IBM WebSphere Process Server, Version 6.0, Release Notes

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Release notes

This document contains release notes for WebSphere^R Process Server, Version 6.0.

• Description
• Supported hardware and software
• Important installation information
• Updates, limitations, and known problems
• IBM Software Support

Description

Based on service-oriented architecture (SOA) and as a single, simplified programming model, WebSphere Process Server, version 6.0, is the next-generation business process server that delivers and supports all styles of integration based on open standards to automate business processes that span people, workflows, applications, systems, platforms, and architectures.

New in WebSphere Process Server, version 6.0:

• Service component architecture - One simplified integration framework that leverages existing IT
• Support for all styles of integration - Including human tasks, roles based task assignments, and multilevel escalation. Visual editors for component assembly
• Change business processes on the fly with relatively minimal skills
• Business rules, business state machines, and selectors to dynamically choose interface based on business scenarios
• Broadest reach in integration - Built on Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) technologies and support for IBM WebSphere Adapters
• Support for business-to-business (B2B) through a restricted use license of IBM WebSphere Partner Gateway

WebSphere Process Server, version 6.0, is based on WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment, version 6.0.1.2. For WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment-related information, see the release notes for that product.

The announcement letter for WebSphere Process Server, is available on the Web at http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/OIX.

Supported hardware and software

For supported hardware and software requirements, see WebSphere Process Server detailed system requirements.

Important installation information

Refer to the following Web sites for installation and configuration information for WebSphere Process Server, Version 6.0:

• WebSphere Process Server Information Center
• PDF version of installation instructions for WebSphere Process Server
• WebSphere Process Server support information

Updates, limitations, and known problems

Updates, limitations, and known problems about WebSphere Process Server, version 6.0, are documented in the form of technotes on the IBM Software Support Web site at http://www.ibm.com/software/integration/wps/support.

As limitations and problems are discovered and resolved, the IBM Software Support team updates the knowledge base. By searching the knowledge base, you can quickly find workarounds or solutions to problems that you experience. The following link launches a customized query of the live Support knowledge base. To create your own query, go to the Advanced search page on the IBM Software Support Web site:

View technotes for WebSphere Process Server, Version 6.0.0.0 <<Note: This link will not be live until the eGA date.>>

IBM Software Support

IBM Software Support provides assistance with product defects. This section describes the IBM Support Assistant tool, how to contact IBM, and how to get help from IBM.

Note: To submit problems to IBM Software Support, you must have an active software maintenance contract. See Contacting IBM Software Support for information.

IBM Support Assistant

IBM Support Assistant is a tool that helps you use various IBM Support resources. It is made up of four components to help you with software questions:

• Search. The Search component helps you access pertinent Support information in multiple locations.
• Support Links. The Support Links component provides a convenient location for accessing various IBM Web resources, such as IBM product sites, IBM support sites, and IBM news groups.
• Education. The Education component provides guided access to IBM product education Web sites, including IBM Education Assistant modules.
• Service. The Service component helps you submit an enhanced problem report that includes key system data to IBM.

Using IBM Support Assistant with WebSphere Process Server, Version 6.0, requires installing IBM Support Assistant, Version 2.0, and then installing a plug-in for WebSphere Process Server:

1. Download and install IBM Support Assistant.

   You download it from the IBM Support Assistant download page. The product is a stand-alone utility. It includes an installation program and guide.

2. Download the IBM Support Assistant plug-in for WebSphere Process Server
   1. Start IBM Support Assistant.

      You can start it with the Start menu option on Windows operating systems or with the startisa.sh shell script on all other platforms. On Windows operating systems, IBM Support Assistant opens in its own window. On all other platforms, it opens in a Web browser.

   2. Click Find Plug-ins to view search links that can be used to find plug-ins for specific IBM products.
   3. Select WebSphere to initiate a search for all WebSphere product plug-ins. This list is also available from the IBM Support search page.
   4. Select WebSphere Process Server to open the download page for the plug-in.

To learn more about how to use IBM Support Assistant, click the User Guide tab in the IBM Support Assistant window.

For the latest information on IBM Support Assistant, see the IBM Support Assistant technote on the IBM Software Support site.

Contacting IBM Software Support

IBM Software Support provides assistance with product defects.

Before you begin

To take advantage of unique Support features go to the IBM developerWorks WebSphere Business Integration Zone Web site and select WebSphere Process Server.

Before contacting IBM Software Support, your company must have an active IBM software maintenance contract, and you must be authorized to submit problems to IBM. The type of software maintenance contract that you need depends on the type of product you have.

