+

Search Tips   |   Advanced Search

Operating Systems: AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, Windows

 

Centralized installation manager overview


Use the centralized installation manager to install and maintain your workstations that comprise a WebSphere® Virtual Enterprise cell. As an administrator, you can remotely install or uninstall product packages and maintenance to specific nodes directly from the administrative console without having to log in and repetitively perform these tasks.

The centralized installation manager does not replace the Installation wizard or the IBM® Update Installer for WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1. Instead, the centralized installation manager starts the Installation wizard for each of the three product packages or the Update Installer to install or uninstall the packages or maintenance. The various product packages and maintenance files that you can install or uninstall by using the centralized installation manager are included in the following list:

Remember: The centralized installation manager does not update or maintain the deployment manager workstation, because the centralized installation manager operates from the binaries of the deployment manager.

See Installing and configuring WebSphere XD to learn more about installing or uninstalling product packages or maintenance from the deployment manager, and uninstalling product packages when no augmented profiles exist.

See Installing WebSphere XD and additional software for more information about installing and uninstalling WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1.

The following sections provide information to consider when you use the centralized installation manager.

 

Starting the node agent or middleware agent

The centralized installation manager relies on current information regarding the versions of WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Virtual Enterprise that are installed on each node. This information is kept current on the deployment manager configuration by the node agent or middleware agent that is running on each node. The deployment manager contains the correct versions of WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Virtual Enterprise installed on each node if the node agent or middleware agent of each node is started at least once after each update is applied. To ensure that the deployment manager receives this information, the centralized installation manager automatically starts the node agent or middleware agent after each installation or uninstallation process. Important: To locally apply updates on the nodes without using the centralized installation manager, issue the startNode command or the startAgent command after you complete the operation to manually start the node agent or middleware agent.

 

Augmented profiles

When you install any of the three WebSphere Extended Deployment products, augment the node profiles for that particular package. After you augment the profile and restart the middleware agent, the node metadata is updated with the current product version level. Without that information, the centralized installation manager cannot detect what version is installed, or if WebSphere XD is installed at all.

Additionally, select one of the WebSphere Extended Deployment products from the Profile Management tool when you create a new profile. The middleware agent automatically starts, and the metadata for the new node is updated when you federate the node to the cell by using the addNode command. For more information on profile creation and augmentation, see Use the Profile Management tool to create and augment profiles.

 

Update Installer for WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1

The centralized installation manager installs an appropriate level of the Update Installer on installation targets that it uses to install fix packs and other maintenance. If you manually install the Update Installer on installation targets in a directory location other than <WAS_INSTALL_ROOT>/UpdateInstaller, uninstall this feature by using its uninstallation process. Then, you can use the centralized installation manager to install the Update Installer on installation targets. The centralized installation manager can install the feature either explicitly or automatically when you install fix packs or other maintenance on installation targets.

For more information, see Downloading the Update Installer for WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1.

 

Temporary installation locations

After the centralized installation manager successfully completes the installation process on a remote node, it then deletes the installation image files that are located in the temporary location that you specify during the installation process. If the installation is unsuccessful, the files remain in the temporary location for you to use to determine what caused the installation error. However, you can delete the files after you troubleshoot.


 

Related tasks


Installing packages
Downloading package descriptors and the associated binary files
Downloading the Update Installer for WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1
Downloading and installing WebSphere Application Server Community Edition V2.0 or later
Manage installation targets Use the centralized installation manager to manage your environment