WebSphere Application Server Express

New Features

What's new in Version 5.0.2

Easier Web site design
WebSphere Application Server Express V5.0.2 now includes a new Web authoring tool that increases productivity through visual site management. Web Site Designer allows you to visually create, import, and customize complete Web sites with consistent style and layout using a tree view of the site structure. With Web Site Designer, you can:

• Create a Web site whose pages have a consistent theme
• Customize the layout and style of the theme to suit your needs.
• View the entire Web site, then add and delete pages using a tree view of the site structure.
• Automatically generate navigation links using JSP custom tags. For example, you could change every page on your site with a new corporate logo by dragging and dropping a new template onto your site display. Or easily import another company's site that you've acquired and add your own company look and feel and automatic navigation links.

More secure
WebSphere Application Server Express V5.0.2 offers an easy way to make your applications more secure. It now includes Web Server Security Plug-ins that allows you to separate your Web server from your application server. Your Web server can be placed in a demilitarized zone (DMZ) while your application server and application data stay protected behind your company firewall.

Improved developer productivity
WebSphere Application Server - Express V5.0.2 is now easier to use with the following enhancements:

• Enhanced Web Perspective: V5.0.2 saves you time with an Enhanced Web perspective that shows you only the artifacts you work with and not extraneous J2EE files. It also allows you to group Web user interface components such as pull down lists, list boxes, etc. in drawers so you can drag and drop into Page Designer. Page Designer now supports Wireless Markup Language (WML) and Compact Hypertext Markup Language (CHTML) so you can extend your applications to pervasive devices.
• Hot Method Replace and Faster Debugging: In V5.0.2, faster debugging and dynamic code changes boost productivity. The new hot method replace capability allows developers to change code in running applications and see the results immediately, without restarting the server. In addition, V5.0.2 speeds debugging by innovating a new JVM mode of just-in-time compilation, which is enabled when a test server is started in debug mode. This unique combination of faster debugging and hot method replace creates an unequalled opportunity for developers to save a tremendous amount of time.
• Database Conveniences: V5.0.2 offers out of the box database driver support for DB2, Informix and SQL Server. The package now includes DB2 Universal Database Express for development use (i.e. not licensed for system test or production).
• Easier to Use: V5.0.2 is also easier to use with improved performance, task-based help navigation and new multimedia help content.

Updated support for the latest platforms and standards
In V5.0.2, WebSphere Application Server - Express adds support for:

• Deployment on UNIX (AIX , Solaris and HP-UX), SuSE SLES and Windows 2003. Note that the development tools will continue to support the Windows and Linux platforms
• DB2 V8.1 support, including support for DB2 Universal Database Express - to develop applications with the latest version of IBM DB2 database

Updated support for the latest standards includes:

• Struts 1.1 - for simplified application development on the latest struts framework
• Eclipse 2.1 - for improved usability for Java Editor/Debugger
• Building Web Services Interoperability (WS-I) compliant Web services - using the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) Editor and Explorer

What's new in Version 5.0.1

Additional administration and deployment flexibility
With V5.0.1, WebSphere Application Server - Express now offers users more flexibility with the following options:

• Browser-based administration, Users now have the option of using a streamlined version of the browser-based administration console featured in the more advanced configurations of WebSphere Application Server V5.0 including remote administration. If users prefer, they can continue to use the simplified console integrated into WebSphere Studio for a single interface regardless of task. Customers who separate development and deployment tasks will find this new option particularly appealing, as will those who want to leverage remote administration.
• Extended Windows Platform Support: With V5.0.1, WebSphere Application Server - Express has extended platform support by adding deployment support for Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP. This was requested by ISVs with disconnected applications that still require an application server (e.g. those that run on a laptop not connected to the Internet).

Enhanced security features
V5.0.1 also offers enhanced security features - now offering support for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), registry support for an LTPA server to allow users to log into multiple systems (e.g. Domino) or applications with a single id and password (Single Sign-On), and enhanced ability to separate tasks between development and production for process control by leveraging the browser-based administration console.

Improved development tool performance and enhancements
V5.0.1 includes several performance improvements to increase developer productivity; Struts Builder for web tooling scenarios, profiler scalability, trace file loading, table insertion within PageDesigner, JSP Validation speed. A new Remote Server Configuration Wizard offers improved resource utilization and flexibility, making it possible to set up a server for publishing and testing on a remote machine (vs. having to have your unit test environment on your development machine). The Struts framework has been updated from Beta 2 to Beta 3 to improve quality. Overall product documentation is now available in additional languages.

