Install maintenance packages

This topic describes how to use the IBM Update Installer for WebSphere Software to install interim fixes, fix packs, and refresh packs. The Update Installer for WebSphere Software is also known as the Update Installer program, the UpdateInstaller program, and the Update installation wizard.

Use the proper authorizations to successfully install product updates.

Use the Update Installer program from the same installer ID that installed the product that you are updating. Otherwise, the file ownership mismatches might require correction by the root user. See rins_nonroot.html for more information.

Use the Update Installer program from a user profile with *ALLOBJ special authority.

• Verify no processes from any users are locking any files in the target location where a maintenance package is to be installed.

The Update Installer wizard is an InstallShield for Multiplatforms wizard that runs with in silent mode with a response file. The following descriptions contain reference information about installing interim fixes, fix packs, and refresh packs on WebSphere Application Server products and components:

Overview of the installation procedure

1. Ensure that the Update Installer for WebSphere Software is installed on your system. The Update installer can be installed from the WebSphere for i5/OS supplements disk, which is included with the installation media. Additionally, when you apply the latest WebSphere Application Server for i5/OS group PTF, the current level of the Update Installer is installed if it is not already installed on the system. The default install location for the Update Installer is QIBM/ProdData/WebSphere/UpdateInstaller/V61/UPDI .

2. Download the most current version of the interim fix, fix pack, or refresh pack file from the Support site into the updi_root /maintenance directory.

   Note: The WebSphere Application Server for i5/OS group PTF always includes the most recent fix pack or refresh pack for the product. If you have applied the group PTF, there is no need to download the current fix or refresh pack level.

3. Use the Update Installer to install the interim fix, fix pack, or refresh pack. The Update Installer creates a backup file in the app_server_root/properties/version/nif/backup directory.

   Note: The WebSphere Application Server group PTF includes the most current fix or refresh pack for the product along with required PTFs for other products that Websphere relies on. For more information refer to Installing the WebSphere Application Server group PTF.

   Note: The group PTFs do not contain any feature pack related items. These items can be downloaded from the support site.

Updating existing profiles in WebSphere Application Server products

The Update Installer updates the core product files in a WebSphere Application Server product. Service in a maintenance package might update the following files in the installation root directory:

• JAR files in the lib directory

• Scripts in the bin directory

• Profile templates

Viewing the fix level of the product

Use the versionInfo command and the historyInfo command in the bin directory of the installation root directory to display the exact fix and version level of the product. However, do not use either command while installing or uninstalling a maintenance package.

Updating cluster members

Apply the same maintenance packages to all of the WebSphere Application Server installations in a cluster. When all of the cluster members are not at the same service level, the following exception can occur:

DRSCacheApp   E DRSW0008E: 
   Exception is: com.ibm.disthub.impl.jms.JMSWrappedException: 
   {-1361012295|unknown|java.io.OptionalDataException|} 

This error can cause memory replication to not function properly.

See the release notes for your product for the latest information about the Update Installer.

Overview

The following procedure describes how to install a maintenance package.

Procedure

1. Log on as a user profile with *ALLOBJ special authority.

2. Install the product that you intend to update.

   You have very likely already installed the software that you are now updating. But if not, install the software now.

3. Optional: Install a new version of the Update Installer.

   If you have installed the current level or the WebSphere Application Server group PTF, the update installer was updated to the most recent level for you and you do not need to perform this step.

   Back up and uninstall any older copy of the Update Installer before downloading and installing the current Update Installer. To use a newer version of the Update Installer, first remove the older version.

   1. Back up any files and subdirectories in the updi_root/maintenance directory if necessary.

   2. Uninstall the older version of the Update Installer using the program under updi_root/uninstall.

   3. Download, unpack, and install the Update Installer for WebSphere Software; or install the Update Installer that is on the WebSphere Application Server supplements disc.

4. Download the maintenance package *.pak file from the Support Web site into the updi_root/maintenance directory.

   Note: If you are installing the most current fix pack and you have installed the current level of the WebSphere Application Server group PTF, the maintenance package containing the fix pack was placed in the updi_root/maintenance directory for you and you do not need to perform this step.

   Do not attempt to unzip or unpack the *.pak file.

5. Stop all processes that use the WebSphere Application Server product.

   Before installing or uninstalling interim fixes, fix packs, and refresh packs on a machine, stop all Java processes on the machine that use the WebSphere Application Server product. WebSphere Application Server processes include:

   • Application server processes

   • The nodeagent process on an application server node when the node is federated into a deployment manager cell

   • The dmgr process for the deployment manager server

6. Follow the instructions for installing the maintenance package. If you obtained the fix or refresh pack by installing the Websphere Application Server group PTF, the instructions for installing the fix or refresh pack can be found in file: updi_root/ReadmeV61.html or updi_root/ReadmeV61.txt.

   If you downloaded the maintenance package from the Support site, the instructions are contained in the readme file link found on the download page.

   Install the maintenance package on the deployment manager installation before installing the maintenance package on each application server installation that you intend to update.

7. For i5/OS, only the silent mode is supported.

   update -options responsefile

Results

This procedure results in installing maintenance packages to update WebSphere software.

What to do next

After installing all maintenance packages, continue to use your WebSphere software.