Before recording a response file
-skipInstall agentDataLocation
When you record a response file with the argument...
-skipInstall agentDataLocation
...you run the installation process, but the IBM software product is not installed, only a response file is created.
The next time you use -skipInstall with the same agentDataLocation, you can record a response file to update, modify, roll back or uninstall the product.
If you have multiple deployment scenarios, you can record multiple response files. If you use -skipInstall agentDataLocation, you must use different directories for the agentDataLocation for each scenario.
Do not specify a current directory for a new agentDataLocation location.
The default locations for agentDataLocation are used when you install a product without using the -skipInstall argument.
When you record a response file using the -skipInstall argument, you must keep the directory, folders, and files that you created for the agentDataLocation location to record changes to a product. You must use the -skipInstall argument and specify the same directory for the agentDataLocation location each time you update, modify, roll back, or uninstall a product.
For example, you record a response file to install an IBM software product.
- Case 1: You use the -skipInstall argument to record the first response file for installing the product. Next, you decide to update the installation. You record a response file without the -skipInstall argument. Installation Manager opens, and you click Update. The IBM software product is not listed on the Update Packages window. When Installation Manager is started without using the -skipInstall argument, Installation Manager checks the default agentDataLocation. If the -skipInstall argument is used, Installation Manager checks the specified agentDataLocation location.
- Case 2: You do not use the -skipInstall argument to record the response file for installing the product. Next, you decide to update the installation. You record a response file and use the -skipInstall argument. The product is not shown as installed in Installation Manager. You cannot record a response file and use the -skipInstall argument if you did not use the -skipInstall argument to record the product installation.
Search preferences
To determine whether Installation Manager searches for updates to installed products, including itself, select these preferences:
- Search service repositories during installation and updates
- Search for Installation Manager updates
For computers that have access to the ibm.com website and have those preferences selected, you can run the silent installation command with the argument. The updateAll argument searches available repositories for updates. For computers that do not have access to the ibm.com website or do not have those preferences selected, you must download fix packs from ibm.com, update the response file with the repository location, and run the silent installation command with the input argument.
See the following topics for information about the search preferences:
Record a response file to install, update, modify, roll back, or uninstall a product
You can use one response file to record each change to a product. Or you can record a new response file for each change. The contents of the response file change based on the actions that you take while recording a response file.
For example, you record the installProduct.xml response file. During installation, you install only the client application. After completing the recording, the installProduct.xml file contains the commands to install the client application. Later you decide to install the server application. During the recording, you specify the same name for the installProduct.xml response file. The installProduct.xml file is updated to contain only the commands to install the server application. The response file does not contain the commands to install the client application.
File names for the agentDataLocation installation directory
If you plan to record response files for multiple product installation scenarios, use descriptive directory names.
For example, you must create a response file for an administrator's computer and a response file for a user's computer. You use the -skipInstall agentDataLocation option when recording the response file. Specify these directory names for the different installations: ProductA1.Admin and ProductA1.Users.
Platforms
You must record a response file on the same platform that you plan for the installation. If you plan installations for multiple platforms, you must have a response file for each platform. For example, to install on a computer running Microsoft Windows, you must record the response file on a computer that runs Windows. You can record a response file with Windows XP Professional and use the response file with Windows 2003. To install software on a Linux computer, you must record the response file on a computer that runs Linux.
Repositories
To avoid downloading the repository files to each computer, locate the repository in a directory that the computers for installation can access. To use only one repository for all installation files or to install products from an HTTP server, you must use Packaging Utility to create a repository that contains all the installation files. If the repositories are located on a shared drive, select a drive that is common to the computers that you are installing the software on. The response file stores the drive and directory location for the repositories. If the drive letter is different for the computer you are installing software on, you must manually edit the response file to change the drive letter.
Silent installation preference keys
Some silent installation preferences cannot be edited in the Installation Manager interface. You must manually edit the response file.