Creating a runtime environment with an optional IBM SDK

When you install WebSphere® Application Server traditional V8.5 or V9, by default a specific version of IBM® SDK, Java™ Technology Edition is installed with it. After you install WebSphere Application Server, you can optionally create a runtime environment with other versions of the IBM software development kit (SDK) that the application server supports.

Before you begin

Important: Applicable to WebSphere Application Server traditional
  • Ensure that IBM WebSphere Application Server Developer Tools for Eclipse is already installed into your Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers workbench and that you restarted the workbench. For more information, see Installing and updating into an existing Eclipse workbench.
  • If you are not installing from the Eclipse marketplace, and you do not already have the installation files (.zip file) for IBM WebSphere Application Server Developer Tools for Eclipse, download the file from https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6589483.

About this task

By default, when you install WebSphere Application Server traditional V8.5, IBM SDK Version 6.0 is installed with it.WebSphere Application Server traditional V8.5 supports IBM SDK Version 7.0, IBM SDK Version 7.1, and IBM SDK Version 8.0.

WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 supports IBM SDK Version 8.0.

These IBM SDKs are optional. After you install WebSphere Application Server Version 8.5, you can install either IBM SDK on it. Earlier versions of WebSphere Application Server do not support optional IBM SDKs.

The following table summarizes what versions of the IBM SDK apply to a particular version of WebSphere Application Server. The table also summarizes what versions of the IBM SDK can optionally be used to create an application server runtime environment.
Table 1. WebSphere Application Server versions and their IBM SDK versions
WebSphere Application Server versions Supported IBM SDK versions IBM SDKs that can optionally be used to create an application server runtime environment
8.5 6.0, 7.0, 7.1, 8.0 7.0 and 7.1
9.0 8.0 None
The following example procedure shows you how to create a WebSphere Application Server traditional runtime environment with IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 7.1.

Procedure

  1. In the workbench, select Window > Preferences > Server > Runtime Environments.
  2. Click Add.
  3. Select WebSphere Application Server traditional Version, and then click Next.
  4. Specify the installation directory.

    The JRE for the runtime environment: list is automatically displayed. The list contains the IBM SDKs including the default IBM SDK. For WebSphere Application Server traditional V8.5, the default IBM SDK is Version 6.

    For WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0, the default IBM SDK is Version 8.

  5. Select Version 7.1, and then click Finish.

Results

You have an application server that is targeted for JRE 1.7.1.