[AIX Solaris HP-UX Linux Windows]

Installing and uninstalling interim fixes and fix packs on distributed operating systems

Product fix packs contain bundled service to bring WebSphere® Application Server up to a new product level. Interim fixes provide corrective service for specific known problems. You can use IBM® Installation Manager to update the product with the interim fixes and fix packs that are available for your service level of WebSphere Application Server Version 8.5.

Before you begin

Attention: Starting in version 8.5.5.11, the default versions of Java are Java SE 6 or Java SE 8. As such, you can accept the default and install either Java SE 6 or Java SE 8 as the version of Java SE contained in the /java and /java64 directories in WebSphere Application Server and used by default during server and node configuration. Java 8 is the recommended Java SDK because it provides the latest features and security updates. You can continue to use Java SE 6, but no service can be provided after the end of support in April 2018, which might expose your environment to security risks.
Java SE 7 and Java SE 7.1 (not available for Solaris and HP) are also viable options for installing on WebSphere Application Server version 8.5.5.11.
  • The bit level of Java SE 7.0 is based on the bit level selected during the initial installation of WebSphere Application Server. If a 32-bit WebSphere Application Server is installed, then only the 32-bit Java SE 7.0 can be installed. If a 64-bit WebSphere Application Server is installed, then only the 64-bit Java SE 7.0 can be installed.
  • Installing the optional Java SE 7.0 or Java SE 7.1 does not imply that profiles can take advantage of this new version of Java. The managesdk command can be used to switch Java or the WebSphere Application Server administrative console (wsadmin) can be used to make the switch.

[8.5.5.14 or later]Starting in version 8.5.5.14, Java SE 8 is the default Java. When updating to 8.5.5.14, any existing profile that uses Java SDK 6 is replaced by Java SDK 8. You can continue to use Java SDK Java Technology Edition Version 7.0 and Version 7.1, but no service can be provided after the end of support in July 2022, which could expose your environment to security risks.

For more information on Java SE 6, 7, and 7.1 end of service, see Java SE 6, 7, and 7.1 end of service in WebSphere Application Server V8.5.

The com.ibm.websphere.IBMJAVA.v80 offering will be deprecated, and no fix packs or interim fixes will be provided for this offering after March 2020. If this offering is installed with WebSphere Application Server Version 8.5.5 after March 2020, uninstall it and switch to the default Java SE 8 SDK provided by the WebSphere Application Server package in the same package group. With the default Java SE 8 SDK, you continue receiving Java SE 8 SDK support, including security updates.

[8.5.5.18 or later]Starting in version 8.5.5.18 for Linux on POWER8 Little Endian (LE), the default versions of Java are Java SE 7.1 or Java SE 8. As such, you can accept the default and install either Java SE 7.1 or Java SE 8 as the version of Java SE contained in the /java directory in WebSphere Application Server and used by default during server and node configuration. Java 8 is the recommended Java SDK because it provides the latest features and security updates. You can continue to use Java SE 7.1, but no service can be provided after the end of support in July 2022, which might expose your environment to security risks.

You can use the user.wasjava=java8 property only with new installations of the product for Linux on POWER8 LE. The user.wasjava=java8 property does not work for product upgrades through fix packs for Linux on POWER8 LE.

[8.5.5.19 or later]Starting in version 8.5.5.19 for Linux on POWER8 Little Endian (LE), the default version of Java is Java SE 8. As such, you can accept the default and install Java SE 8 as the version of Java SE contained in the /java directory in WebSphere Application Server and used by default during server and node configuration. You can continue to use Java SE 7.1 by installing IBM WebSphere Java SDK Version 7.1, but no service can be provided after the end of support in July 2022, which might expose your environment to security risks.

The user.wasjava=java8 property is not required for installing and updating to version 8.5.5.19 for Linux on POWER8 LE.

Contact the IBM Software Support Center for information about upgrades for WebSphere Application Server. The most current information is available from the IBM Software Support Center and Fix Central.

IBM Installation Manager is used to apply and remove product maintenance.

Important: Installation Manager can install any fix-pack level of the product directly without installing the interim fix packs; in fact, Installation Manager installs the latest level by default. For example, you can skip fix-pack levels and go from Version 8.5.0.1 directly to Version 8.5.0.5. Keep in mind, however, that later you can not roll back to any level that was skipped. If you directly install to Version 8.5.0.5, for example, you cannot roll back to Version 8.5.0.4. If you skip from Version 8.5.0.1 to Version 8.5.0.5, you can only roll back to Version 8.5.0.1. You should plan your installations accordingly.

About this task

Tip: You can use the IBM Packaging Utility to generate a new local or web-based repository that contains all of the fixes that you want to install and then use Installation Manager to update WebSphere Application Server Version 8.x with all of the interim fixes as a group. For information on using the Packaging Utility, see the IBM Installation Manager documentation.
Important: In Network Deployment cells, the deployment manager node must be at the same or a later service level as the cell's application server nodes. You must ensure that the deployment manager node is upgraded to the new service level.

Procedure