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How To Install the IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v8.0 and Later Product Using the IBM Web Administration for i Console

Question & Answer


Question

This document will answer the question, "How to install the IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v8.0 and later product using the IBM Web Administration for i console?"

Answer

Overview

The IBM Web Administration for i (Web Admin) console is a Web-based tool, which provides a full-function GUI for configuring and managing many different web technologies including IBM WebSphere Application Server on the IBM i.
Starting with IBM WebSphere Application Server V8.0, the product's installation factory has changed to use the IBM Installation Manager. The IBM Installation Manager does not provide a GUI interface for the IBM i. Because of this, it can be a bit complex to install and manage the IBM WebSphere Application Server product on the IBM i. To help reduce this complexity, the IBM Web Admin console provides an easy-to-use GUI to manage your IBM i WebSphere Application Server installations and fixes.

Part of this document is taken from the following IBM developerWorks article written by the IBM Web Administration for i GUI development staff. This document expands on the information provided in the URL below to provide the necessary detailed information to successfully update your IBM i WebSphere Application Server installation(s).

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibmi/library/i-webSphere_spplication_server_installation/index.html

Prerequisites

The IBM WebSphere Application Server product installation and fix pack support on the IBM Web Admin console was initially provided by individual PTFs SI48432 (IBM i 6.1) and SI48431 (IBM i 7.1) and is included in the initial HTTP Group PTF for IBM i 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4. These PTFs have since been superseded with newer versions. The best way to obtain these PTFs and all of the latest IBM Web Admin GUI fixes is to install the latest IBM HTTP Server Group PTF: SF99115 (IBM i 6.1), SF99368 (IBM i 7.1), SF99713 (IBM i 7.2), SF99722 (IBM i 7.3), or SF99662 (IBM i 7.4).

WAS v9.0 Support:

The 57xxJV1 Option 16 & 17 LPPs (IBM JDK 8.0 32 bit & 8.0 64 bit) MUST be installed prior to the installation of the IBM Installation Manager v1.9.1 or later and IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v9.0 products.
For more information on how to download and install the 57xxJV1 Option 16 & 17 LPPs, please refer to the following IBM Software Technical Document.
Support of Java Development Kit (JDK) 8.0 on the IBM i OS

NOTE:  57xxJV1 Option 14 is required for Installation Manager versions 1.8.0 - 1.8.9.3.
How To Download JDK 7.0/7.1 for the IBM i OS (57xxJV1 Options 14 & 15)

The following PTFs MUST be installed in order to support the IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v9.0 product.

IBM i OS
5770SS1 PTFs
5770DG1 PTFs
PTF Group
7.1
SI60622
SI60570, SI60573
SF99368 level 42
7.2
SI60621
SI60571, SI60574
SF99713 level 16
7.3
N/A
SI60572, SI60575
SF99722 level 3
7.4 N/A N/A SF99662 level 1

Here is a list of the minimum group ptf levels required to enable the IBM WebSphere Application Server installation and fix pack management support in the IBM Web Admin console. Please ensure these group ptf levels are met before attempting to use the IBM Web Admin console to manage your IBM WebSphere Application Server installations and fixes.

These group PTFs can be obtained through the IBM Support Fix Central application.


IBM i 7.1 Group PTF requirements

Number
Minimum level
Description
SF99710
11116
Cumulative packages
SF99701
12
DB2 for i
SF99572
7
Java
SF99368
16
IBM HTTP Server


IBM i 7.2 Group PTF requirements

Number
Minimum level
Description
SF99720
14101
Cumulative packages
SF99702
2
DB2 for i
SF99716
2
Java
SF99713
2
IBM HTTP Server


IBM i 7.3 Group PTF requirements

Number
Minimum level
Description
SF99730
6085
Cumulative packages
SF99703
1
DB2 for i
SF99725
1
Java
SF99722
1
IBM HTTP Server


IBM i 7.4 Group PTF requirements

- Ensure the SF99740, SF99662, and SF99665 Group PTFs are installed.
 

Before attempting to install the IBM WebSphere Application Server v8.0 and later product using the IBM Web Admin GUI, please verify you meet the prerequisites for the IBM WAS product version and edition you will be installing by reviewing the links below.

