Using the launchpad to start the installation

The launchpad console is the starting point for installing IBM WebSphere Application Server - Express.

Before you begin

Supported configurations Supported configurations:
  • [This information only applies to Version 6.1.0.9 and later running on the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.] On the Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems, the launchpad interface is not supported.
  • On the Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008 operating systems, the launchpad interface is supported when you use the built-in Administrator user account to install the product.
sptcfg

The launchpad is a Web application. Before using the launchpad, you must have a supported Web browser.

The launchpad supports the following browsers:
  • Mozilla
  • Mozilla Firefox
Install a supported Web browser if one is not installed.

Use the launchpad from a Windows workstation.

Avoid trouble Avoid trouble: You cannot run the launchpad remotely to install a product. Only local use of the launchpad is supported.gotcha

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 in the WebSphere Application Server - Express CD-ROM package that you can install.

Links in the navigation frame of the launchpad enable you to:

If you click Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server - Express, the Express installation wizard on the Express product disk is displayed. If you click a link that points to an installation wizard on another disk, then you are prompted to insert that disk. For example, IBM HTTP Server, Web server plug-ins, and WebSphere Application Client are on the WebSphere Supplements disk. If you click a link to launch those products, you must insert the WebSphere Supplements disk in the disk drive to install the product from the launchpad.

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

Procedure

  1. Start the launchpad.
    The launchpad program is available in the root directory of the product disk or the downloaded installation image. You can start the launchpad manually using a fully qualified command instead of changing directories to the disk and running the command locally from the root directory:
    • Open a shell window and issue a fully qualified command to start the launchpad:
      • launchpad.exe
  2. The launchpad opens in the language of the locale setting of the machine.

    If necessary, select the desired language from the Language selection list.

  3. 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 - Express panel enable you to:
    • Launch the installation wizard.
    • View the product overview.
    • View the installation guide.
    • View the readme file.
  4. 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

To use the Launchpad application to install products from a network share, the contents of the "WAS CD" and "WebSphere Supplements CD" must be copied into separate directories. The Launchpad application uses the ~/launchpad/diskinfo/thisDisk.properties file to identify the correct location for the install files.

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 disk 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. If the product disk is no longer accessible, insert the disk.
  2. Enable the JavaScript function in your browser.
    • Mozilla:
      Click Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Scripts & Plugins:
      • Enable JavaScript for: Navigator.
      • Allow scripts to ... (Select all boxes.)
    • Mozilla Firefox:
      Click Tools > Options > Content :
      • Select Enable Java.
      • Select Enable JavaScript.
      • Click Advanced and allow scripts to ... (Select all boxes.)
  3. Restart the launchpad by issuing the following command:
    • launchpad.exe
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.




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Last updatedLast updated: Aug 30, 2013 8:21:57 PM CDT
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