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

Using the launchpad to start the installation

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
  • Internet Explorer
The launchpad program is available in the root directory of the product disc or the downloaded installation image. The launchpad is named:
  • [Linux][UNIX]launchpad.sh
  • [Windows]launchpad.bat

Start the launchpad if it does not launch automatically.

If the launchpad cannot run remotely on a particular server, run the launchpad locally. Only local use of the launchpad is supported.

Why and when to perform 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 opens in the language of the locale setting of the machine. 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.

Solution installation diagrams show application server topologies that you create using links to component installation programs.

There is no WebSphere launchpad for the discs in the secondary packet, such as the DB2 product disc.

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

Links in the navigation frame of the tools disc launchpad enable you to launch the installation wizard for Application Server Toolkit on Linux (Intel) and Windows platforms.

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

Perform the following procedure to use the launchpad.

Steps for this task

  1. Log on as root on a Linux or UNIX system, or as a member of the administrator group on a Windows system.
  2. Install the Internet Explorer Web browser or the Mozilla or Mozilla Firefox browser if a browser is not installed.
    1. [AIX]Install the two prerequisite packages that Mozilla on AIX requires and install Mozilla, as described in Preparing AIX systems for installation.
    2. [Windows]Download the latest supported version of Internet Explorer.

      Download Internet Explorer from the following location:

      http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx

    3. [Linux]Download and install the Mozilla Firefox Web browser.

      If you do not have the Mozilla Web browser, download and install the browser from http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/.

    4. [Solaris][Linux][HP-UX]Download and install the Mozilla Web browser.

      If you do not have the Mozilla Web browser, download and install the browser from http://www.mozilla.org.

    5. [Linux][UNIX]Export the location of the supported browser.

      Export the location of the supported browser using the following command:

      export BROWSER=/usr/bin/mozilla   
  3. Start the launchpad.
    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:
  4. Use the launchpad to access the product overview, the readme file, and the installation guide.
  5. Click Launch the installation wizard for ... to launch the installation wizard for the installable component that you select.

Result

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.

Use the following procedure to correct any error that is preventing the launchpad from displaying. Then, try to start the launchpad again:
  1. Install Mozilla or Internet Explorer as described in the procedure.
  2. If the product disc is no longer accessible, insert the disc.
  3. [Linux][UNIX]Mount the drive as necessary on Linux and UNIX platforms.
  4. Enable the JavaScript function in your browser.
    [Linux][UNIX]Mozilla: Click Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Scripts & Plugins:
    • Enable JavaScript for: Navigator.
    • Allow scripts to ... (Select all boxes.)

    [Windows]Internet Explorer: Click Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level for Internet > Scripting > Active scripting > Enable.

  5. Restart the launchpad by issuing the following command:
    • [Linux][UNIX] ./launchpad.sh
    • [Windows]launchpad.bat

[Windows]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 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
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 installation 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

What to do next

Go to Installing the product and additional software to continue installing your application serving environment.




Related reference
firststeps command

Related information
Packaging
IBM Support Assistant

Task topic    

Terms of Use | Feedback

Last updated: Dec 11, 2005 4:07:15 PM CST
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v6r0/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.websphere.nd.doc/info/ae/ae/tins_launch.html

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2004, 2005. All Rights Reserved.
This information center is powered by Eclipse technology. (http://www.eclipse.org)