Welcome
Installing
An HCL Launch installation consists of the HCL Launch server, a database, and at least one agent.
Starting HCL Launch
Both UNIX™ and Windows™ installations require the HCL Launch server and at least one agent. If you are using a database other than Derby, make sure that the appropriate driver is installed and configured.
Accessing HCL Launch
You can access the HCL Launch server with a web browser.

Welcome
Welcome to the HCL Launch 7.2.1 documentation, where you can find information about how to install, maintain, and use HCL Launch.
Release information
Overview
This section provides overview and getting started information.
Learning
Tutorials and instructions for all experience levels.
Installing
An HCL Launch installation consists of the HCL Launch server, a database, and at least one agent.
- System requirements and performance considerations
  The HCL Launch server runs on Windows™ and UNIX™ systems. Following some guidelines can improve the performance of the server and agents.
- Firewall and communication configuration
  This topic describes the communication between the HCL Launch components, the firewall, and the ports involved in the communication.
- Installing the server database
  HCL Launch requires a database. You can use the following database types for an evaluation or production server.
- Installing the server
  The server provides services such as the user interface used to configure application deployments, the workflow engine, the security service, and the artifact repository, among others. Installing the server involves specifying configuration information for the server, such as the ports that the server uses.
- Installing with Kubernetes
  The HCL Launch server can be installed in a cloud-based environment, as a containerized server cluster, managed by Kubernetes. HCL Launch works with Kubernetes to simplify application deployment and manage versions in the containers.
- Installing agents
  You can install agents from the server or from the command line on the agent system. To configure a failover server for an agent, you must install the agent from the command line.
- Installing agent relays
  An agent relay is a communication proxy for agents that are located behind a firewall or in another network location. You can install agent relays in interactive mode or in silent mode.
- Installing plug-ins
  Plug-ins can be installed at any time. You do not need to restart the server after you install a plug-in.
- Starting HCL Launch
  Both UNIX™ and Windows™ installations require the HCL Launch server and at least one agent. If you are using a database other than Derby, make sure that the appropriate driver is installed and configured.
  - Starting and stopping the server
    To run the server, run the batch file or shell script for the server.
  - Starting agents
    To start an agent, run the shell script or batch file.
  - Starting z/OS agents from the z/OS UNIX command line
    The z/OS agent can be started from ISPF as a started task or from the z/OS UNIX command line. To start an agent from ISPF as a started task refer to install/topics/run_agent.html. To start the z/OS agent from the z/OS UNIX command line, follow this procedure.
  - Starting agent relays
    To start an agent relay, run its batch file or shell script.
  - Accessing HCL Launch
    You can access the HCL Launch server with a web browser.
- Installing and uninstalling test fixes (patches) from the server
  Test fixes are provided to correct specific issues. They are applied to the server as patches.
Upgrading and migrating
Learn how to upgrade HCL Launch elements, including the server, agents, and how to migrate data.
Uninstalling
Learn how to uninstall an HCL Launch server, or agent.
Integrating
HCL Launch supports integrations with other IBM® products, products from others, and certain cloud systems.
Administering
Learn how to administer settings in HCL Launch elements and communication between the elements.
Managing security
HCL Launch uses a flexible team-based and role-based security model that maps to your organizational structure.
Modeling software deployment
Modeling software deployment in HCL Launch includes configuring components and component processes and adding those components to applications. Then, you use processes to deploy the components to environments.
Deploying
Learn how to deploy applications in HCL Launch.
Reporting
provides several different deployment and security reports.
Extending product function
Learn how to extend the function of HCL Launch.
Troubleshooting and support
Learn how to troubleshoot some common issues with HCL Launch.

Accessing HCL Launch

You can access the HCL Launch server with a web browser.

Before you begin

Pre-requisite

Start the server. See Starting and stopping the server.

Procedure

Procedure

Open a web browser and go to the server host name that you configured during installation.
The installation log shows the complete URL for the server. The default URL is https://hostname:port, where hostname host name of the computer on which the server is running and port is the HTTPS port that you used when you installed the server. The default HTTPS port is 8443.
Log on to the server by using the default credentials.
The default user name is admin, and you specified the password when you installed the server. You can change these credentials later by using the Settings tab on the HCL Launch web application. See Server settings and configuration
Optional: Check the Keep me logged in box option and the login cookie gets the expiration date one year in the future.

What to do next

If you set the server to use secure connections, your web browser might show a security warning that says that the connection is not secure. This warning appears because the server does not have a trusted certificate. See Configuring SSL on Apache Tomcat and LDAP servers.