IBM WAS v8.0
http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v8r0/topic/com.ibm.websphere.installation.base.iseries.doc/info/iseries/ae/tins_is_prep.html

IBM WAS v8.5
http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v8r5/topic/com.ibm.websphere.installation.base.iseries.doc/ae/tins_is_prep.html

IBM WAS v9.0
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEQTP_9.0.0/com.ibm.websphere.installation.base.doc/ae/tins_is_prep.html


Download the IBM i WebSphere Application Server installation media

Information on how to download the various WAS v8.0 and later editions for the IBM i OS can be found here:

Express (v8.0 and v8.5.5) and Base (v9.0) edition:
How To Download The IBM Web Enablement Package for IBM i OS
NOTE: Once the zipped ISO image is downloaded from IBM Entitled Systems Support (ESS), you will need to transfer the ZIP file to an IFS directory on your IBM i server prior to installation.

Base (v8.0 and v8.5.5) and Network Deployment (ND/All WAS Versions) edition:
How to download WebSphere Application Server v8.0 from Passport Advantage Online
How to download WebSphere Application Server v8.5.5 from Passport Advantage Online
How to download WebSphere Application Server V9 from Passport Advantage Online
NOTE: After downloading the zip files from Passport Advantage, you will need to transfer and restore all of the zip files to the same IFS directory on your IBM i server prior to installation.

NOTE: If you are installing WAS v8.5.5 on IBM i 7.3 or 7.4, you will need to download the 8.5.5.9 refresh media.
Look for the section in the table that includes the text "IBM i V7R3".
Part Numbers: CNB1KML (Base) or CNB1LML (ND).

Example: IBM WAS v8.5.5 Network Deployment (IBM i 7.3 or IBM i 7.4)

Steps to install the IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) product using the IBM Web Administration for i console

1) Install the IBM Installation Manager on the IBM i.
  • NOTE: IBM WebSphere Application Server v9.0 requires IBM Installation Manager v1.8.5 or later.
  • NOTE: Do not use Installation Manager versions 1.8.9.5 or 1.9.0 with the IBM i OS since these versions contain a defect with JDK 8.0!
  • NOTE: These LPPs are required to be installed PRIOR to attempting the WAS v9.0 product installation.
    • 57xxJV1 Option 14  is required for Installation Manager v1.8.0-1.8.9.3
    • 57xxJV1 Option 16 is required for Installation Manager v1.8.9.4 and later
    • 57xxJV1 Option 17 is required for WAS v9.0
  • NOTE: IBM i 7.3 OS requires IBM Installation Manager v1.8.4 t a minimum.
  • NOTE:  IBM i 7.4 OS requires IBM installation Manager v1.8.9.4 at a minimum.
  • NOTE: Please verify the following PTFs are applied to your system if you are installing/have installed IBM Installation Manager v1.8 or higher. If you currently have IBM Installation Manager v1.7.4.5 or earlier installed, these PTFs are not immediately required but are advised. Please see the "Steps to check your IM version" below if you need to verify the IM version currently installed.

    These PTFs are required to be applied BEFORE attempting a new IBM WebSphere Application Server product installation in order to support new changes in the IBM Installation Manager v1.8 and later product.

    7.3 - Included in GA code levels
    7.2 - 5770DG1-SI55727
    7.1 - 5770DG1-SI55728
    6.1 - 5761DG1-SI55729

    =====================================

    Follow the steps outlined in either of the IBM Software Technical Documents to install the IBM Installation Manager product on your IBM i server.
  • "How to install/update the IBM Installation Manager product on IBM i OS using the IBM Web Administration for i GUI"
  • "How to Download and Install/Upgrade the IBM Installation Manager (IM) product for the IBM i"

    Steps to check your IM version
    1) STRQSH
    2) /QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools/imcl -version

2) Display the current value of QALWOBJRST and then change it to *ALL if needed.

  • Execute the following CL command to display the current value of QALWOBJRST:
    DSPSYSVAL SYSVAL(QALWOBJRST)
    If the current value is NOT *ALL, record the current value (so that you remember what to change it back to) and then change the value to *ALL using the following CL command:
    CHGSYSVAL SYSVAL(QALWOBJRST) VALUE(*ALL)
3) Execute the CHGOPTA EXTMEDFMT(*YES) CL command PRIOR TO loading the CD/DVD disc or image.
4) Execute the STRHOSTSVR *ALL CL command to ensure all of the IBM i Host Servers are started.
5) Prepare the IBM WebSphere Application Server product installation media.