Benefits

Ready to go
Includes a simplified Web application server, WebSphere Studio development environment, and wizards and samples

Approachable and affordable
Choice of licensing options to fit your needs:

• Per processor licensing for intranet, extranet or Internet applications
• Per user licensing for employee intranet applications only

Easy-to-use

• Out-of-the-box solution for building static and dynamic Web sites
• Quick, wizard-driven installation (only 5 clicks to install)
• Visual Web site management to visually create, import, and customize complete Web sites with consistent style and layout using a tree view of the site structure (new)
• One-click application assembly and deployment that can help improve productivity
• Two simple administrative options depending on your preference - straight from the development tool and via a browser-based administration tool

Migration-ready

• Migrate to other WebSphere Application Server and IBM WebSphere Studio V5 configurations when more advanced development and deployment capabilities are required
• Leverage your investment through the upgrade discount when you are ready to grow.

System Req.

The following requirements must be met on both the server and the client to support the basic installation and use of WebSphere Application Server Express Version 5.0.2:

Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP

• For tools only on one machine: Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a or higher; Windows NT Workstation 4.0 with Server Pack 6a or higher; Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 2 or higher, Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 or higher
• For tools and remote server on one machine: Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a or higher; Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 2 or higher, Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 or higher
• For Tools only on one machine: Intel Pentium II processor minimum; Pentium III at 500 MHz or faster, recommended; 512 MB RAM minimum (768 MB RAM recommended) , 1 GB minimum disk space. Additional disk space is required if downloading the electronic image.
• For Tools and Remote Server on one machine: Intel Pentium II processor minimum; Intel Pentium III at 500 MHz or faster recommended, 512 MB RAM minimum (768 MB RAM recommended), Support for a communications adapter (Windows); 1.2 GB minimum disk space. Additional disk space required if downloading the electronic image.

Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows NT, Windows XP

• For remote server alone on one machine: Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a or higher; Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 2 or higher; Windows 2000 Server with Service Pack 3 or higher; Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition; Windows 2000 Advanced Server with Service Pack 3 or higher, Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 or higher
• For remote server alone on one machine: Intel Pentium II processor; Intel Pentium III at 500 MHz or faster recommended; Support for a communications adapter, Minimum 256 MB memory (512 MB recommended); Minimum 300 MB available disk space for installation (includes IBM Software Developer Kit), Additional disk space is required if you download the electronic image.

Linux

• For tools only on one machine: Red Hat 7.2 or 8.0, or SuSE Version 7.2 or 8.1
• For remote server alone on one machine: Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1; SuSE Version 7.3; United Linux V 1.0 (SuSE SLES 8)
• For Tools only on one machine: Intel Pentium II processor minimum; Pentium III at 500 MHz or faster, recommended; 512 MB RAM minimum (768 MB RAM recommended) , 1 GB minimum disk space. Additional disk space is required if downloading the electronic image.

For remote server alone on one machine: Intel x86 processor at 500MHz or faster; Support for TCP/IP and a communications adapter; Minimum 256MB memory (512MB recommended); Minimum 300MB available disk space for installation (includes IBM Software Developer Kit). Additional disk space required if downloading the electronic image.

AIX

• For remote server alone on one machine: AIX 5.2 plus APARIY44183
• For remote server alone on one machine: RS/6000 workstation or RS/6000 SP Frame at 375 MHz or faster; Support for TCP/IP and a communications adapter; Minimum 256MB memory (512MB recommended); Minimum 300MB available disk space for installation (includes IBM Software Developer Kit). Additional disk space required if downloading the electronic image.

HP-UX

• For remote server alone on one machine: HP 11i (Fix Level December 2002)
• For remote server alone on one machine: HP 9000 at 440 MHz or faster; Support for TCP/IP and a communications adapter; Minimum 256MB memory (512MB recommended); Minimum 300MB available disk space for installation (includes IBM Software Developer Kit). Additional disk space required if downloading the electronic image.

Solaris

• For remote server alone on one machine: Solaris 9 with the Recommended Patch Cluster of April 2003
• For remote server alone on one machine: G5, G6 or better processor; Support for TCP/IP and a communications adapter; Minimum 256MB memory (512MB recommended); Minimum 300MB available disk space for installation (includes IBM Software Developer Kit). Additional disk space required if downloading the electronic image.

OS/400
See IBM website for requirements.