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WebSphere Application Server Liberty: Download Options and Features



Download Was Liberty: How to Install and Use IBM WebSphere Liberty




If you are looking for a fast, flexible, and developer-friendly Java EE application server, you might want to consider IBM WebSphere Liberty. In this article, we will explain what WebSphere Liberty is, why you should choose it, how to download it, how to install it, and how to use it. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to get started with WebSphere Liberty and how to leverage its features and capabilities.




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What is WebSphere Liberty?




WebSphere Liberty is a lightweight and modular Java EE application server that supports a variety of web-based applications, microservices, and cloud-native applications. It is based on open standards and provides a flexible and extensible platform for developing, deploying, and managing applications.


A lightweight and flexible Java EE application server




WebSphere Liberty is designed to be fast, agile, and efficient. It has a fast startup time and a low memory footprint, which makes it ideal for development, testing, and production environments. It also has a dynamic feature loading mechanism that allows it to load only the features that are required by the applications, which reduces the server size and improves performance. WebSphere Liberty supports multiple Java versions (Java SE 8, 11, 17) and Java EE standards (Java EE 7, 8), as well as Jakarta EE 9. It also supports various web frameworks, such as Spring Boot, MicroProfile, Open Liberty, etc.


A modular and extensible platform for microservices and cloud-native applications




WebSphere Liberty is built on a modular architecture that enables it to run on different platforms and environments, such as Windows, Linux, MacOS, AIX, z/OS, Docker, Kubernetes, IBM Cloud Private, etc. It also supports various deployment models, such as standalone servers, clusters, collectives, etc. WebSphere Liberty provides a rich set of features and APIs that enable developers to create microservices and cloud-native applications that are scalable, resilient, secure, and portable. Some of these features include:


  • Admin Center: A web-based user interface that allows administrators to configure and manage WebSphere Liberty servers and clusters.



  • Collective Controller: A feature that enables the creation and management of collectives, which are groups of WebSphere Liberty servers that can be managed as a single entity.



  • MicroProfile: A set of specifications that define a standard for developing microservices with Java EE technologies.



  • Open Liberty: An open source version of WebSphere Liberty that provides the same core features and capabilities.



  • Security: A feature that provides various security mechanisms, such as authentication, authorization, encryption, SSL, etc.



Why choose WebSphere Liberty?




WebSphere Liberty is a powerful and versatile Java EE application server that offers many benefits for developers and administrators. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose WebSphere Liberty:


Benefits of WebSphere Liberty




Fast startup and low memory footprint




WebSphere Liberty has a fast startup time of less than 2 seconds and a low memory footprint of less than 100 MB. This means that you can start and stop your servers quickly and easily, and run more instances of WebSphere Liberty on the same hardware. This also improves the responsiveness and availability of your applications, as well as the efficiency and productivity of your development and testing cycles.


Dynamic feature loading and configuration




WebSphere Liberty has a dynamic feature loading mechanism that allows it to load only the features that are required by the applications, which reduces the server size and improves performance. You can also add or remove features dynamically without restarting the server, which simplifies the configuration and maintenance of your servers. WebSphere Liberty uses an XML-based configuration file (server.xml) that allows you to specify the features, properties, and resources for your server. You can also use variables, overrides, and includes to customize your configuration for different environments.


Developer-friendly tools and APIs




WebSphere Liberty provides a rich set of tools and APIs that enable developers to create, test, debug, and deploy applications on WebSphere Liberty. Some of these tools and APIs include:


