Is there a way to make WebSphere work with my current JDK?

Is there a way to make WebSphere work with my current JDK?

While installing WebSphere Advanced Edition, I get a message asking me to uninstall a JDK that has been already installed. I have Tomcat installed on my system and have VisualAge for Java installed too.

Is there a way to make WebSphere work with my current JDK (version 1.3 from Sun)? Or can I have both versions of the JDK (IBM and Sun) on my system installed and work with either of them?

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WebSphere application servers have always been slightly picky about the JDK/JVM they require. Support from IBM is also picky when you are using an "unsupported" JDK with WebSphere. It is possible to have multiple versions of the JDK on your machine with WebSphere using one JDK, Tomcat using another and VisualAge using still another. This usually requires some manual intervention on your part to modify the target JDK within the startup script for one or more of these applications.

IBM does supply a JDK conversion assistant to help you to switch from one vendor's JDK (version 1.2.2) implementation to another. The conversion assistant guides you through the modifications required to allow WebSphere to find and use the new JDK.

The following is a list of supported JDKs for various versions of WebSphere:

JDKs supported by WebSphere 4.1 Enterprise Edition:

Java 2 SDK - HP 1.3.0.2
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.3 PTF 10w
Java 2 SDK - IBM (AS/400) 1.3.1
Java 2 SDK - Sun 1.3.0_04

JDKs supported by WebSphere 4.0.2 Advanced Edition

Java 2 SDK - HP 1.3.0.2
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.3 PTF 10w
Java 2 SDK - IBM (AS/400) 1.3.1
Java 2 SDK - Sun 1.3.0_04

JDKs supported by WebSphere 3.6 Enterprise Edition:

Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.3 PTF 6
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.3 PTF7

JDKs supported by WebSphere 3.5.6 Advanced Version

Java 2 SDK - HP 1.2.2.11
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 14w
Java 2 SDK - Sun 1.2.2_10

JDKs supported by WebSphere 3.5.x Enterprise Edition Version

Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 PTF 7
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 9
JDKs supported by WebSphere 3.5.5 Advanced Version

Java 2 SDK - HP 1.2.2 Fix level 08
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 13a
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 13w
Java 2 SDK - Sun 1.2.2 PTF 9
JDKs supported by WebSphere 3.5 - 3.5.4 Standard or Advanced:

Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 PTF 7
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 9b
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 11
Java 2 SDK - IBM 1.2.2 SR 13a

This was first published in May 2002