websphere v7.0, v8.0 and v8.5 Feature Highlights

Changes in v8.5

Administration changes

Some new required ports
A number of minor default setting changes
Information provided in the v8.5 InfoCenter

http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v8r5/topic/com.ibm.websphere.nd.doc/ae/welc_transition.html

Development changes

Development tool changes
Java7 upgrade – Java6 is the default
Breaking changes: (AWT, Internationalization, IO, JAXP, Language,Networking, Text and Utilities)
JPA (2)
Custom settings are provided to provide compatibility
Conversion of existing applications to Liberty

Changes in v8.0

Administration changes

Installation changes
Centralized Install Manager
Install Factory alternative
WebServer Plug-in installation and configuration
Java Garbage collection and dump format changes
Security default changes
Other miscellaneous changes

 Development changes

Development tool changes
JEE 1.6
WebSphere API changes

Changes in v7.0

 Administration changes

SessionInitiationProtocol(SIP) Migration Considerations
zOS Migration tool
Administration script required changes
Port usage
Security Migration considerations
Mixed version considerations

 Development changes

Development tool change
JRE 6 impacts
JEE 5 impacts
WebSphere removed features
Increased usage of Open Source implementations included in WAS

Changes in v6.1

 Administration changes

Administration script required changes
zOS Migration tool
Install response file format changes
Port usage
Profile directory structure
New administrative tool IDE
Migration and Feature Packs

Development changes

Development tool change
JRE 5 impacts
WebSphere changes and removed features

Changes in v6.0

Administration changes

Administration script required changes
Port usage
Profiles
JMS engine redesign
CoreGroup considerations

Development changes

Development tool change
J2EE 1.4 impacts
WebSphere API migration details

Migration impacts