Download WebSphere Liberty for developers


Download WebSphere Liberty v23.0.0.4 packages


Download WebSphere Liberty from ZIP file


Download WebSphere Liberty using Maven


Download WebSphere Liberty using Gradle


Download WebSphere Liberty using Docker


Download WebSphere Liberty using Eclipse


Download WebSphere Liberty features with featureUtility


Download WebSphere Application Server trial version


Download WebSphere Application Server for development use


Download WebSphere Application Server for small company use


Download WebSphere Application Server using IBM Installation Manager


Download WebSphere Application Server traditional edition


Download WebSphere Application Server Liberty edition


Download WebSphere Application Server Version 9.0


Download WebSphere Application Server from Passport Advantage Online


Download WebSphere Application Server for Java EE and web services


Download WebSphere Application Server for cloud-native microservices


Download WebSphere Application Server for Windows


Download WebSphere Application Server for Linux


Download WebSphere Application Server for Mac OS X


Download WebSphere Application Server for z/OS


Download WebSphere Application Server for AIX


Download WebSphere Application Server for Solaris


Download WebSphere Application Server for HP UX


Download WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment edition


Download WebSphere Application Server Base edition


Download WebSphere Application Server Express edition


Download WebSphere Application Server Developer edition


Download WebSphere Application Server Liberty Core edition


Download WebSphere Application Server ND trial version


Download WebSphere Application Server ND installation images


Download WebSphere Application Server ND fix packs and updates


Download WebSphere Application Server ND documentation and guides


Download WebSphere Application Server ND license agreement and terms of use


Download WebSphere Application Server ND support and services


Download WebSphere Application Server ND system requirements and prerequisites


Download WebSphere Application Server ND migration tools and resources


Download WebSphere Application Server ND security and compliance features


Download WebSphere Application Server ND performance and scalability features


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile trial version


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile installation images


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile fix packs and updates


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile documentation and guides


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile license agreement and terms of use


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile support and services


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile system requirements and prerequisites


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile migration tools and resources


Download WebSphere Liberty Profile security and compliance features


Download Websphere Liberty Profile performance and scalability features


  • wlp/bin: A command-line interface that allows you to perform various tasks on your WebSphere Liberty servers, such as starting, stopping, installing features, creating servers, etc.



  • Admin Center: A web-based user interface that allows you to configure and manage your WebSphere Liberty servers and clusters.



  • Eclipse IDE plugin: A plugin that integrates WebSphere Liberty with Eclipse IDE, which allows you to create, run, debug, and deploy applications on WebSphere Liberty from within Eclipse.



  • Maven or Gradle dependency: A dependency that allows you to use Maven or Gradle to build and deploy applications on WebSphere Liberty.



  • Docker or Podman container: A container that allows you to run WebSphere Liberty as a Docker or Podman image, which simplifies the deployment and portability of your applications.



  • MicroProfile: A set of specifications that define a standard for developing microservices with Java EE technologies.



  • Open Liberty: An open source version of WebSphere Liberty that provides the same core features and capabilities.



Support for multiple Java versions and standards




WebSphere Liberty supports multiple Java versions (Java SE 8, 11, 17) and Java EE standards (Java EE 7, 8), as well as Jakarta EE 9. This means that you can run applications that use different Java versions and standards on the same WebSphere Liberty server. This also gives you the flexibility to choose the Java version and standard that best suits your needs and preferences. You can also migrate your applications from older Java versions and standards to newer ones with minimal changes.


Comparison with WebSphere Application Server traditional




If you are familiar with WebSphere Application Server traditional (WAS), you might wonder how WebSphere Liberty compares with it. Here are some of the similarities and differences between them:


Similarities and differences




AspectWebSphere Application Server traditionalWebSphere Liberty


TypeA full-profile Java EE application serverA lightweight and modular Java EE application server


SizeAbout 1 GBAbout 100 MB


Startup timeAbout 30 secondsAbout 2 seconds


Feature loadingStatic (requires restart)Dynamic (no restart required)


Configuration fileXML-based (server.xml) XML-based (server.xml)


Java versionJava SE 8Java SE 8, 11, 17


Java EE standardJava EE 7Java EE 7, 8, Jakarta EE 9


Web framework supportLimitedExtensive


Deployment modelStandalone servers, clusters, cellsStandalone servers, clusters, collectives


Platform supportWindows, Linux, AIX, z/OS, etc.Windows, Linux, MacOS, AIX, z/OS, Docker, Kubernetes, IBM Cloud Private, etc.


Development toolsEclipse IDE plugin, Rational Application Developer, etc.Eclipse IDE plugin, Maven or Gradle dependency, Docker or Podman container, etc.


Licensing and pricingPaid and subscription-basedFree and open source (Open Liberty), paid and subscription-based (WebSphere Liberty)


Migration options and scenarios




If you want to migrate your applications from WebSphere Application Server traditional to WebSphere Liberty, you have several options and scenarios to consider. Some of these include:


  • Migrating the entire application server: This involves moving all the applications and configuration from WebSphere Application Server traditional to WebSphere Liberty. This option requires more effort and testing, but it can provide better performance and flexibility.



  • Migrating individual applications: This involves moving only the applications that are compatible with WebSphere Liberty and leaving the rest on WebSphere Application Server traditional. This option requires less effort and testing, but it can result in a mixed environment and potential compatibility issues.



  • Migrating to a hybrid cloud: This involves moving some or all of the applications to WebSphere Liberty on a cloud platform, such as IBM Cloud Private, while keeping some or all of the applications on WebSphere Application Server traditional on-premise. This option can provide scalability and cost savings, but it can also introduce complexity and security challenges.



  • Migrating to microservices: This involves refactoring the applications into smaller and independent components that can run on WebSphere Liberty as microservices. This option can provide agility and resilience, but it can also require significant changes in the architecture and design of the applications.



To help you with the migration process, IBM provides various tools and resources, such as the Migration Toolkit for Application Binaries, the Migration Toolkit for Eclipse IDE, the Binary Scanner tool, the Configuration Comparison tool, etc. You can also consult the IBM documentation and support for more guidance and best practices.


How to download WebSphere Liberty?




To download WebSphere Liberty, you need to meet some prerequisites and system requirements. You also have several download options and sources to choose from.


Prerequisites and system requirements




To download WebSphere Liberty, you need to have:


  • A supported operating system: Windows, Linux, MacOS, AIX, z/OS, etc.



  • A supported Java version: Java SE 8, 11, 17.



  • A supported web browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.



  • A sufficient disk space: At least 500 MB for the ZIP file download option.



  • An internet connection: To access the download sources and install additional features.



Download options and sources




You have several download options and sources to choose from:


Stand-alone ZIP file




This option allows you to download a ZIP file that contains the WebSphere Liberty runtime and some basic features. You can unzip the file to any location on your system and start using WebSphere Liberty. You can also install additional features using the featureUtility command or the server.xml file. To download the ZIP file, you can use one of these sources:


  • The IBM website: You need to sign in with your IBMid or create one if you don't have one.



  • The Open Liberty website: You don't need to sign in or create an account.



  • The GitHub repository: You don't need to sign in or create an account.



Maven or Gradle dependency




This option allows you to use Maven or Gradle to build and deploy applications on WebSphere Liberty. You can specify the WebSphere Liberty dependency in your pom.xml or build.gradle file and use the Maven or Gradle commands to download and install WebSphere Liberty. You can also install additional features using the featureUtility command or the server.xml file. To use this option, you need to have Maven or Gradle installed on your system. You can use one of these sources:


  • The Maven Central repository: You don't need to sign in or create an account.



  • The IBM repository: You don't need to sign in or create an account.



Docker or Podman container




This option allows you to run WebSphere Liberty as a Docker or Podman image, which simplifies the deployment and portability of your applications. You can pull the WebSphere Liberty image from a container registry and run it as a container on your system. You can also install additional features using the featureUtility command or the server.xml file. To use this option, you need to have Docker or Podman installed on your system. You can use one of these sources:


  • The Docker Hub registry: You need to sign in with your Docker ID or create one if you don't have one.



  • The IBM Cloud Container Registry: You need to sign in with your IBMid or create one if you don't have one.



  • The Red Hat Quay registry: You don't need to sign in or create an account.



Eclipse IDE plugin




This option allows you to integrate WebSphere Liberty with Eclipse IDE, which allows you to create, run, debug, and deploy applications on WebSphere Liberty from within Eclipse. You can install the WebSphere Liberty plugin from the Eclipse Marketplace and use the Eclipse wizards and menus to download and install WebSphere Liberty. You can also install additional features using the featureUtility command or the server.xml file. To use this option, you need to have Eclipse IDE installed on your system. You can use this source:


  • The Eclipse Marketplace: You don't need to sign in or create an account.



How to install WebSphere Liberty?




To install WebSphere Liberty, you need to follow the installation steps for the download option that you chose. You also need to verify that the installation was successful and troubleshoot any issues that might occur.


Installation steps for different download options




ZIP file installation




To install WebSphere Liberty from a ZIP file, you need to:


  • Download the ZIP file from one of the sources mentioned above.



  • Unzip the file to any location on your system.



  • Set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to point to a supported Java version.



  • Set the PATH environment variable to include the wlp/bin directory.



  • Run the wlp/bin/server create command to create a default server.



  • Run the wlp/bin/server start command to start the default server.



Maven or Gradle installation




To install WebSphere Liberty from Maven or Gradle, you need to:


  • Create a Maven or Gradle project with a pom.xml or build.gradle file that specifies the WebSphere Liberty dependency.



  • Run the mvn liberty:run or gradle libertyRun command to download and install WebSphere Liberty and run a default server.



