25
Thu, Apr
0 New Articles

Tech Tip: Installing IBM Web Content Manager and Portal on IBM i

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

The documentation for WCM and Portal on IBM i is a little hairy, so we'll go through the installation step by step here.

 

Must things be so difficult? No! They don't need to be! Clear documentation would make things a lot simpler, but since that wasn't available to me, I decided to make my own after I did the install. I hope this article saves you from some headaches.

 

IBM Web Content Manager is a web development and content publishing tool designed to allow users to update their own content while IT maintains control. Essentially, you can give users content publishing rights within a controlled and easy-to-use sandbox, allowing them to maintain a website for public or internal purposes.

 

To begin the process, I downloaded the following five images from IBM Passport Advantage. All these images need to be consolidated in a single repository, and I'll explain that later in the article.

 

  • CI7N3MLIBM WebSphere Portal and Web Content Manager Install V8.0 (1 of 5) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7N4MLIBM WebSphere Portal and Web Content Manager Install V8.0 (2 of 5) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7N5MLIBM WebSphere Portal and Web Content Manager Install V8.0 (3 of 5) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7N6MLIBM WebSphere Portal and Web Content Manager Install V8.0 (4 of 5) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7N7MLIBM WebSphere Portal and Web Content Manager Install V8.0 (5 of 5) Multiplatform Multilingual

 

In actuality, once downloaded, these first five zip files above are labeled as 1 of 7, 2 of 7, etc., so there's some confusion there. I spent some time wondering where the two I missed were. But I didn't miss any. There are only five.

 

The next five images you need to download are the following:

 

  • CI7VIMLIBM Web Content Manager Setup V8.0 (1 of 2) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7VJMLIBM Web Content Manager Setup V8.0 (2 of 2) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7N8MLIBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment V8.0.0.3 (1 of 3) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7N9MLIBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment V8.0.0.3 (2 of 3) Multiplatform Multilingual
  • CI7NAMLIBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment V8.0.0.3 (3 of 3) Multiplatform Multilingual

 

Under CI7N3ML and CI7N4ML, there are two Setup folders (one for Installation Manager, and one for WASFixes). Also, under CI7VIML, there's a Setup folder for the WCM.

Let's Do It!

Now that you know what the puzzle pieces are, let's talk about what to do with them.

 

Create a Portal8 folder, which will be our installation repository comprised of all the different images I downloaded earlier. There is no documentation showing what the final installable directory should look like, so here's how I built my directory.

 

Installable Directory                      Source Media

Portal8/Portal/disk1                         CI7N5ML

Portal8/Portal/disk2                         CI7N6ML

Portal8/Portal/disk3                         CI7N7ML

Portal8/WAS/disk1                           CI7N8ML

Portal8/WAS/disk2                           CI7N9ML

Portal8/WAS/disk3                           CI7NAML

Portal8/WCM                                   CI7VJML

Portal8/Setup/IIM                            CI7N3ML

Portal8/Setup/WASFixes                  CI7N4ML and CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/Components              CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/eimage                     CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/IBMPU                      CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/launchpad                 CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/quickstart                 CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/repository                CI7VIML                                                           

Portal8/Setup/autorun.inf               CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/setup64.exe             CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/setup64.ini               CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/setup.exe                 CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/setup.ini                  CI7VIML

Portal8/Setup/setup.sh                  CI7VIML                                            

Portal8/Setup/responsefiles            CI7VIML

 

 

Create a folder on the IFS called InstallPortal, share it via NetServer, and copy the customized Portal8 folder to it.

 

Install IBM Installation Manager via the following steps:

 

  1. Sign onto a 5250 session.
  2. Start Qshell by typing Qsh on a command line and pressing Enter.
  3. Change the working directory to the Installation Manager install directory: cd /InstallPortal/Portal8/Setup/IIM/os400
  4. Run the Installation Manager installer: installc -acceptLicense
  5. While in Qshell, change your working directory to the newly created Installation Manager directory and encrypt your wpadmin password. Copy the password when the command finishes and paste it somewhere handy.

 

cd /qibm/proddata/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools

imutilsc encryptString insertpasswordhere

 

I changed the response file /InstallPortal/Portal8/Setup/responsefiles/iseries/wcm_standalone_full.xml repository location parameters to point at /InstallPortal/Portal8/Setup/eimage/repository.config and /InstallPortal/Portal8/Setup/WASFixes/8.0.0.3-WS-WAS-i5OSPPC-IFPM59405.zip.

 

While you're in there, you should update two other parameters. The first parameter is the web address of the server. Before changing this, I created a new IP interface on IBM i and assigned a host table entry for www.yourwebservername.com to it. If you have other web servers on your IBM i partition running HTTP/HTTPs, it's a good idea to give each web service a dedicated IP address so that you won't run into port conflicts.

 

Once you can ping the host, change the following parameter with that host address:

data key="user.wp.hostname,com.ibm.websphere.PORTAL.SERVER.v80" value="www.yourwebservername.com" />

 

The second parameter is for the encrypted password you created earlier. Copy and paste it in.

 

Save the file.

 

Now we're ready to install Portal and WCM.

 

Back in Qshell, your directory should still be /qibm/proddata/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools, so you can run the installation procedure from there:

 

imcl -acceptLicense input

 

/InstallPortal/Portal8/Setup/responsefiles/iseries/wcm_standalone_full.xml -log /portal8install          

 

The install log will be generated as the stream file /portal8install. If you have any errors, they'll be in there.

 

Once the install is finished, assuming you had no errors, you should be able to launch WCM and access it via a web browser at the web address you specified earlier.

 

Now that wasn't so hard, was it?

 

Steve Pitcher
Steve Pitcher works with iTech Solutions, an IBM Premier Business Partner. He is a specialist in IBM i and IBM Power Systems solutions since 2001. Feel free to contact him directly This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$0.00 Raised:
$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: