Create a response file

Use a response file to install, modify, update, or uninstall Connections without user interaction.

We can create a response file by using Installation Manager or by editing the file that is provided with the product. For more information about editing the file, see the Default response file topic.

Ensure that Installation Manager is installed. See Install Connections 4.5 topic.

To ensure the response file captures the details of the SSL certificates, start IBM WebSphere Application Server.

The default location of a response file that you generate is the connections_root/silentResponseFile directory.

Instead of creating our own response file, we can edit the file that is provided with the product. The file is in the IBM_Connections_set-up/IBM_Connections_install/Connections directory. However, this default file is applicable only for installation. The response files for modifying, updating, rolling back, and uninstalling the product are based on the response file for installation. Before you create a response file for any of those procedures, first run the silent installation procedure.

For more information about creating response files with Installation Manager, go to the Recording a response file with Installation Manager webpage.

This task describes the procedure to generate a response file for the following procedures:

• Install Connections

• Modify an existing installation by adding or removing Connections applications

• Update an existing installation by installing a fix pack

• Rolling back an update

• Uninstall Connections

For each procedure, run a simulated instance of the Installation Manager and record your input to a response file. Later, we can run a silent command that uses this response file as an input parameter.

Default response files on AIX or Linux:

Install

LC.rsp

Modify - Add

LC_modify_add.rsp

Modify - Remove

LC_modify_remove.rsp

Update

LC_update.rsp

Roll back

LC_rollback.rsp

Uninstall

LC_uninstall.rsp

To create a response file:

1. Open a command prompt and go to the IM_root/eclipse directory.

2. Ensure the IBM_Connections_set-up/IBM_Connections_install/IM/OS/skip directory allows write access, where IBM_Connections_set-up is the directory or media where the Connections installation files are located, and OS represents your operating system.

3. Run the command to record a response file. This command uses the -skipInstall agentDataLocation argument, which records the installation commands without installing IBM Connections. Substitute our own file name and path for the response file. Verify the file paths entered exist because Installation Manager does not create directories for the response file.

   • AIX and Linux: ./IBMIM -record /response_files/install_product.xml -skipInstall agentDataLocation

   • Windows: IBMIM.exe -record responseFile.rsp -skipInstall agentDataLocation

   where agentDataLocation is the file path to the skip directory, which stores Installation Manager data files.

   • The -log option is not available when recording a response file.

   • Use quotation marks around file paths containing spaces.

   • We can use the same agentDataLocation parameter in the next recording session to update, modify, roll back or uninstall Connections. However, to record a new installation, specify a new agentDataLocation parameter.

4. Enter the required information in the Installation Manager.

   • To install a new deployment, open Files > Preferences, and enter the path to the Connections repository; for example: C:\build\\INSTALL\Connections. Click Install and enter the required information as if you were installing the product. See Installing IBM Connections 4.5 topic.

   • To modify an existing installation, click Modify and enter the required information.

     • To add applications, select the applications to add in the Application Selection pane.

       Ensure all the currently installed applications are also selected.

     • To remove applications, clear the check boxes of the applications to remove in the Application Selection pane.

     See Modify the installation in interactive mode topic.

   • To update an existing installation, click Update and enter the required information.

   • To roll back an update, click Rollback and enter the required information

   • To uninstall Connections, click Uninstall and enter the required information. See Uninstall a deployment topic.

   In the Connections Content Manager panel, validation can be skipped in case the environment does not have the real FileNet installation binaries. The administrator must edit the response file manually with the following correct paths after generation:

   • <data key='user.ccm.ce.installer.path' value='xxx'/>

   • <data key='user.ccm.fncs.installer.path' value='xxx'/>

   • <data key='user.ccm.ceclient.installer.path' value='xxx'/>

5. Close the Installation Manager window.

6. Confirm the new response file is present.

What to do next

Use the response file to silently install, modify, update, roll back, or uninstall Connections.

If we are running Installation Manager as a non-administrator and plan to use the response file to install the product on another user's system, change the file paths in the response file from absolute paths to relative paths.

Parent topic:
The default response file

Related:

Install Connections 5.0

Modify the installation in interactive mode

Uninstall a deployment

Add applications in silent mode

Remove applications in silent mode

TEST Installing IBM Connections in silent mode (with an existing Installation Manager)