Docker or Podman installation




To install WebSphere Liberty from Docker or Podman, you need to:


  • Pull the WebSphere Liberty image from one of the sources mentioned above.



  • Run the docker run or podman run command to run a container with WebSphere Liberty and a default server.



Eclipse IDE installation




To install WebSphere Liberty from Eclipse IDE, you need to:


  • Install the WebSphere Liberty plugin from the Eclipse Marketplace.



  • Create a new WebSphere Liberty server using the Eclipse wizard.

  • Select the option to download and install WebSphere Liberty from the wizard.



  • Start the WebSphere Liberty server using the Eclipse menu.



Installation verification and troubleshooting




To verify that the installation was successful, you can:


  • Check the console output for any errors or warnings.



  • Check the logs directory for any messages or trace files.



  • Access the default server at and see the welcome page.



  • Access the Admin Center at and see the user interface.



If you encounter any issues during the installation, you can:


  • Check the IBM documentation and support for more information and guidance.



  • Check the Open Liberty website and GitHub repository for more resources and community support.



  • Check the Stack Overflow website and search for questions and answers related to WebSphere Liberty.



How to use WebSphere Liberty?




To use WebSphere Liberty, you need to know how to create and run applications on WebSphere Liberty, how to install additional features on WebSphere Liberty, and how to configure and manage WebSphere Liberty servers and clusters.


Creating and running applications on WebSphere Liberty




You can create and run applications on WebSphere Liberty using various tools and methods, such as:


Using the command-line interface (wlp/bin)




You can use the command-line interface (wlp/bin) to perform various tasks on your WebSphere Liberty servers, such as starting, stopping, installing features, creating servers, etc. For example, you can use these commands:


  • wlp/bin/server create myServer: To create a new server named myServer.



  • wlp/bin/server start myServer: To start the server named myServer.



  • wlp/bin/server stop myServer: To stop the server named myServer.



  • wlp/bin/featureUtility installFeature webProfile-8.0: To install the webProfile-8.0 feature on the default server.



Using the graphical user interface (Admin Center)




You can use the graphical user interface (Admin Center) to configure and manage your WebSphere Liberty servers and clusters. You can access the Admin Center at and see the user interface. You can use the Admin Center to perform various tasks, such as:


  • Creating and deleting servers and clusters.



  • Starting and stopping servers and clusters.



  • Installing and uninstalling features.



  • Configuring server settings, such as ports, SSL, security, etc.



  • Monitoring server performance, health, and metrics.



Using the development tools (Eclipse, Maven, Gradle, etc.)




You can use the development tools (Eclipse, Maven, Gradle, etc.) to create, test, debug, and deploy applications on WebSphere Liberty. You can use these tools to perform various tasks, such as:


  • Creating a new WebSphere Liberty project or importing an existing one.



  • Adding or removing dependencies and features.



  • Building and running your application on WebSphere Liberty.



  • Debugging your application on WebSphere Liberty.



  • Packaging and deploying your application on WebSphere Liberty.



Installing additional features on WebSphere Liberty




You can install additional features on WebSphere Liberty using various methods, such as:


Using the featureUtility command




You can use the featureUtility command to install features from a local or remote repository. For example, you can use these commands:



  • wlp/bin/featureUtility installFeature webProfile-8.0: To install the webProfile-8.0 feature from the default repository.



  • wlp/bin/featureUtility installFeature --from=localRepo webProfile-8.0: To install the webProfile-8.0 feature from a local repository named localRepo.



wlp/bin/featureUtility installFeature --from= webProfile-8.0: To install the webProfile-8.0 feature from a remote repository at



Using the server.xml file




You can use the server.xml file to specify the features that you want to install on your server. For example, you can use this syntax:


<server> <featureManager> & feature name="webProfile-8.0"/> <feature name="adminCenter-1.0"/> </featureManager> </server>


This will install the webProfile-8.0 and adminCenter-1.0 features on your server. You can also use variables, overrides, and includes to customize your feature configuration for different environments.


Configuring and managing WebSphere Liberty servers and clusters




You can configure and manage WebSphere Liberty servers and clusters using various methods, such as:


Using the server.env file and environment variables




You can use the server.env file and environment variables to set the server environment, such as the Java home, the Java options, the server name, etc. For example, you can use this syntax:


JAVA_HOME=/opt/java JAVA_OPTS=-Xmx512m WLP_SERVER_NAME=myServer


This will set the Java home to /opt/java, the Java options to -Xmx512m, and the server name to myServer. You can also use system properties or bootstrap.properties to override the server.env settings.


