Installing packages by using console mode

You can install a package in console mode. A package can be a product, a group of components, or a single component that is designed for console mode to install.

Before you begin

Before you can install a package, Installation Manager must have access to the repository that contains the package. If you plan to install fixes, updates, or extensions, close the product that you are updating before you install the package.

Some Installation Manager features might or might not be supported by packages. Check your package documentation to determine whether a feature is supported. For a list of features, see Installation Manager features.

About this task

These installation steps cover a typical installation scenario in console mode. During an installation session, you might see console mode prompts that are not described. These console mode prompts are specific to the package that you install. If you require assistance with these custom installation pages, see the documentation for that package.

To create a response file, step through the installation process. Enter G: Generate an installation response file option before you install the package.

A selected option is indicated by an X in brackets: [X]. Options that are not selected are indicated by empty brackets: [ ]. You can press Enter to select the default entry or select a different command. For example, [N] indicates that the default selection is N for the Next command.

During the installation, you can search for updates such as other versions, fixes, and extensions. Some packages require entitlement for updates. If you are not entitled for an update, the update is not included in the search results. Entitlement is based on your IBM® ID credentials. For more information, see IBM ID credentials Help and FAQ. For more information about entitlement, see IBM Entitlement Help.

Procedure

The following steps describe how to install a package in console mode:

  1. Start Installation Manager in console mode by using imcl.
    For more information, see Starting console mode.
  2. Enter 1: Install - Install software packages.
    Packages that can be installed are listed. If you do not have any available packages, check your list of repositories. For more information about setting repository preferences, see Setting repository preferences in console mode.
    If you have repositories that require credentials and you did not save the credentials, you are prompted to provide these credentials. For more information about saving credentials, see Saving credentials in console mode.
    Important: If you share an instance of Installation Manager with other users, see Saving credentials in a key ring file when you share an instance of Installation Manager before you save your password.
  3. Enter 1: [ ] package_name.
    To select a package, enter the number that is next to the package. This example selects the first package listed.
    1. If the selected package requires a later version of Installation Manager, you are prompted to install the later version.
  4. Enter one of the following options on the Select screen:
    • 1: Choose version package_version for installation. This option shows when you chose a package that is not selected for installation.

      The 1: Do NOT install version package_version option shows when you chose a package that is selected for installation.

    • 2: Show all available versions of the package.
    1. Enter the number that is next to the package that you want to install.
  5. Optional: Enter O: Check for Other Versions, Fixes, and Extensions. Installation Manager searches available repositories for other versions, fixes, or extensions of the selected package.
    • For Installation Manager to search the default repository for the installed packages, the Search service repositories during installation and updates preference must be selected. This preference is selected by default. To access this preference, go to the Repositories preference page.
    • Internet access is required.
    1. Enter O: OK.
      The Check for Other Versions, Fixes, and Extensions option indicates the number of other versions, fixes, or extensions that are found but does not list the found items. To see available versions, enter the number that is next to the package then enter 2: Show all available versions of the package.
  6. Enter N: Next. If a package has errors or warnings, they are displayed on a prerequisite check page.
    • To run the prerequisite checks again, enter R.
    • To return to the previous screen, enter B.
    • To cancel and return to the initial screen, C.
    • If errors are reported, you cannot go to the next page. Otherwise, to go to the next page, N.
  7. Options for the Licenses screen:
    • 1: product_name - License Agreement. To view a license agreement, enter the number that is next to the product name. This example selects the first license agreement listed.
    • A: [ ] I accept the terms in the license agreement.
    • D: [ ] I do not accept the terms in the license agreement. If you decline the license agreement, the installation is stopped. To continue the installation, you must accept the license agreement.
    1. Enter A to accept the license agreement.
    2. Enter N: Next.
  8. To enter a different value for the shared resources directory, enter M: Shared Resources Directory.
    Important: You can specify the shared resources directory only the first time that you install a package. Select the drive with enough available space to ensure adequate space for the shared resources of future packages. You cannot change the location of the shared resources directory unless you uninstall all packages.
    1. To accept the default value for shared resources directory or to continue after you enter a different value, enter N: Next.
  9. Optional: To enter a different value for the package group location, enter M: Change Location.

    A package group is a directory that contains resources that packages share with other packages in the same group. The first time that you install a package, you must create a package group. If you select more than one package to install, verify that the packages can be installed in the same package group by checking the documentation for the packages. For packages that cannot be installed in the same package group, install one package in one package group. After the installation completes, install the second package in a different package group.

    The architecture of the package shows when you install on a 64-bit operating system. For new package groups, you can change the bit mode by entering T: Change to bit architecture. For existing package groups, the option for 32-bit or 64-bit is disabled. You cannot change the architecture of an existing package group.

    Restriction: You cannot install a 32-bit package into a 64-bit package group.
    1. To accept the default values or to continue after you enter a different value, enter N: Next.
  10. Enter the number that is next to the language to add or remove the language from the list of languages that are installed. You can select only one language at a time.
    English is selected by default. You cannot clear the selection for the English language. Your language choices apply to all packages that are installed in the package group.
    1. Enter N: Next.
  11. Enter the number that is next to the feature to add or remove the feature from the list of features that are installed.
    This screen is not shown when your product does not have any features.
    1. Enter N: Next.
  12. On the Summary screen, review your selections before you install the package.

    To generate a response file, enter G: Generate an installation response file. Enter the name of the response file and use .xml as the file extension. Response files are XML files. You can include a directory location when you enter the response file name to save the file to a different location.

  13. Enter I: Install.
  14. When the installation completes, enter F: Finish.