Installing WebSphere Portal can be very simple, you just have to remember some details.

In my example, we will need Portal Setup Disks, Rad Setup Disks, Rad Fix (7.0.0.4) and Rad Activation Kit (license).

Open the first cd from Portal installation and run install.bat there.

In the three initial screens, just click Next, Accept and Next again. Just select Typical installation and proceed.

In the next screen, choose your directory installation, it`s recommended that you create an IBM directory and put everything on it. In my case, I`ve chosen C:\IBM\WebSphere\AppServer. It will install Application Server.

Proceed clicking Next until you come to this screen. Here you can use your preferred names.

In the next screen, choose the administrative user and password, by default, I use “wpsadmin” for user and password.

Don’t install the Business Process Support, we will not need that.

Now, let’s install the WebSphere Portal Server. It’s recommended that you put it in the same IBM directory, like that: C:\IBM\WebSphere\PortalServer

In the next screen, you will be asked for administrative user and password for Portal, it’s recommended that you use the same that you used on Application Server.

Now, you have the option of using server as a Windows service, it’s not recommended, don’t mark nothing here. Click Next again and wait, it will start installing and will take long time.

In the end, unmark “Launch First Steps” and click Finish. Your WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Portal Server are now installed.

Let’s now install Rational Application Developer 7 (RAD). At first, install the installation manager. Go to the radfix4 folder and run install on im.installer.win32-1.1.0 folder, it will be installed the IBM Installation Manager 1.1.

Run the Installation Manager now. Go to file/preferences and click repositories/add repositories. Locate the file diskTag.inf on disk 1 of RAD Installation to add the repository. Now go to “Install Packages”. Don’t forget changing the directories to your IBM directory.

(C:\IBM\SDP70Shared):

(C:\IBM\SDP70):

Keep going until you see the screen below. You must mark the options “Portal Tools” and “Struts Tools” here. Click Next, Install and go on.

Now, we must install the Rad fixes. Go to the installation manager in your Windows start menu. Go to file/preferences and click repositories/add repositories. Find the diskTag.inf on the radfix4 dir disk1.

It’s recommended that, in this step, you disconnected your internet to avoid Installation Manager to look for sources on the web.

Click OK. Click Update Packages and go on. Your RAD will be update to version 7.0.0.4.

We are almost done. Now, install the License. On the Installation Manager, click “Manage Licenses”, “Import Product Activation Kit”. Find the file RADLic.jar on your RAD Activation Kit directory.

Now, you have all done. You can now open your RAD by the Windows start menu. To add Websphere Portal control inside your RAD, go to Servers Tab, right-click, then click New Server. Select “Websphere Portal Server V6.0 Server”. Click Next.

Use the password you’ve created at Portal installation. Click Finish. Now you’re ready to develop struts portlets using your RAD and WebSphere Portal. Any questions, feel free to post. No login necessary.