Using the launchpad to start installations

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

Before you begin

Use the launchpad from a Windows® workstation.

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

About this task

The launchpad identifies components on the product disk or image that you can install (launch).

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. If you click a link that points to an installation wizard on another disk or image, then you are prompted to insert that disk or browse to that image. For example, IBM HTTP Server, Web server plug-ins, and Application Client for WebSphere Application Server are on the supplements discs. If you click a link to launch those products, you must insert the supplements discs in the disk drive or point the installer to the supplements images to install the product from the launchpad.

Links in the navigation frame of the launchpad enable you to perform the following actions:
  • View the Welcome page
  • View the Installation diagrams
  • Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server
  • Launch the installation wizard for IBM HTTP Server
  • Launch the installation wizard for Web server plug-ins
  • Launch the installation wizard for Application Clients
  • Launch the installation wizard for IBM Update Installer for WebSphere Software Installation
  • View the IBM WebSphere Installation Factory page
  • Launch the installation wizard for IBM Tivoli® Composite Application Manager for WebSphere Application Server
  • Launch the installation wizard for the IBM Support Assistant Workbench on Windows or Linux® Intel® operating systems
  • Launch the installation wizard for the IBM Support Assistant Agent on AIX®, Linux, Windows, or Solaris operating systems
Tip: IBM HTTP Server, Web server plug-ins, and Application Client for WebSphere Application Server are now contained on the supplements discs. These discs are required to install these products from the launchpad.

There is no launchpad for the discs 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.bat
  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 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 product disk and supplements discs 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 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.bat



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Last updated: Oct 21, 2010 12:08:31 PM CDT
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