[AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows]This topic applies only on the i5/OS operating system.

Using the launchpad to start the installation

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

Before you begin

Supported configurations Supported configurations:
  • You cannot install the feature pack using the launchpad. Use the launchpad to install the WebSphere Application Server base product, Express, Network Deployment, or a supplemental product.
  • [Windows 7] [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
    • [AIX] Version 1.7.8 or later
    • [Windows] [HP-UX] [Linux] [Solaris] Version 1.4 and Version 1.75 or later
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • [Windows] Internet Explorer Version 5.5 with Service Pack 2 or later
Install a supported Web browser if one is not installed.

[iSeries] 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
Avoid trouble [Solaris] Avoid trouble: After mounting the disc driver on operating system, the launchpad.sh script in CD-ROM root directory on the Sun Solaris SPARC 64-bit operating system launches the wrong installation wizard. The system attempts to launch the script from the /cdrom/CD_name directory instead of the /cdrom/CD_name/sol_sparc64 directory. Launch the script from the /cdrom/CD_name/sol_sparc64 directory to resolve the issue.gotcha
[AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows] [Fix Pack 9 or later]
[This information only applies to Version 6.1.0.9 and later running on the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.] [Fix Pack 9 or later] Guidelines for installing WebSphere Application Server components on the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system:
  • Using the Launchpad GUI to begin installing Websphere Application Server Version 6.1 component is not supported when your are running Websphere Application Server on a machine that contains the Microsoft® Windows® Vista operating system.

    If the Launchpad starts automatically when the installation media is inserted in a machine running the Windows Vista operating system, cancel the Launchpad.

  • To install a Websphere Application Server component on a machine running the Windows Vista operating system, you must perform the following actions:
    1. Go to the individual component directory.
    2. Run the install.exe program that is located in that directory using the administrator account that was created when the Windows Vista operating system was installed.
      • The Windows Vista operating system will detect the fact that install.exe is an installation program, and it will present you with an elevation prompt for Administrator privileges. Click Allow to proceed.
      • When the Windows Vista operating system is asked to run a program that requires elevated (Administrator) privileges, it first tells the user whether or not the publisher of the program is recognized. For certain Websphere Application Server programs, for example, an operating-system dialog might appear that states "An unidentified program wants access to your computer." Examine the program details; and if it is the Websphere Application Server program that you intend to run, click Allow to proceed.
  • If you want to install Websphere Application Server as non-Administrator, see A non-Administrator might not be able to install WebSphere® Application Server on a Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.

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 on the product disk that you can install (launch).

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

Tip: IBM HTTP Server, Web server plug-ins, and WebSphere Application Client are now contained on the "WAS Tools CD." This CD will be required to install these products from Launchpad.
Links in the navigation frame of the supplements disk launchpad enable you to
  • Launch the installation wizard for the Update Installer
  • Launch the installation program for the IBM Support Assistant (ISA)
    [This information only applies to Version 6.1.0.9 and later running on the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.] [Fix Pack 9 or later] Note on using the IBM Support Assistant (ISA) on Microsoft® Windows Vista™ and Windows 2008 operating systems: ISA Version 3.x and earlier are not supported on the Windows Vista operating system. ISA plans to support the Windows Vista operating system in a later version. See the ISA Web site at http://www.ibm.com/software/support/isa/ for information on ISA support.

    ISA is not supported on Windows 2008.

  • Access the Installation Factory in the ifactory directory
  • Access the migration tools in the migration directory
  • Access the World Type fonts in the fonts directory
  • Access the Devanagari font in the fonts directory

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:
  2. The launchpad opens in the language of the locale setting of the machine.
  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 Network Deployment 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. [AIX] [HP-UX] [Linux] [Solaris] Mount the drive as necessary on platforms such as AIX or Linux.
  3. 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.)
    • [Windows] Internet Explorer:

      Click Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level for Internet > Scripting > Active scripting > Enable.

  4. Restart the launchpad by issuing the following command:
    • [AIX] [HP-UX] [Linux] [Solaris] ./launchpad.sh
    • [Windows] [iSeries] 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 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.

What to do next [AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows]

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




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Last updatedLast updated: Aug 31, 2013 1:23:07 AM CDT
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