  • The IBM WebSphere Application Server installation media comes in many different forms. Before you can begin the product install, you will need to determine the installation repository IFS path. The installation repository IFS Path will be referred to as ${INSTALL_REPOSITORY_PATH}. This value will be needed later on in the installation process.
     

    Physical CD/DVD media

    Insert the media disc into the optical drive of the IBM i server. The installation location repository path will be under the /QOPT directory in something like /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition>/ or /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition>/WAS where <version> is equal to V8 (WAS v8.0), V85/V855 (WAS v8.5), or V9 (WAS v9.0) and <edition> is equal to WEBENAB, EXPRESS (Not available for WAS v9.0), BASE, or ND.

    NOTE: The installation repository path might change over time. Locate the directory path containing the repository.xml file and use this path as the installation repository path if the example above does not fit your installation media.

    ${INSTALL_REPOSITORY_PATH} = /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition> or /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition>/WAS

     

    Media downloaded from IBM Entitled Systems Support

    IBM Entitled Systems Support
    The downloaded media will be in the form of an *.ISO.ZIP file. This means you will need to unzip the ISO image first and then either burn the ISO to a CD/DVD or FTP the ISO to your IBM i server to be used in an image catalog and virtual optical device.

    To unzip the ISO image, you can use 7-Zip or your favorite archive file unpacking utility. If FTPing to the IBM i, it is recommend you unzip the file after the *.ISO.ZIP file has been transferred to your IBM i server. To unpack the file on the IBM i, follow the steps below.
    - FTP the *.ISO.ZIP file to /tmp
    - STRQSH
    - cd /tmp
    - jar xvf <fileName>.ISO.ZIP
    This will extract the contents of the archive file to the /tmp directory.

    Once the contents of the ZIP file has been extracted, you can prepare the optical drive and image catalog for software installation.
    http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v7r1m0/topic/rzahc/prepareimagecatalog.htm
     

    How to use an image catalog


    CRTIMGCLG IMGCLG(WAS85) DIR('/WAS85/IMAGE') CRTDIR(*YES)

    ADDIMGCLGE IMGCLG(WAS85) FROMFILE('/tmp/ LCD8_1915_00_WebSphere_Appl_Server_Express_V8.5.iso ') TOFILE(*fromfile)

    CRTDEVOPT DEVD(OPTVRT01) RSRCNAME(*VRT)
    Note: The device name may already exist. If the device name already exists, proceed to the next command.

    VRYCFG CFGOBJ(OPTVRT01) CFGTYPE(*DEV) STATUS(*ON)

    LODIMGCLG IMGCLG(WAS85) DEV(OPTVRT01)
    The installation location repository path will be under the /QOPT directory in something like /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition>/ or /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition>/WAS where <version> is equal to V8 (WAS v8.0), V85/V855 (WAS v8.5), or V9 (WAS v9.0) and <edition> is equal to WEBENAB, EXPRESS (Not available for WAS v9.0), BASE, or ND.

    NOTE: The installation repository path might change over time. Locate the directory path containing the repository.xml file and use this path as the installation repository path if the example above does not fit your installation media.

    ${INSTALL_REPOSITORY_PATH} = /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition> or /QOPT/WAS<version>_<edition>/WAS

     

    Media downloaded from IBM Passport Advantage



    IBM Passport Advantage
    You can locate the necessary zip files to download for the IBM i platform via the following URLs for WAS v8.0 and later.

    How to download WebSphere Application Server v8.0 from Passport Advantage Online
    How to download WebSphere Application Server v8.5.5 from Passport Advantage Online
    How to download WebSphere Application Server v9.0 from Passport Advantage Online

    You would first select the edition (Express (Not available for WAS v9.0), Base, or Network Deployment (ND)) you wish to download. Then, scroll down and click on the IBM i platform link. Finally, locate the file names next to the "IBM WebSphere Application Server <edition> <version> for Multiplatform, Multilingual" product. These are the file names you will need to download from the Passport Advantage Online website.

    Example: IBM WAS v8.5.5 Network Deployment (IBM i 7.1 or 7.2)


    NOTE: If you are installing WAS v8.5.5 on IBM i 7.3 or 7.4, you will need to download the 8.5.5.9 refresh media.
    Look for the section in the table that includes the text "IBM i V7R3".
    Part Numbers: CNB1KML (Base) or CNB1LML (ND).

