Installing a client using msiexec

IBM MQ on Windows uses the MSI technology to install software. MSI provides both an interactive installation and a non interactive installation.

About this task

IBM MQ on Windows uses the MSI technology to install software. MSI provides both an interactive installation and a non interactive installation. An interactive installation displays panels and ask questions.

The msiexec command uses parameters to give MSI some or all of the information that can also be specified through panels during an interactive installation. This means that a user can create a reusable automated or semi-automated installation configuration. Parameters can be given through the command line, a transform file, a response file, or a combination of the three.

Some parameters can only be provided on the command line and not in a response file. For more information about these parameters, see Table 1 in Specify command line parameters for client installation with msiexec. There are also a number of parameters can be used either on the command line or in a response file. For more information about these parameters, see Table 1 in Create and using a response file for client installation. If a parameter is specified both on the command line and in a response file, the setting on the command line takes precedence.

Procedure

1. For multiple silent installations, for each version that is to be installed, find an MSI instance ID that is available to use for that installation. For more information, see Choose MSI Instance IDs for multiple server installations.
2. To install using msiexec, at the command line, enter the msiexec command in the following format:

   msiexec parameters [USEINI="response-file"] [TRANSFORMS="transform_file"]
   

   where:

   parameters

   are either command line parameters preceded by a / character, or property=value pairs (if using both forms of parameter always put the command-line parameters first). For further information, see Specify command line parameters for client installation with msiexec.

   For an unattended installation, we must include the /q or /qn parameter in the command line. Without this parameter, the installation is interactive.

   Note: We must include the /i parameter and the file location of the IBM MQ installer package.

   response-file

   is the full path and file name of the file that contains the [Response] stanza and the required property=value pairs, for example C:\MyResponseFile.ini. An example response file, Response.ini, is supplied with IBM MQ. This file contains default installation parameters. For further information, see Create and using a response file for client installation.

   transform_file

   is the full path and file name of a transform file. For further information, see Use transforms with msiexec for client installation and Choose MSI Instance IDs for multiple server installations.

   Note: For a silent installation to succeed, the AGREETOLICENSE="yes" property must be defined either on the command line or in the response file.

Results

After the command has been entered, the command prompt immediately reappears. IBM MQ is installing as a background process. If we have entered parameters to produce a log, check this file to see how the installation is progressing. If the installation completes successfully, you see the message Installation operation completed successfully in the log file.

• Choose MSI Instance IDs for multiple client installations
  For multiple silent installations, for each version that is installed we must find an MSI instance ID that is available to use for that installation.
• Specify command line parameters for client installation with msiexec
  We can specify either standard msiexec command line parameters preceded by a / character, or property=value pairs, or a combination of both.
• Use transforms with msiexec for client installation
  MSI can use transforms to modify an installation. During IBM MQ installation, transforms can be used to support different national languages.
• Create and using a response file for client installation
  We can use the msiexec command with a parameter that specifies additional properties that are defined in a response file. There are three ways of creating a response file for a client installation.
• Installing a client using the MQParms command
  We can use the MQParms command to invoke installation or uninstallation of an IBM MQ client.

Parent topic: Installing an IBM MQ client on Windows