For up-to-date product documentation, see the IBM MobileFirst Foundation Developer Center.

Administrator versus user mode

We can install MobileFirst Server in two different IBM® Installation Manager modes. The mode depends on how IBM Installation Manager itself is installed. The mode determines the directories and commands that we use for both Installation Manager and packages.

IBM MobileFirst™ Platform Foundation supports the following two Installation Manager modes:

• Administrator mode
• User (nonadministrator) mode

Group mode that is available on Linux or UNIX is not supported by the product.

Administrator mode

In administrator mode, Installation Manager must be run as root under Linux or UNIX, and with administrator privileges under Windows. The repository files of Installation Manager (that is the list of installed software and its version) are installed in a system directory. /var/ibm on Linux or UNIX, or ProgramData on Windows. Do not deploy Application Center with Installation Manager if you run Installation Manager in administrator mode. For more information about not deploying Application Center in administrator mode, see Disadvantages of installing Application Center with Installation Manager in Run IBM Installation Manager.

If you install other IBM software (such as WebSphere® Application Server or Liberty) with Installation Manager in administrator mode, you might want to move the servers to a directory that can be written by non-root users. For WebSphere Application Server, create a profile in a different location. For Liberty, move the directory usr (that contains the server) to a location that can be written by other users. For an example, see step 6 in Install WebSphere Application Server Liberty Core of the Getting started tutorial.

User (nonadministrator) mode

In user mode, Installation Manager can be run by any user without specific privileges. However, the repository files of Installation manager are stored in the user's home directory. Only that user is able to upgrade an installation of the product.

If you do not run Installation Manager as root, make sure that you have a user account that is available later when you upgrade the product installation or apply an interim fix.

For more information about the Installation Manager modes, see Install as an administrator, nonadministrator, or group in the IBM Installation Manager documentation.

Parent topic: Run IBM Installation Manager