Does javaws work in Firefox?

I am trying to run a download from the IBM website which requires me to run the Download Director. This is supposed to run on javaws and had expected it to run from my Firefox browser but alas, no luck so far. Am I missing something please?

The package “icedtea-web” includes –

an implementation of Java Web Start, originally based on the NetX project.

I have it now, for which many thanks. It works!
Thanks again,
Budge/