What is new for installers

Verification of the WebSphere Application Server public key

WebSphere Application Server uses its private key to digitally sign each WebSphere Application Server release. You can use the WebSphere Application Server public key to check the signature, verify that the package was released by IBM, and that it was not modified since its release. Starting in version 9.0.5.19, you can also verify the authenticity of the WebSphere Application Server public key by using a provided certificate (.cer) file. For more information, see Verifying WebSphere Application Server release packages.

Operating system preparation

Prepare Red Hat Enterprise Linux® Version 9 before you install WebSphere Application Server on it.

Installation manager portable installations on z/OS®

Sample installation jobs for z/OS support both the traditional or standard installation and the portable installation format. In a portable installation, Installation Manager metadata for products in the portable installation are kept with the installed products. This metadata enables each portable installation to be moved to other z/OS systems or to be backed up and restored and remaining serviceable.

Customers can download a compressed portable installation of WebSphere Application Server for z/OS along with IBM HTTP Server and the web server plug-ins. This compressed portable installation can be used to start servers as soon as it is decompressed. Separate portable installations are available for the Liberty runtime. For more information, see Using Installation Manager portable installs on z/OS.

Verification of release packages

Installation Manager

IBM® Installation Manager Version 1.8.5 or later is required to install all WebSphere Application Server products.

V9.0.5.11 or later is supported on IBM i V7R5. IBM Installation Manager Version 1.9.2 or later is required to install the product on IBM i V7R5.

V9.0.0.11 or later is supported on IBM i V7R4. IBM Installation Manager Version 1.8.9.4 or later is required to install the product on IBM i V7R4.

For more information, see Installing Installation Manager.

IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8

IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8 is the Java SDK version for WebSphere Application Server Version 9.0.

IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition is no longer embedded with any WebSphere Application Server offerings. The Java SDK is available as a separate offering that must be installed when you install the product.

Only the 64-bit IBM Java SDK is supported. WebSphere Java SDKs, which were used by previous product versions, are not supported by WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.

For more information, see Installing and updating IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition on distributed operating systems.

WebSphere Application Server Java non-serviceable files

In WebSphere Application Server Version 8.5, certain files in the WebSphere Application Server default Java installation directory, or in the extension offering Java installation directories are non-serviceable files. These files are shipped one time only with the first installation of the product. They are not updated again when WebSphere Application Server Java interim fixes are applied, nor when WebSphere Application Server fix packs are applied.

Starting with WebSphere Application Server Version 9.0, Java files are serviceable. You need to make a backup of the Java files that you changed, and you need to restore these files after you have made any service updates that are needed.

For more information about these non-serviceable files, see WebSphere Application Server Java non-serviceable files.

Supported architectures

Because only 64-bit Java is supported, WebSphere Application Server traditional product offerings can be installed only on 64-bit operating systems.

Integrated trials and new ILAN offering

All offerings except for the supplements have integrated trial licenses. After you purchase the product, you can use the existing trial installation without any changes. Because trial license is included in the main offerings, separate trial offerings are no longer available.

The supplements now have ILAN licenses, which means they are unrestricted, non-supported software for WebSphere Application Server that you can use at no cost. For license details, see the License information documents. To receive support, you must purchase a WebSphere Application Server edition. To purchase the product, see the WebSphere Application Server product page or contact your IBM representative.

The new IBM WebSphere Application Server traditional (ILAN) offering supports unlimited development use and deployment for small-scale production of up to a total of 2 GB heap size across all instances of application servers for the licensee.

For a list of all offerings for WebSphere Application Server traditional, see WebSphere Application Server product offerings for supported operating systems.

Composite repositories

The online composite repositories for Installation Manager bundle the content from the individual web-based repositories so that you can install multiple offerings from a single URL.

For example, you can use the WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment composite repository, http://www.ibm.com/software/repositorymanager/V9WASND, to install WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment, IBM HTTP Server, and the Web Server Plug-ins.

Because the product has integrated trial licenses, you can install the product from the composite repository and then continue to use the same URL after you purchase the product.

For a list of the composite repository URLs and contents, see Online product repositories for WebSphere Application Server offerings.