    Example: IBM WAS v8.5.5 Network Deployment (IBM i 7.3 or IBM i 7.4)


    Once the files are downloaded, you will need to transfer/FTP the zip files to your IBM i server. We recommend you place these files in a directory called "/WASMedia". If the directory doesn't exist, you will want to create it first. After the files have been transferred to this directory, you will want to extract their contents using the "jar" command in Qshell using the example below.

    a) STRQSH
    b) cd /WASMedia
    c) jar xvf CIK2HML.zip
    d) This will extract the contents of the zip file to the /WASMedia directory.
    e) Repeat step c for each of the IBM WAS media zip files.

    After all of the zip files have been extracted on your IBM i server, the installation repository path will be the IFS path containing the repository.config file. This typically is the IFS path to the disk1 directory (IBM i 7.1 and 7.2) or the WAS directory (IBM i 7.3 and later) under the /WASMedia directory.
    i.e. /WASMedia/disk1 or /WASMedia/WAS

    ${INSTALL_REPOSITORY_PATH} = /WASMedia/disk1
    OR
    ${INSTALL_REPOSITORY_PATH} = /WASMedia/WAS

     

    IBM Live Repository Media

    Please proceed to the next step. Information on how to use the IBM Live Repository HTTP URL is discussed in step 12 under Live Repository Example.

6) Open a web browser and go to the URL, http://<server>:2001/HTTPAdmin, to display the IBM Web Administration for i console web application.

  • If you are not prompted for a userID and password, execute the following CL command to ensure the ADMIN server is started:

    STRTCPSVR *HTTP HTTPSVR(*ADMIN)

    If you continue to experience issues accessing the IBM Web Administration for i console, please open a support case with IBM here or call 1-800-IBM-SERV.
7) When prompted, sign in with a user profile containing *SECADM and *ALLOBJ explicit special authorities.
8) Click on Manage -> Installations on the main IBM Web Administration for i console page.
9) Click on the "Install" button to begin the IBM WebSphere Application Server product installation process.
10) Click on the "Next" button in the "Welcome - Step 1 of 6" screen.
11) If the IBM Installation Manager has not been previously installed, you will be presented with the following screen in "Step 2 of 6".

  • If this step is presented, please provide the IFS path of the IBM Installation Manager installation repository. Otherwise, follow the steps outlined in the IBM Software Technical Document: "How to Download and Install/Upgrade the IBM Installation Manager (IM) product for the IBM i" to complete the installation.

    If this step is not presented, proceed to step 11 to continue the IBM WebSphere Application Server product installation.


    The following window will be displayed when the IBM Installation Manager installation begins:

    After the IBM Installation Manager has been successfully installed, you will be presented with Step 3 or 6.
12) Specify the IBM WebSphere Application Server installation repository path (${INSTALL_REPOSITORY_PATH}) or the URL of the IBM Passport Advantage Live Repository. Then, click on the "Next" button to proceed with the installation.
  • Live Repository Example:

URL = http://www.ibm.com/software/repositorymanager/com.ibm.websphere.<edition>.<version>/repository.config
<edition> = WEBENAB, EXPRESS (Not available for WAS v9.0), BASE, or ND
<version> = v80, v855, or v90

NOTE: The IBM Live Repository URL requires a valid IBM ID account user ID and password.

13) After clicking "Next", the installation repository path specified in the "Location" field will be searched and the repository will be validated. If this process is successful, an "Info" box will appear containing the available WebSphere Application Server packages found in the repository path.

  • Local Repository Installation:

    The example below shows the installation repository contains the WAS v8.0.0.2 EXPRESS software package.


    After clicking on the "OK" button, you might see another dialog box asking if you would like to install the IBM WebSphere Liberty product at this time. The IBM WebSphere Liberty product is a lightweight-development and production runtime for web applications. If you would like to install the product at this time, check the "Yes" box. If you do not want to install the product at this time, check the "No" box. Finally, click on "Next" to continue with the installation.

    Live Repository Installation:

    NOTE: The ADMIN GUI may take around 5 minutes to bring up the repository list. Please be patient and wait for the "Info" box to pop up. This is working as designed due to the time it takes to query the live repository. The "Info" box will be similar to the screen shots below.



    After the "Info" box appears, you will wan to scroll through the list of repositories and select the appropriate repository for the WebSphere edition, version, and fix level you wish to install.

