User Specified Installation Location (USIL)

A User Specified Installation Location (USIL) is a tracked relocated installation path that is created by the system administrator. This location is tracked by the system and can be used as an alternate installation path for packages that support relocation.

Multiple instances and/or versions of the same software package can be installed on a single system by delegating each installation to a separate USIL. An existing USIL instance can be attached or detached from any given system.

Each USIL instance maintains its own set of Software Vital Product Data (SWVPD) in all three current installp parts:
  • <InstallRoot>/etc/objrepos
  • <InstallRoot>/usr/lib/objrepos
  • <InstallRoot>/usr/share/lib/objrepos

Each USIL instance mirrors the default SWVPD structure within the relocated path.

USIL Management Commands Description
/usr/sbin/mkusil Creates or attaches a new USIL instance.
mkusil -R <RelocatePath> -c <Comments> [XFa]
Flags:
-a
Attach an existing installation as a USIL instance
-c
Comments to include in the USIL definition (visible with the lsusil command)
-R
Path to a new USIL location; must be a valid directory
-X
Automatically expands to space needed
/usr/sbin/lsusil Lists existing USIL instance(s).
lsusil [-R *!ENTITY!*RelocatePath> | "ALL"]
Flags:
-R
Path to an existing USIL location
/usr/sbin/rmusil Removes an existing USIL instance.
rmusil -R <RelocatePath>
Flags:
-R
Path to an existing USIL location
Note: The rmusil command only removes the USIL reference in the SWVPD. The USIL installation path does not use any remote files.
/usr/sbin/chusil Changes an attribute of an existing USIL instance.
chusil -R <RelocatePath> -c <NewComments> [X]
Flags:
-c
New comments to include in the USIL definition (visible with the lsusil command)
-R
Path to an existing USIL location
-X
Automatically expands to space needed

Listing all installation paths

Use the lslpp and lppchk commands to execute listing operations on all installation locations when the -R "ALL" syntax is used.

Attach/detach operations

You can use the attach operation to integrate an existing detached USIL path into the SWVPD.

For example, the administrator creates a "master" USIL instance with various relocatable applications installed for the purposes of application hosting. The administrator then copies or NFS mounts this USIL instance to various systems and uses the attach feature to integrate the USIL instance into the SWVPD.

The detach operation removes reference to the USIL instance.

installp licensing

A new USIL instance starts out with an empty LAG (installp license agreement ODM object class). Any installation of filesets or LPPs that require a license will require the license acceptance with the usual installp conventions. The license acceptance does not span USIL instances.

Trusted Computing Base

Installing USIL instances is currently not supported on systems enabled for Trusted Computing Base (TCB).