Recording a response file with Installation Manager

You can create a response file by recording your actions in Installation Manager. When you record a response file, all of the selections that you make in Installation Manager are stored in an XML file. When you run Installation Manager in silent mode, Installation Manager uses the data in the XML response file to perform the installation.

About this task

When you are recording a response file, you can choose to perform the actions, for example installing a package, or you can choose to just create a response file without performing the actions. Note that when you are recording a response file, preferences that you set, including repository settings, are not stored.

Procedure

To record a response file, complete the following steps:

  1. On a command line, change to the eclipse subdirectory in the directory where you installed Installation Manager. For example:
    • For Windows: cd C:\Program Files\IBM\Installation Manager\eclipse
    • For other platforms: cd /opt/IBM/InstallationManager/eclipse
  2. On a command line, type one of the following commands to start the Installation Manager, substituting your own file name and location for the response file and (optionally) the log file. You can record a response file and perform an installation or update at the same time, or you can record a response file without performing an installation or update.
    • To record a response file while performing an installation or update:
      • For Windows: IBMIM.exe –record <response file and path name> -log <log file and path name>. For example, IBMIM.exe -record c:\mylog\responsefile.xml -log c:\mylog\record_log.xml
        Note: Ensure the file paths you enter exist; Installation Manager will not create directories for the response file and the log file.
      • For other platforms: IBMIM –record <response file and path name> -log <log file and path name>.
    • To record a response file without performing an installation or update, add the optional -skipInstall <agentDataLocation> argument to the command. For example:

      For Windows: IBMIM.exe -record c:\mylog\responsefile.xml -skipInstall c:\temp\recordData

      When you add the -skipInstall <agentDataLocation> argument:
      1. The packages are not installed or uninstalled. The artifacts are not downloaded and the actions are not executed.
      2. Installation Manager saves the data to the location that you specified.
      3. Recording the response file is faster, because the Installation Manager is not performing actions, it is just recording the data.
      <agentDataLocation> must be a writable directory, with the following additional characteristics:
      • If you are generating a response file for an initial installation of a product, the <agentDataLocation> directory must be empty.
      • If you are generating a response file to record license management, updates, or modifications to the product, you must use the same <agentDataLocation> in the next recording session. These changes are added to the agent data location.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions in the appropriate wizard. If you copied the repository to a new location, you can set the location of the repository using the File > Preferences > Repository Location dialog.
  4. Click Finish, then close Installation Manager.

Results

An XML response file is created and saved in the location that you specified in the command.
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