Repositories

Repositories
We can have network, electronic software delivery (ESD), or file repositories.The type of repository determines how we can access a repository and the repository file types that we can use to manage our products using Installation Manager. The repository file is the file that we use to point to the repository. Review the information in the different tables to determine the type of repository to use.
Repository types
Repository locations and access
Examples of repository locations

Repository types

Repository types Repository file Directory Structure Comments
Network repository.config repository.config
repository.xml
Offerings/
atoc/
native/
plugins/
The native and plugins directories are optional.
The repository.config file contains the entry:
LayoutPolicy=P1

The repository.xml file contains the entry:
<property name="LayoutPolicy" value="P1"/>
<property name="LayoutPolicyVersion" value="0.0.0.1"/>

For package updates, the repository.config file is typically in the install_files\IBM Product directory. You can use Packaging Utility to create network repositories.

A network repository can be read by Installation Manager and Packaging Utility from a directory in the file system directory or from an HTTP location.

Launchpad does not use a repository.config file.

Electronic software delivery (ESD) diskTag.inf ESD package repository:
disktag.inf
ad/
md/
toc/
A diskTag.inf file indicates that the files are from a disk image. A diskTag.inf file can be across multiple disks. An ESD repository cannot be used from an HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server. We do not have to copy ESD repositories to a CD or a DVD. We can extract the contents of the .zip file to a file system and use Installation Manager or Packaging Utility to access these repositories.

If the directory names on the file system match the disk names, we can add only the disk1/diskTag.inf file to the repository. Installation Manager and Packaging Utility can find the other disks in the set. If the other disks cannot be found, we are prompted to provide the location of the other disks.

An ESD repository might be received as a .zip file or as a .iso file. These repositories are designed to be copied to a CD or DVD and used as removable media. In ESD repositories, the files names are shortened to meet the standards for media disks. To optimize the files to install multiple products while accessing disks sequentially, an index is added to the first disk.
Some IBM products come with the launchpad program. The launchpad program provides a single location to view release information and start the installation process.

repository.config ESD master setup disk repository:
repostiory.config repository.xml msd/
Combines multiple ESD package repositories in a single disk set.
The repository.xml file contains the entry: LayoutPolicy=MasterSetupDiskLP.

repository.config ESD Internal repository:
repostiory.config
The ESD Internal repositories are contained in the ESD Package repository. Do not access these internal repositories directly. The repository.xml file contains the entry: LayoutPolicy=ShortName.

File .zip A .zip file that contains a network repository. The .zip and .jar files do not contain an ESD repository. A file that is larger than 2.2 GB must be extracted.
.jar A .jar file that contains a network repository. License kits are distributed using .jar files.

Repository location and access

Repository type Repository location formats Repository access Comments
Network URL HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server We can use Packaging Utility to create a network repository from any repository type.
Absolute path
Relative path Directory
ESD File
Absolute path
Relative path
Directory We cannot access an ESD repository from an HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server.

Repository locations

Repository Location format Example Comments
URL http://my.server.com/product/repository/ We can access network repositories from an HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server.
Absolute path Windows: C:\repositories\repository\
UNIX: /opt/repositories/repository/
In some cases where we use a backslash, we must escape this character using a second backslash: \\.
Relative path Windows: ..\repository\
UNIX: ../repository/

Related tasks:

Create composite repositories
Home

Repository types	Repository file	Directory Structure	Comments
Network	repository.config	repository.config repository.xml Offerings/ atoc/ native/ plugins/ The native and plugins directories are optional.	The repository.config file contains the entry: LayoutPolicy=P1 The repository.xml file contains the entry: <property name="LayoutPolicy" value="P1"/> <property name="LayoutPolicyVersion" value="0.0.0.1"/> For package updates, the repository.config file is typically in the install_files\IBM Product directory. You can use Packaging Utility to create network repositories. A network repository can be read by Installation Manager and Packaging Utility from a directory in the file system directory or from an HTTP location. Launchpad does not use a repository.config file.
Electronic software delivery (ESD)	diskTag.inf	ESD package repository: disktag.inf ad/ md/ toc/	A diskTag.inf file indicates that the files are from a disk image. A diskTag.inf file can be across multiple disks. An ESD repository cannot be used from an HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server. We do not have to copy ESD repositories to a CD or a DVD. We can extract the contents of the .zip file to a file system and use Installation Manager or Packaging Utility to access these repositories. If the directory names on the file system match the disk names, we can add only the disk1/diskTag.inf file to the repository. Installation Manager and Packaging Utility can find the other disks in the set. If the other disks cannot be found, we are prompted to provide the location of the other disks. An ESD repository might be received as a .zip file or as a .iso file. These repositories are designed to be copied to a CD or DVD and used as removable media. In ESD repositories, the files names are shortened to meet the standards for media disks. To optimize the files to install multiple products while accessing disks sequentially, an index is added to the first disk. Some IBM products come with the launchpad program. The launchpad program provides a single location to view release information and start the installation process.
	repository.config	ESD master setup disk repository: repostiory.config repository.xml msd/	Combines multiple ESD package repositories in a single disk set. The repository.xml file contains the entry: LayoutPolicy=MasterSetupDiskLP.
	repository.config	ESD Internal repository: repostiory.config	The ESD Internal repositories are contained in the ESD Package repository. Do not access these internal repositories directly. The repository.xml file contains the entry: LayoutPolicy=ShortName.
	File	.zip	A .zip file that contains a network repository. The .zip and .jar files do not contain an ESD repository. A file that is larger than 2.2 GB must be extracted.
	.jar	A .jar file that contains a network repository.	License kits are distributed using .jar files.

Repository type	Repository location formats	Repository access	Comments
Network	URL	HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server	We can use Packaging Utility to create a network repository from any repository type.
Absolute path Relative path	Directory
ESD File	Absolute path Relative path	Directory	We cannot access an ESD repository from an HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server.

Repository Location format	Example	Comments
URL	http://my.server.com/product/repository/	We can access network repositories from an HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP server.
Absolute path	Windows: C:\repositories\repository\ UNIX: /opt/repositories/repository/	In some cases where we use a backslash, we must escape this character using a second backslash: \\.
Relative path	Windows: ..\repository\ UNIX: ../repository/