Pre-Installation Tasks

This chapter discusses the following topics:

• The hardware and software requirements for Panther software running under Windows
• Tasks to perform before installing a web application broker
• Upgrading the client on Windows 98

Hardware and Software Requirements

The full installation of the Panther development environment requires the following:

• Pentium processor.
• Maximum of 65 MB of disk space for the client, 17 MB for the application server engine, and 44 MB for the web application broker. An additional 16 MB is necessary for the installation of online documentation. (However, the disk space required can be less depending on the options installed. The installer checks for adequate space.)
• Microsoft Windows NT 4 or Windows 2000 for an application server engine or web application broker or for MTS deployment; Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows NT 4 or Windows 2000 for the client and for COM+ deployment.
• For Microsoft NT 4, NT Service Pack 6.
• 32 MB of memory. (More memory is recommended.)
• Database vendor's client and network software installed. (For more information, consult the database-specific release notes online.)
• For Panther for IBM WebSphere, IBM WebSphere Application Server Advanced Edition installed on the same computer as your HTTP server.
• For Panther for IBM WebSphere, Sun's Java Virtual Machine for EJB processing on your client PC and Sun's Java Development Kit to compile Java files. Check IBM WebSphere specifications for supported versions.
• For Panther COM/MTS Edition, msjava.dll version 5.00.3167 or higher, dated 1/25/99 or later.
• If you are going to add your own C functions to Panther, install the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler (version 6 for Windows 98, Windows NT 4, and Windows 2000). You also need to install the MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class).

We recommend that you install a Panther client, application server engine, and/or web application broker in the same directory if you install them on the same Windows NT or Windows 2000 machine. This allows them to share common environment settings that point to the location of required files. It also saves disk space.

To install a web application broker, an HTTP server must be configured and running on the same system. Panther supports industry favorites, and supports CGI, ISAPI, NSAPI, and Java servlet architectures. You can select one according to your preferred configuration.

Before Installing a Web Application Broker

Before installing a Panther web application broker, obtain the following information:

• Determine the HTTP server name and the name of the CGI or ISAPI or NSAPI program directory.
• Verify that your HTTP server is running.
• Consult your system administrator or your web server administrator to determine the correct names.
• For future reference, enter the name of your HTTP server.
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• Enter the name of your HTTP server program directory.
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Note: This directory stores the server's gateway programs. Common names for this directory are cgi-bin or scripts.

Upgrading the Client on Windows 98

If you are upgrading the client from an earlier version of Panther, install Panther in a separate directory from previous installations, for example, C:\Prolifics\Panther.

The Windows 98 setup program unsets any existing SMVARS, SMPATH, SMTERM, SMMSGS, SMKEY, and SMVIDEO settings in your autoexec.bat file. The setup program lets you choose from the following three options:

• Let the setup program modify the autoexec.bat file. The existing autoexec.bat is saved to autoexec.xxx, where xxx is a three-number extension.
• Save the required changes to autoexec.new file.
• Make no changes to the autoexec.bat file.