Enabling Java™ 8

Update IBM® WebSphere® Application Server to use Java™ 8. Complete this update on every WebSphere Application Server in the deployment.

About this task

IBM Connections™ requires Java™ 8, but WebSphere® Application Server 8.5.5.10 comes with Java™ 6 installed so you must install and enable Java™ 8.

Restriction: If you have Connections Content Manager (CCM), skip this task because you will update Java 6 to Java 8 at a later stage in the deployment process.

Procedure

  1. Download and extract the Java™ SDK 8 fix pack by completing the following steps.
    1. Download the fix pack for your operating system from IBM® Fix Central.

      WebSphere® Application Server 8.5.5 fix pack 10 does not include the Java™ SDK 8 fix pack, so you must download it from IBM® Fix Central. This fix pack contains Java™ SDK 8.0.3.20.

    2. Extract the fix pack into a temporary location on the server.
  2. Stop all Java™ processes on the server.
  3. Use IBM® Installation Manager to install the Java™ SDK 8 fix pack by completing the following steps.
    1. Start Installation Manager.
      • AIX® or Linux™: Open a command window and change to the location where you installed Installation Manager. The default location is /opt/IBM/InstallationManager/eclipse.

        Start Installation Manager by running the following command: ./launchpad.sh

      • Windows™: Click Start > All Programs > Installation Manager > Installation Manager.
    2. Set the repository location to point to the repository.config file for the directory where you extracted the fix pack.
      1. In the Installation Manager window, click File > Preferences.
      2. On the Preferences page, click Repositories.
      3. On the Repositories page, click Add Repository.
      4. On the Add Repository page, click Browse.
      5. On the Select Repository page, browse to the location where you stored the extracted files for the fix pack and locate the repository.config file.
      6. Click the repository.config file to select it, and then click Apply.
      7. Click OK.
      8. Back on the Repositories page, click Check Search service repositories during installation and updates and then click OK.
    3. Back in the main Installation Manager window, click Install.
    4. Select IBM WebSphere SDK Java Technology Edition, select version 8, and then click Continue.
    5. Select the Java™ SDK 8.0.3.20 fix pack, and then click Next.
    6. Select IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment 8.5.5, and then click Next.
    7. Accept the terms in the license agreements, and click Next.
    8. Select a language, and then click Next.
    9. Review the summary information, and click Install.
    10. At the end of the installation, click Finish.
    11. When the installation is complete, close Installation Manager by clicking File > Exit.
  4. Verify that Java™ 8 is now available on the server by running the following command and making sure that the results include SDK name: 1.8_64.
    • AIX® or Linux™: app_server_root/bin/managesdk.sh -listAvailable
    • Windows™: app_server_root\bin\managesdk.bat -listAvailable
  5. Switch the Java™ version to Java™ 8.
    1. Start the deployment manager.
    2. Deployment manager: enable Java™ 8.
      1. Run the following command to enable Java™ 8.
        • AIX® or Linux™: 
          app_server_root/bin/managesdk.sh -enableProfile -profileName Dmgr_profile_name -sdkname 1.8_64
        • Windows™: 
          app_server_root\bin\managesdk.bat -enableProfile -profileName Dmgr_profile_name -sdkname 1.8_64
        Note: If you see a response indicating that The sdk 1.8_64 is not available, restart the deployment and run the command again.
      2. After Java™ 8 is successfully enabled, restart the deployment manager.
    3. Node: enable Java™ 8.
      1. Make sure that the node agent is running, but the application server is stopped.
      2. Run the following command to enable Java™ 8.
        • AIX® or Linux™: 
          app_server_root/bin/managesdk.sh -enableProfile -profileName AppServer_profile_name -sdkname 1.8_64
        • Windows™: 
          app_server_root\bin\managesdk.bat -enableProfile -profileName AppServer_profile_name -sdkname 1.8_64
        Note: If you see a response indicating that The sdk 1.8_64 is not available, restart the node and run the command again.
      3. After Java™ 8 is successfully enabled, restart the node.
      4. Repeat for every node.