• For IBM eServer software products (including, but not limited to, DB2^TM and WebSphere products that run in zSeries^TM, pSeries^TM, and iSeries^TM environments), you can purchase a software maintenance agreement by working directly with an IBM sales representative or an IBM Business Partner. For more information about support for eServer software products, refer to the IBM Technical support advantage Web site.
• For IBMLink^TM, CATIA, Linux^TM, S390^TM, iSeries, pSeries, zSeries and other support agreements, refer to the IBM Support Line Web site.
• For Subscription and Support (S & S) contracts, refer to the IBM Software Service Request Web site.
• For IBM distributed software products (including, but not limited to, Tivoli^TM, Lotus^TM, and Rational^TM products, as well as DB2 and WebSphere products that run on Windows^TM or UNIX^TM operating systems), enroll in Passport Advantage^TM in one of the following ways:
  • Online. Go to the Passport Advantage Web site and click How to Enroll.
  • By phone. For the phone number to call in your country, go to the contacts page of the and click the name of your geographic region.
• If you are not sure what type of software maintenance contract you need, call 1-800-IBMSERV (1-800-426-7378) in the United States or, from other countries, go to the contacts page of the IBM Software Support Handbook on the Web and click the name of your geographic region for phone numbers of people who provide support for your location.

Steps for this task

1. Determine the business impact of your problem. When you report a problem to IBM, you are asked to supply a severity level. Therefore, you need to understand and assess the business impact of the problem you are reporting. Use the following criteria:

   Severity level	Description
   Severity 1	The problem has a critical business impact: You cannot use the program, resulting in a critical impact on operations. This condition requires an immediate solution.
   Severity 2	This problem has a significant business impact: The program is usable, but it is severely limited.
   Severity 3	The problem has some business impact: The program is usable, but less significant features (not critical to operations) are unavailable.
   Severity 4	The problem has minimal business impact: The problem causes little impact on operations, or a reasonable circumvention to the problem was implemented.

   
   
2. Describe your problem and gather background information. When explaining a problem to IBM, be as specific as possible. Include all relevant background information so that IBM Software Support specialists can help you solve the problem efficiently. To save time, know the answers to these questions:
   • What software versions were you running when the problem occurred?
   • Do you have logs, traces, and messages that are related to the problem symptoms? IBM Software Support is likely to ask for this information.
   • Can the problem be recreated? If so, what steps led to the failure?
   • Have any changes been made to the system? (For example, hardware, operating system, networking software, and so on.)
   • Are you currently using a workaround for this problem? If so, please be prepared to explain it when you report the problem.
     
3. Submit your problem to IBM Software Support. You can submit your problem in one of two ways:
   • Online. Go to the Submit and track problems page on the IBM Software Support site. Enter your information into the appropriate problem submission tool.
   • By phone. For the phone number to call in your country, go to the contacts page of the IBM Software Support Handbook on the Web and click the name of your geographic region.

What to do next

If the problem you submit is for a software defect or for missing or inaccurate documentation, IBM Software Support creates an Authorized Program Analysis Report (APAR). The APAR describes the problem in detail. Whenever possible, IBM Software Support provides a workaround for you to implement until the APAR is resolved and a fix is delivered.

IBM publishes resolved APARs on the IBM product support Web pages daily, so that others who experience the same problem can benefit from the same resolutions.

Obtaining help from IBM

If you are not able to resolve a problem with IBM WebSphere Process Server, version 6.0, by following the steps described in the Troubleshooting documentation, by looking up error messages in the message reference, or by looking for related documentation on the online help, contact IBM Technical Support.

Before you begin

Purchase of IBM WebSphere Process Server, version 6.0, entitles you to one year of telephone support under the Passport Advantage program. For details on the Passport Advantage program, visit Passport Advantage Web site.

The number for Passport Advantage members to call for WebSphere Process Server support is 1-800-237-5511. Have the following information available when you call:

• Your Contract or Passport Advantage number.
• Your WebSphere Process Server version and revision level, plus any installed fixes.
• Your operating system name and version.
• Your database type and version.
• Basic topology data: how many machines are running how many application servers, and so on.
• Any error or warning messages related to your problem.

IBM Support has documents that can save you time gathering information needed to resolve this problem. Before opening a PMR, see the IBM Support page for WebSphere Process Server.

Steps for this task

1. Run the Collector Tool. WebSphere Process Server comes with a built-in utility that collects logs and configuration information into one file, the Collector Tool. IBM Technical Support may ask you to run this tool and submit the output.
2. Enable tracing. WebSphere Process Server support engineers might ask you to enable tracing on a particular component of the product to diagnose a difficult problem.
3. Use consulting services. For complex issues such as high availability and integration with legacy systems, education, and help in getting started quickly with the WebSphere product family, consider using IBM consulting services. To learn about these services, browse the IBM Global Services Web site.

Trademarks
The following terms are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both: DB2, IBM, IBMLink, iSeries, Lotus, Passport Advantage, pSeries, Rational, S/390, Tivoli, WebSphere, and zSeries.
Java and all Java-based trademarks are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.
UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries.
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Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.