Use the launchpad to start the installation

The launchpad console is the starting point for installing IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment. The launchpad is a Web application. Before using the launchpad, have a supported Web browser. The launchpad supports the following browsers:

• Mozilla, V1.4 and 1.7.5 or later

• Internet Explorer, V5.5 with SP 2 or later

Install a supported Web browser if one is not installed:

Use the launchpad from a Windows workstation.

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

Overview

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:

• View the Solution installation diagrams

• Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment

• Launch the installation wizard for IBM HTTP Server

• Launch the installation wizard for Web server plug-ins

• Launch the installation wizard for WebSphere Application Client

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)

• 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:

   • 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 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

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. Enable the JavaScript function in your browser.

3. Restart the launchpad by issuing the following command:

   • launchpad.bat

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. See Launchpad console in Packaging.

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