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(Dist)Use the launchpad to start installations

The launchpad console is the starting point for installing IBM WebSphere Application Server 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 we can install (launch).

WAS is an integrated platform containing 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 we click a link that points to a product repository on another disk or image, we are prompted to insert that disk or browse to that image. For example, IBM HTTP Server, Web Server Plug-ins for IBM WAS, Application Client for IBM WAS, and the WebSphere Customization Toolbox are on the supplements disk. If we click a link to launch those products, we must insert the supplements disk in the disk drive or point the installer to the product repositories to install the product from the launchpad.


Tasks

  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:

    • (UNIX) Mount the disk drive if necessary.

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

      • ./launchpad.sh|bat

      (Windows) Tip: To navigate using the keyboard, use Mozilla Firefox as the web browser and start the launchpad with the following command:

        launchpad_a11y.exe

    Some Windows operating systems 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, we 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 extracting the image, right-click the image file and select Properties to open the Properties panel and locate the security section and click Unblock. 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.

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


Troubleshoot

If we can start the launchpad but clicking a link does not resolve to a page in the launchpad, we 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. (UNIX) 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.)

    (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:

    • (UNIX) ./launchpad.sh
    • (Windows) (iSeries) launchpad.bat

If the launchpad links still do not work after following this procedure, launch Installation Manager and point it at the appropriate repositories to install the offerings.

  • firststeps command