  • JAR files in the lib directory
  • Scripts in the bin directory
  • Profile templates

Some maintenance packages provide required service for existing profiles in addition to service for the core product files. Each maintenance package that has profile maintenance provides a script that changes the profile. The Update Installer prompts you to back up your configuration when installing a maintenance package that has required maintenance for profiles.

Some maintenance packages provide optional service for existing profiles. The readme file for the maintenance package describes whether the maintenance package contains optional service for existing profiles. If so, the readme file describes how to use the script provided with the maintenance package.

Use the backupConfig command to back up the configuration of each profile that the maintenance package can update. Or archive the app_server_root/profiles directory to back up all of the profiles at once. For more information, see the backupConfig command topic in the information center.

If you uninstall a maintenance package, the Update Installer does not uninstall the maintenance package from profiles. The reason for not removing the maintenance is that you might have configured the profile after installing the maintenance. To restore an original profile, use the restoreConfig command or copy the profile from the archived profile_root directory to replace the changed profile. For more information, see the restoreConfig command topic in the information center.

Updating cluster members

Apply the same maintenance packages to all of the WebSphere Application Server installations in a cluster. When all of the cluster members are not at the same service level, the following exception can occur:
DRSCacheApp   E DRSW0008E: 
   Exception is: com.ibm.disthub.impl.jms.JMSWrappedException: 
   {-1361012295|unknown|java.io.OptionalDataException|} 

This error can cause memory replication to function improperly.

Required information

Table 1. Information required when installing a maintenance package.

The graphical interface requires you to supply the following information:

Field Valid values Description
File path of the installation root directory of the WebSphere product or component.

Installation root directory of the Update Installer.

See updi_root for more information.

Identify the installation root directory for one of the following products:
  • IBM WebSphere Application Server
  • IBM WebSphere Application Server - Express
  • Embedded version of the IBM WebSphere Application Server - Express
  • IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment
  • IBM WebSphere Extended Deployment
  • IBM Application Client for WebSphere Application Server
  • IBM WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation
  • Web server plug-ins for WebSphere Application Server

Download, unpack, and install the Update Installer for WebSphere Software. Or install the Update Installer that is on the WebSphere Application Server supplements disc. Install the Update Installer into each component that you intend to update.

The Update Installer application updates the product in its parent directory by default.

File name of the maintenance package to install. Select a maintenance package to install from the maintenance directory. The default maintenance package is the package with the latest date stamp and time stamp.
Important: See Update command - known problems and workarounds and the release notes for your product for the latest information about the Update Installer.



Related reference
Using root or non-root when installing with the Update Installer
Verifying and setting file permissions
Related information
Installing maintenance packages, interim fixes, fix packs, and refresh packs
Concept topic Concept topic    

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Last updatedLast updated: Feb 6, 2014 2:29:34 AM CST
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