vpd.properties file

The installer program for WebSphere® Application Server Version 7.0 uses the Install Shield for Multiplatforms (ISMP) program to install the product. The vpd.properties file lists application server program components, and products which extend the application server, that are currently installed on the system.

Note: There may be some future WebSphere installation programs that do not use ISMP and subsequently would not create or update the vpd.properties file. The information in the vpd.properties file is specifically there to assist you in troubleshooting problems, and it is not intended to be used or relied on as a supported way to determine which WebSphere products are installed.

installRegistryUtils command

The vpd.properties file is for informational purposes only. If you want to list installed WebSphere products or need assistance in manually cleaning up an uninstallation, use the installRegistryUtils command. The installRegistryUtils command lists installed products and packages and assists in cleaning a particular registered product (including the associated packages), package, or all registered products (including all associated packages) which are visible to the current user.

Location of the vpd.properties file

The location of the vpd.properties file varies per operating platform:
  • [AIX] The root directory or the usr/lib/objrepos directory
  • [HP-UX] [Solaris] The user_home directory when installed as a non-root user.
  • [Linux] The root or user_home directories.
  • [Windows] Installation directory of the operating system, such as the C:\WINNT directory or the C:\windows directory, or the user_home directory.

[HP-UX] [Solaris] ISMP creates or updates the vpd.properties file on all platforms except Solaris and HP-UX. ISMP uses native operating system registration on these platforms when installing as root, and does not create a vpd.properties file.

Non-root installation

When installing as a non-root installer, the installer programs create a vpd.properties file on all platforms, including Solaris and HP-UX.

Installation messages

If you do not cleanly uninstall the application server product, then there might be entries left over in the vpd.properties file associated with the application server directory. You can reinstall into the same directory later, but you might see certain entries in the installation log which refer to the vpd.properties file. These entries can be safely ignored. The following message is an example of a vpd message in the installation log:
(Apr 19, 2008 9:15:23 PM), Process, com.installshield.product.service.product.PureJavaProductServiceImpl$InstallProduct, msg1,
Did not replace installed object (IBM WebSphere Application Server - Plugins) with object (IBM WebSphere Application Server - Plugins)
(Apr 19, 2008 9:15:23 PM), Process, com.installshield.product.service.product.PureJavaProductServiceImpl$InstallProduct, msg1,
Did not replace installed object (LAP Component) with object (LAP Component)

Example of the vpd.properties file

The following example shows all of the entries for the vpd.properties file for Version 7.0.0.0 of the Network Deployment product on a Linux® platform. The example shows entire lines but breaks each line for formatting purposes. The identifier for the first component is highlighted. The installation location of the first component is also highlighted.

WSBAA70|7|0|0|0|7.0.0.0|1=IBM WebSphere Application Server|
		IBM WebSphere Application Server|IBM WebSphere Application Server V7.0|IBM|http://www.ibm.com|7.0.0.0|
		/opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer|0|0|1|
		WSBAA70|7|0|0|0|7.0.0.0|1|0|false|
		"_uninst" "uninstall.jar" "uninstall.dat" ""|true|3|WSBAA70|7|0|0|0|7.0.0.0|1
WSBAA70LicensingComponent|7|0|0|0|7.0.0.0|1=LAP Component|
		LAP Component|LAP| | | |
		/opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer|0|0|1|
		WSBAA70|7|0|0|0|7.0.0.0|1|0|false| |true|3|
		WSBAA70LicensingComponent|7|0|0|0|7.0.0.0|1

Identifying entries in the vpd.properties file

Table 1. Identifers in the vpd.properties file.

Use the following table to help identify entries for WebSphere products.

Identifier Product
WSB...70 All Version 7.0 products use this identifier to identify the core product files:
  • WebSphere Application Server - Express
  • WebSphere Application Server
  • WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment
WSP...70 Web server plug-ins for WebSphere Application Server
WSC... WebSphere Application Server Clients
WSIHS70 IBM® HTTP Server for WebSphere Application Server
Attention: During installation of the Application Client for WebSphere Application Server, the product and feature entries are added to the vpd.properties file. After you uninstall the product, the feature entries may not be removed. This is a known limitation, but does not affect any subsequent client operations, including re-installing and uninstalling.



Related tasks
Uninstalling the WebSphere Application Server product
Related reference
installRegistryUtils command
Reference topic    

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Last updated: Oct 21, 2010 12:05:26 PM CDT
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