Liferay Portal can be installed through different methods depending on your specific needs. The installation options can be grouped into three main types:
Using an open source bundle: the bundles are the easiest and fastest installation method. They include an embedded database so all it takes to do the installation is to install a Java SE runtime environment, unzip, and run the bundle. It is recommended for people that want to review Liferay's functionality or for those who need to have Liferay working quickly.
Detailed installation procedure: explains how to install the portal in an existing application server or one that has been installed using vendor packages. This option is available for all the supported application servers. It is recommended for production environments and deployment to a proprietary app. server.
Using the ext environment: this option provides a full development environment to extend the functionality provided by Liferay. It is recommended for installation in the personal computers of developers doing the customization. It will not be covered in this guide. Refer to the developer guides for more information.
![[Tip]](images/tip.png) | Tip |
|---|---|
Liferay 4.3 makes installation easier than ever, because it creates the tables it needs along with example data the first time it starts. All you need to do is to create the database and configure Liferay's datasource to point to it. |
![[Note]](images/note.png) | Note |
|---|---|
Liferay used to provide two editions, Enterprise and Professional,but this differentiation has been removed in version 4.3. Now there is only one edition called Liferay Enterprise Portal that works in all the supported servlet containers and full application servers. This edition does not use EJBs internally but does fully support them for custom portlets and applications. |