Updating agents manually

Use this procedure to update the agent software manually to an 8.2.0.x fix pack version.

About this task

The installation server can automatically update the agent software on remote servers. But you can update the agent software manually, if you prefer.

When you specify the deployment properties for a remote server, you are asked to provide the user name and password of an administrator account on the remote server. The installation server uses these credentials to update the agent software on the remote server. However, your organization might have policies that restrict the use of administrator credentials. In this case, you can update the agent software manually before you install IBM OpenPages® with Watson™ or apply a fix pack.

The overall process involves the following steps:
  1. Update the installation server. See Updating the installation server.
  2. Update the agent software manually and start the agent on each remote server, except the database server. The agent software is not needed on the database server.
  3. In the installation app, enter the deployment properties for the remote servers.
    • Enable the Remote Deploy option.
    • You can leave the Local User Name and Local User Password fields empty.
    • In the Agent Directory field, type the full path to the directory on the remote server where the agent software is installed. This directory is the <agent_home> directory.
  4. Validate your deployment and continue with the installation of OpenPages or the fix pack.

Procedure

  1. Log on to the remote server as the user who installed the agent software.

    Alternatively, you can log in as any user who has full permissions on the agent directories and who can run Node.js.

  2. Stop the agent.
    For more information, see Stopping the installation agent manually.
  3. Copy the installation file to the remote server.
    1. Locate the following file in the 8.2.0.x fix pack kit: openpages_installer_<version>.zip
      The file is stored in /OP_<version>_Main/OP_<version>_Installer.
    2. Copy openpages_installer_<version>.zip to the <agent_home>/src/assets/maintenance directory on the installation server.

      Do not extract the file.

  4. Update the agent software.

    On Windows:

    1. Verify that no command prompts or applications, such as Windows Explorer, are accessing the <agent_home> directory or its subdirectories.
    2. Open a command prompt as an administrator.
    3. Go to the <agent_home> directory
    4. Run the following command. 
      npm run upgrade
    On Linux®:
    1. Open a shell and go to the <agent_home> directory.
    2. Run the following command. 
      npm run upgrade
    When the process completes, the following message is displayed:
    Installer upgrade is successful...
  5. Start the agent.
    See Starting the installation agent manually.
  6. Repeat these steps on each remote server, except the database server.

What to do next

When you fill in the server properties, do the following:
  • Enable the Remote Deploy option.
  • In the Agent Directory field, type the full path to the <agent_home> directory on the remote server.
  • You can leave the Local User Name and Local User Password fields empty.
    Note: If you leave the Local User Name and Local User Password fields empty, you must start the agents manually. See Starting the installation agent manually.