WebSphere Application Server 8.5 comes by default with an IBM Java SDK 6. But nowadays, it becomes harder and harder to find applications running under Java 6 and most of the time, Java 7 is required. I faced this problem with Jenkins. So here is how to install and activate the IBM Java SDK 7 for WebSphere 8.5.0.

Checking if the Java SDK 7 is already installed

First, check that you don’t have the SDK 7 already installed. Run the command:

cd /opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer/profiles/AppSrv01/bin
./managesdk.sh -listAvailable

You should get a result like:

CWSDK1003I: Available SDKs :
CWSDK1005I: SDK name: 1.6_64
CWSDK1001I: Successfully performed the requested managesdk task.

or

CWSDK1003I: Available SDKs :
CWSDK1005I: SDK name: 1.7_64
CWSDK1005I: SDK name: 1.6_64
CWSDK1001I: Successfully performed the requested managesdk task.

If you already has the line listing the SDK 7, you can go to the last step right away (Enabling the SDK). If not, follow the next steps.

Installing the SDK

You need to download the SDK 7 for WebSphere, the parts number for WAS 8.5.0 are CI717ML, CI718ML, CI719ML.

Then deflate all three files in the same folder. Start the IBM Installation Manager tool and add a new repository:

1. Go to File > Preferences
2. Click add repository
3. Select the repository,config file from the folder you deflated all files.

Then Click Install and install IBM WebSphere SDK Java Technology Edition, Version 7.0.1.0

Check if the SDK is now available:

./managesdk.sh -listAvailable

You should have the line:

CWSDK1005I: SDK name: 1.7_64

Enabling the SDK

Now stop your WebSphere server:

./stopServer.sh server1

Ebable the SDK 7 for your profile:

./managesdk.sh -enableProfile -profileName AppSrv01 -sdkname 1.7_64

And restart your server:

./startServer.sh server1

Your server server1 is now running a Java SDK 7.