Installing Common Agent on Windows using the installation wizard

After preparing your Windows system, you can use the installation wizard to install Common Agent.

About this task

Important:
  • IBM Flex System Manager management software includes Common Agent and Platform Agent. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately install Common Agent or Platform Agent on the management node.
  • Ensure that the system clocks on the systems that contain IBM® Flex System Manager and Common Agent remain synchronized.
Note: Discovery of Remote Supervisor Adapter (RSA) devices is no longer supported. Therefore, you cannot use IBM Flex System Manager to manage new installations of RSA devices.
Table 1. Installation options for Common Agent on Windows
Installation method Title or file name
Downloaded installation package
  • SysDir6_3_x_Common_Agent_Windows.zip (agent package for manual installation)
  • SysDir6_3_x_Common_Agent_Windows.jar (agent package for Agent Installation Wizard installation)
Note: In IBM Flex System Manager 1.3.4, when you install Common Agent on Microsoft Windows by using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) option, Common Agent is installed in NIST mode. If you do not select the NIST option, Common Agent is installed without the NIST mode.
Important: Platform Agent is always installed in NIST mode, even if you do not specify the NIST option.
Note: If Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI), version 4.5 or later is not installed on the system, it is installed during the Common Agent 6.3.5 installation. If the upgrade is necessary, the system prompts you to restart following the installation of Common Agent 6.3.5 without specifying that MSI was installed. Unless you install using the response file and set the RebootIfRequired parameter to N, you are prompted to restart whether or not the Common Agent 6.3.5 installation is completed successfully.

To install Common Agent on Windows using the installation wizard, log in with an administrator account and complete the following steps:

Procedure

  1. Start the installation from the Common Agent installation source:

    Downloaded installation files: To start the installation from a Web download, complete the following steps:

    1. Download the installation package.
      1. Go to the IBM PureSystems® Updates website.
      2. Click the table for the version of IBM Flex System® software that you are using (for example, Flex System 1.3.1).
      3. Click the link to the IBM Flex System Manager® image.
      4. Download the Common Agent
        Note: The Common Agent will be similar to the following:

        For a new or update install of the agent on a remote system:

        Flex1_3_1_Common_Agent_Windows_x86

        For updating the Common Agent that is already installed on a remote system:

        Flex1_3_1_CAS_Windows_x86
    2. Use the unzip command to extract the contents of the installation package to a temporary directory.
    3. Click Start > Run.
    4. In the Open field, type the following command and press Enter: 
      \installation_directory\IBMSystemsDirectorAgentSetup.exe
      where installation_directory is the path to the extracted installation files.
      Note: To install Common Agent on Windows for the NIST mode, use the dir6.3.5_commonagent_windows.exe /a NIST command.
      The Welcome to the installation wizard for IBM Flex System Manager Common Agent window opens.
  2. Click Next. The License Agreement page is displayed
  3. Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next. The Feature and installation directory selection page is displayed.
  4. To select an alternative location for the creation of the installation, click Change and select another directory.
  5. Click Next. The Common Agent configuration page is displayed.
  6. Specify the common agent port numbers for the common agent that is installed with the server.
  7. Click Next. The Registering Common Agent Services (CAS) page is displayed.
  8. If you want the agent that you are installing to register with an agent manager that already exists in your environment, select Check only if you want to register CAS Agent with agent manager and enter in the information for that existing agent manager:
    Agent Manager Hostname or IP Address
    The host name or IP address of the existing agent manager. If the agent is installed in a network address translation environment, set this parameter to ensure that the agent has the correct IP address to contact the agent manager.
    Agent Manager Registration Password
    The password associated with the existing agent manager.
  9. Click Next. The Ready to Install the Program window is displayed.
  10. Click Install. Various windows that display the status of the installation are displayed. When the installation is complete, the Installation complete window is displayed.
  11. Click Finish.
  12. If you are prompted to restart your system, click Yes.
    Note: If Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI), version 4.5 or later is not installed on the system, it is installed during the IBM Flex System Manager installation. If the upgrade is necessary, the system prompts you to restart following the installation of IBM Flex System Manager without specifying that MSI was installed. You are prompted to restart whether or not the IBM Flex System Manager installation is completed successfully.

Results

When the installation has completed, the resource will be set up as a manageable resource.

What to do next

To ensure full functionality of your new Common Agent instance, discover it with IBM Flex System Manager.

Parent topic: Installing Common Agent on Windows