Using the bootstrap.properties file and system properties




You can use the bootstrap.properties file and system properties to set the server configuration, such as the port number, the SSL certificate, the security realm, etc. For example, you can use this syntax:


default.http.port=8080 default.https.port=8443 ssl.certificate=server.crt ssl.key=server.key security.realm=myRealm


This will set the HTTP port to 8080, the HTTPS port to 8443, the SSL certificate to server.crt, the SSL key to server.key, and the security realm to myRealm. You can also use environment variables or server.xml to override the bootstrap.properties settings.


Using the collectiveController feature and the Collective Tooling plugin for Eclipse




You can use the collectiveController feature and the Collective Tooling plugin for Eclipse to create and manage collectives, which are groups of WebSphere Liberty servers that can be managed as a single entity. For example, you can use these steps:



  • Install the collectiveController feature on one of your WebSphere Liberty servers using the featureUtility command or the server.xml file.



  • Create a collective using the wlp/bin/collective create command or the Admin Center.



  • Join other WebSphere Liberty servers to the collective using the wlp/bin/collective join command or the Admin Center.



  • Install the Collective Tooling plugin for Eclipse from the Eclipse Marketplace.



  • Create a new WebSphere Liberty Collective Server using the Eclipse wizard.



  • Select your collective controller server and provide your credentials.



  • Manage your collective members and applications using the Eclipse menu.



Conclusion




In this article, we have learned what WebSphere Liberty is, why you should choose it, how to download it, how to install it, and how to use it. We have also compared it with WebSphere Application Server traditional and discussed some migration options and scenarios. We hope that this article has helped you understand how to get started with WebSphere Liberty and how to leverage its features and capabilities.


FAQs




Here are some frequently asked questions about WebSphere Liberty:


What is the difference between Open Liberty and WebSphere Liberty?




Open Liberty is an open source version of WebSphere Liberty that provides the same core features and capabilities. WebSphere Liberty is a commercial version of Open Liberty that provides additional features and support. You can use either version depending on your needs and preferences.


How do I update WebSphere Liberty?




You can update WebSphere Liberty using various methods, such as:



  • Using the featureUtility update command to update your features from a local or remote repository.



  • Using the wlp/bin/installUtility update command to update your runtime from a local or remote repository.



  • Using the Docker pull or Podman pull command to update your container image from a container registry.



  • Using the Eclipse IDE plugin to update your server from within Eclipse.



How do I secure WebSphere Liberty?




You can secure WebSphere Liberty using various methods, such as:



  • Using the ssl-1.0 feature to enable SSL encryption for your communication channels.



  • Using the appSecurity-3.0 feature to enable authentication and authorization for your applications.

  • Using the jwt-1.0 feature to enable JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication for your microservices.



  • Using the mpJwt-1.1 feature to enable MicroProfile JWT authentication for your microservices.



  • Using the keystore element in the server.xml file to specify your keystore and truststore files.



  • Using the keyStore element in the server.xml file to specify your key and certificate files.



  • Using the userRegistry element in the server.xml file to specify your user registry, such as basic, custom, LDAP, etc.



  • Using the security-role element in the web.xml file to specify your security roles and mappings.



How do I monitor WebSphere Liberty?




You can monitor WebSphere Liberty using various methods, such as:



  • Using the monitor-1.0 feature to enable performance monitoring for your servers and applications.



  • Using the Admin Center to view and analyze the performance metrics and charts.



  • Using the wlp/bin/server status command to view the status of your servers.



  • Using the wlp/bin/server dump command to generate a dump file with diagnostic information.



  • Using the logs directory to view the messages.log and trace.log files.



  • Using the health-2.0 feature to enable health checks for your servers and applications.



  • Using the metrics-2.0 feature to enable metrics collection and reporting for your servers and applications.



How do I scale WebSphere Liberty?




You can scale WebSphere Liberty using various methods, such as:



  • Using the collectiveController feature and the Collective Tooling plugin for Eclipse to create and manage collectives, which are groups of WebSphere Liberty servers that can be managed as a single entity.



  • Using the docker-compose or podman-compose command to create and manage multiple containers with WebSphere Liberty and a load balancer.



  • Using the Kubernetes or OpenShift platform to create and manage pods, services, and deployments with WebSphere Liberty and a load balancer.



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