WAS v8.0 > Install the application serving environment > Distributed operating systems > Task overview: Installing


Use the launchpad to start installations

The launchpad console is the starting point for installing IBM WAS Network Deployment.

Examples of what the launchpad can do:

Examples of what the launchpad cannot do:

Restriction: We cannot run the launchpad remotely to install a product. Only local use of the launchpad is supported.

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

WAS 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 a single point of reference for installing the entire application server environment. If you click a link that points to a product repository on another disk or image, you are prompted to insert that disk or browse to that image. For example, IBM HTTP Server, Web Server Plug-ins for IBM WAS, and Application Client for IBM WAS are on the supplements disk. If you click a link to launch those products, you must insert the supplements disk in the disk drive or point the installer to the product repositories to install the product from the launchpad.


Procedure

  1. Start the launchpad.

    The launchpad program is available in the root directory of the product disk. We 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:

    • Mount the disk drive if necessary. This procedure varies per platform. See Mounting disk drives on operating systems such as AIX and Linux.

    • Open a shell window and issue a fully qualified command to start the launchpad:

      • ./launchpad.sh
      • launchpad.bat

      Tip: If navigate using the keyboard, use Mozilla Firefox as your web browser and start the launchpad with the following command: 

      launchpad_a11y.exe

    Avoid trouble: Some Windows operating systems such as Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7 have implemented a more restrictive security policy that denies access to trusted files by non-trusted files or applications. When the launchpad application is run as a non-trusted program, you will receive JavaScript "Access is denied" errors that subsequently cause the application to hang. Because downloaded images are automatically blocked, unblock the files so that the launchpad can successfully access the files. Before you extract the image, right-click the image file and select Properties to open the Properties panel and locate the security section and click the Unblock button. We can now extract the image and run the launchpad application. The launchpad opens in the language of the locale setting of the machine.

  2. Use the launchpad to perform the following tasks.

    • View the Welcome page, and access links to the WAS Information Center and the IBM Education Assistant.
    • Launch Installation Manager installation, and access the IBM Installation Manager Information Center.
    • Download the latest version of IBM Packaging Utility, and access the IBM Packaging Utility Information Center.
    • Launch Installation Manager to install WAS Network Deployment
    • Launch Installation Manager to install DMZ Secure Proxy Server for IBM WAS.
    • Launch Installation Manager to install IBM HTTP Server
    • Launch Installation Manager to install Web Server Plug-ins for IBM WAS.
    • Launch Installation Manager to install the WebSphere Customization Toolbox.
    • Launch Installation Manager to install Application Clients.
    • Launch Installation Manager to install IBM WebSphere Edge Components: Load Balancer for IPv4 and IPv6.
    • Access the WAS Information Center for information on obtaining and installing IBM WebSphere Edge Components: Load Balancer for IPv4.
    • Access the WAS Information Center for information on obtaining and installing IBM WebSphere Edge Components: Caching Proxy.
    • Access the latest version of IBM Support Assistant.
    • Launch the installation for IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager for WAS.
    • Access the latest version of the Tivoli Federated Identity Manager for WAS Network Deployment.
    • Launch Installation Manager to install IBM WebSphere Adapters Version 7.5.


Results

This procedure results in using the launchpad to start the installation and to access information through a browser.

Troubleshoot

If you can start the launchpad but clicking a link does not resolve to a page in the launchpad, you might have the wrong media 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. Mount the drive as necessary on platforms such as AIX or Linux.
  3. 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.)

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

  4. Restart the launchpad :

    • ./launchpad.sh
    • launchpad.bat

If the launchpad links still do not work after following this procedure, launch the programs directly.


What to do next

Go to Install and uninstall the product to continue installing the application serving environment.
Install and uninstall the product


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