Jair Rillo Junior’s blog

Nowadays, if you are going to get started a new Java Enterprise Application, you probably will choose the EJB3 technology.

One of the most famous Java Application Server, Websphere, does not bring EJB3 as default, therefore you must install an EJB3 Feature Pack if you want to use it.

Fortunately the installation process is simple, even in Windows or Linux environments. There is a GUI to help us on installation process. However there are some details you must pay attention:

1. Which is your current Websphere version?
2. EJB3 Feature Pack runs only on versions equal or greater than 6.1.0.13
3. If you have other feature pack, such as WebService, it must be in the same version.
4. Before apply the patch, MAKE SURE all websphere process are stopped.

Finding out the WebSphere version

If you are using Webpshere from a fresh installtion, probably the version you are using is the 6.1.0.0. If you are using a version which comes with RAD 7, probably is it:6.1.0.2. In both cases, you must upgrade the Websphere before apply the EJB3 feature pack.

If you have no idea which version your websphere is, let’s check it out. Basically there are two ways to do that.

1. Go to the <WAS>/bin directory (by default in Linux is /opt/IBM/Websphere/AppServer/bin) and run the following command: ./versionInfo.sh. This command will show up the version of Websphere, as well as the version of all features packs, if any. An example from my local machine:

   Product List
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   WEBSERVICES              installed
   EJB3                     installed
   BASE                     installed
   
   Installed Product
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Name                     WebServices Feature Pack
   Version                  6.1.0.17
   ID                       WEBSERVICES
   Build Level              cf170819.04
   Build Date               5/15/08
   
   Installed Product
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Name                     WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1 Feature Pack for EJB 3.0
   Version                  6.1.0.17
   ID                       EJB3
   Build Level              cf170821.02
   Build Date               5/27/08
   
   Installed Product
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Name                     IBM WebSphere Application Server
   Version                  6.1.0.17
   ID                       BASE
   Build Level              cf170821.07
   Build Date               5/28/08
   
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Start the WAs and go to its console administrator, through the link: http://localhost:9060/ibm/console. In the top right corner, there will be the Websphere version, like image below:
   

Downloading the EJB3 Feature Pack

As I already said, the EJB3 Feature Pack must be applied in a Websphere version equal or greater than 6.1.0.13, however the Feature Pack itself is always the same, in other words, the file you must download is the same for any Websphere version.

You can download the file from the link: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=177&uid=swg21287579.

Although this topic will learn you how to apply this patch, maybe you want more information. In this case, you can get more information directly from the official IBM’s site.

Downloading the Update Installer

Update Installer is a tool used to update the Websphere version. After version 6.1, Websphere does not bring this tool by default, thus you need to download it separately.

The link to this tool is: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg24012718.

After download and extract it, go to its directory and run its installer. It is a GUI installer. By default, it is installed into <WAS directory>/UpdateInstaller.

Downloading and updating Websphere version

I recommend you to download the latest Websphere version. On last June 3rd, the version 6.1.0.17 was released. The link to download the files is: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg24019091.

YOU DO NOT NEED to download all the files. If you are using only the EJB3 Feature Pack, then you must download the AppServer and AppSrv EJB 3.0 FP.

After you downloaded the files, actually two files with .pak extension, it is time to install them.

Firstly, you must install the AppServer itself. To do that, stop all websphere process and then copy the file to the <WAS>/UpdateInstaller/maintance directory, in my case for instance, /opt/IBM/Websphere/UpdateInstaller/mainstance. (make sure to make this process as root).

Now, go to <WAS>/UpdateInstaller and run the ./update.sh file. A GUI will come up and simply click on next several times. After that, your Websphere will be updated to version 6.1.0.17. (If you want, you can check again its version either through versionInfo or within the Admin Console.

Applying EJB3 Feature Pack

You should be notified that in the last step we did not install the AppSrv EJB 3.0 FP file. Why? Because it will be installed with the EJB3 Feature Pack together.

To do that, extract the EJB3 Feature Pack you downloaded previously and go to its directory (probably a directory called EJB3). There, you will find a file called update.sh. Run it.

A GUI will come up. Like the Update Installer, click next several times until the screen where the installation will ask for the AppSrv EJB 3.0 FP. Select the file you downloaded previously and click NEXT again. The installation process will get started.

When the installation finishes, try to run the versionInfo.sh command to make sure the EJB3 Feature pack was applied successfully. If everything is ok, then your Websphere will be updated and ready to run EJB3 components.

I hope this article be useful for someone else. Any problem, question or feedback, please leave a comment.