    In the screen shot below, the WAS v8.0.0.8 ND repository is selected to be installed.



    As you can see in the screen shot below, you can select all available fix pack levels since the version became generally available. In most cases, you will always select the highest fix pack level available. If you do require to select an earlier fix pack level due to software requirements, you can do so here.



    Finally, click the "Next" button to proceed with the installation of the WebSphere Application Server version, edition, and fix level selected.
14) You will now be presented with an installation summary page. Review the product installation path and packages location to ensure their correctness.

  • Local Repository Example:



    Live Repository Example:



    Finally, click on the "Finish" button to kick off the WebSphere Application Server product installation process.
15) After clicking on the "Finish" button, the page will be refreshed to the "Manage Installations" page. The WAS product installation will now be listed in the table. During the installation process, the "Status" will show "Installing". You can click on the "Refresh" button to refresh the installation.

  • NOTE: The IBM WebSphere Application Server product installation can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the resources available and the current workload of your system.

    The installation process is submitted to batch in the QHTTPSVR subsystem and is executed in several QP0ZSPWT jobs. Because of this, the installation process is NOT tied to the web browser. The web browser may be closed during the installation process without affecting the overall installation.


    NOTE: Any errors that may occur during the installation process will be displayed at the bottom of the web browser. If an error is received at the bottom of the screen and you are unable to resolve your issue, please open a support case with IBM here or call 1-800-IBM-SERV.
16) When the installation has completed, the WAS product status will change from "Installing" to "Available" with a check mark next to it just as you see below. This informs you the installation has completed successfully. The "Version" also confirms the current product fix pack level installed.
17) Verify the IBM WAS product was installed successfully.

  • The IBM WAS product installation process can be verified by executing the "historyInfo" command out of the IBM WAS appsvr_root/bin directory using a Qshell interpreter session.

    where appsvr_root is the "Product Install Path" value listed for the installation recently installed through the IBM Web Admin console.

    a) STRQSH
    b) cd appsvr_root/bin
    c) ./historyInfo

    The example below shows a successful install of the IBM WAS v8.0.0.8 Express product.
    a) STRQSH
    b) cd /QIBM/ProdData/WebSphere/AppServer/V8/Express/bin
    c) ./historyInfo
    d) Here is an example of the output you would see from the ./historyInfo command.

    Installation Event                                                              
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Install Manager Offering ID        com.ibm.websphere.EXPRESS.v80                    
    Action                             install                                      
    Version                            8.0.0.8                                                  
    Package                            com.ibm.websphere.EXPRESS.v80_8.0.8.20131205_0207            
    Log File Name                      /QIBM/UserData/InstallationManager/logs/20140521_1737.xml
    Timestamp                          2014-05-21 17:59:59-0500                                
    ***********************************************************
    Result                             success
    ***********************************************************                                             
    Installed Features                 EJBDeploy tool for pre-EJB 3.0 modules                  
                                       Stand-alone thin clients and resource adapters          
                                       Embeddable EJB container                                
                                       Sample applications                                      
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    End History Report
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------            
    $
18) Once the IBM WAS product installation has been verified as successful, you will need to download and install the WAS Fix Pack for your installed WAS version and edition.

NOTE: If the initial installation of the WAS product included the latest WAS Fix Pack version, no additional fix pack installation is required after the initial WAS product installation. You will need to install the WAS Fix Pack when updating the WAS product in the future, though. The latest generally available WAS Fix Pack versions can be found by clicking here. If your WAS product installation version is the same version as the latest WAS Fix Pack version available for download from IBM, then no additional fix pack installation is required at this time.

NOTE:  The WAS v9.0 Fix Pack installation document may be used for WAS v8.5 installations as well.  This is useful when the IBM i OS VRMs that have reached end of support, but you wish to update WAS v8.5 to the latest FIx Pack version.

For WAS v8.0 and v8.5.5 product versions, please refer to the IBM Software Technical Document: "How To Install an IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v8.0 and v8.5 Fix Pack Using the IBM Web Administration for i Console" for more information on how to install the WAS v8.0 or v8.5.5 Fix Pack.

For WAS v9.0 product versions, please refer to the IBM Software Technical Document: "How To Install an IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) v9.0 Fix Pack Using the IBM Web Administration for i Console" for more information on how to install the WAS v9.0 Fix Pack.

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Document Information

Modified date:
03 November 2021

UID

nas8N1020070