When ever we start learning about a software product, the first step is to get the software installer and install it.

Before we start with "How to install Oracle Weblogic Server?", lets understand the different kinds of installers available for Oracle Weblogic Server and select the correct installer.

There are three different kinds of Weblogic server Installers:

1. Package Installer
2. Development-only and supplemental installers
3. Upgrade Installer

1) Package Installer:

If you have never installed Oracle Weblogic Server and this is the first time you are installing it, then what you need is a Oracle Weblogic Server's Package Installer.

Again there are two different kinds of Package Installers:

    a) Generic Package installer:

•         It does not include JAVA runtime. (When using "Generic Package installer" it is a prerequisite that a supported JDK should be installed)
•         If you want to install weblogic server with 64bit JVM, you have to use "Generic Package installer".
•         "Generic Package installer" is platform independent and can be used to install weblogic server on any supported 32bit or 64bit platform.

    b) OS-specific Package installer

•         As the name suggests the installer is platform specific.
•         It is meant for installation with a 32bit JVM only.
•         Both SUN and JROCKIT 32 bit JDKs come bundled with "OS-specific Package installer", so no need to install the JDK in advance.

2) Development-only and supplemental installers:

•         If you have no plans to use the Oracle Weblogic Server in Production and need a simple installer for testing purpose only, then use this installer.
•         Download the zip distribution, unzip it and its ready to use.

3) Upgrade Installer:

•         Upgrade installer is used to upgrade a Oracle Weblogic Server installation from one minor version to a higher minor version.
•         There are no installers available to upgrade Oracle Weblogic Server Installation from one major version to another, though Domain Upgrade is always available.

Note:

Following are the different versions of Oracle Weblogic Server in ascending order(excluding versions before WLS 9.2):

• WLS 9.2.x
• WLS 10.0.x
• WLS 10.3.x
• WLS 12.1.x

Where "x" denotes the minor version, 9.2, 10.0,10.3 and 12.1 are the major versions.

So you may use the upgrade installer to upgrade from WLS 10.3.1 to 10.3.6, or 10.0.1 to 10.0.2 etc.

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Important links to refer:

• Oracle Weblogic Server Documentation
  
• Supported Configuration
  
• Installation Guide for Oracle WebLogic Server