Deploying the help system on IBM WebSphere Application Server

If you are using IBM® WebSphere® Application Server, most likely you are installing the help content on the same server as the product. You can deploy the help system on the existing installation of WebSphere Application Server.

Before you begin

Verify that these requirements are met:
  1. The server that you configure the help content on must be available to your users behind the firewall.
  2. A help.war file is on your server.
    • If the product that you are configuring the help for is installed on the server, a help.war file might be installed already.
      • Look in the installation_directory/help directory for the help.war file.
      • Look for a version of the file that includes the product abbreviation, such as clmhelp.war or ramhelp.war
      • Search your installation directory for *help.war.
    • If the product is not installed on the server or the product did not include a help.war file, download a version of the help.war file.
  3. Install a Java™ Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK). You can install one of the IBM developer kits.
  4. WebSphere Application Server is installed and configured. For more information about installing and configuring WebSphere Application Server for your environment, see your product documentation or the documentation for WebSphere Application Server.
  5. An environment variable with the path to the JRE or JDK must be set:
    • If you installed a JRE, verify that the JRE_HOME environment variable value is set to the path of the directory where you installed the JRE. For example:
      • Windows: C:\Program Files\Java70\jre
      • linux: /usr/local/java70/jre
    • If you installed the JDK, verify that the JAVA_HOME environment variable value is set to the path of the directory where you installed the JDK. For example:
      • Windows: C:\Program Files\Java70
      • linux: /usr/local/java70/
  6. WebSphere Application Server is started.

Procedure

To deploy the help.war file:

  1. Open the WebSphere Application Server administrative console.
  2. Click Applications > New Application > New Enterprise Application.
  3. Select Local file system.
  4. Click Browse and select the help.war file that you chose to use.
  5. Click Next to accept all of the default options until you reach the "Map context roots for web modules" page.
  6. In the "Map context roots for web modules" page, set the Context Root to /help, click Next, and then click Finish.
  7. Verify that the application was installed correctly and then click Save directly to the master configuration.
  8. Click Applications > Application Types > WebSphere Enterprise Applications.
  9. Select the check box next to the help.war application and then click Start.
    Note: The help system starts and stops when you manually start or stop the application.
  10. Verify that you can access the help system by adding context_root/index.jsp to the end of your server application URL. For example: http://server:port/help/index.jsp.
    Note: The help system might not contain help content yet. Next, install the documentation into the help system.

What to do next

Related information:
WebSphere Application Server product information
IBM developer kits
Download the help.war

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