Recording response files to install the product

You can use the Installation Manager GUI to record response files that can be used to install the product.

1. Optional: If you are installing from an authenticated remote repository and want to secure your credentials, create a master password file.

   The master password file is a text file that contains a passphrase such as This text is the master password. This file is used to secure your authentication credentials.

   If you create a master password file and use it when you create credentials, you must always specify the master password file.

   Tip: To secure this file, set permissions to restrict access to this file as appropriate for your operating system.
2. From a command line, change to the eclipse subdirectory in the directory where you installed Installation Manager.
3. Start Installation Manager from the command line using the -record option.
   Important: For authenticated repositories, specify the -secureStorageFile option and a location to create a credential storage file. The storage file stores credentials for URLs that require authentication, such as your remote repositories. This credential storage file is secured with the optional master password file.

   For example:

   • Administrator or non-administrator:

     IBMIM.exe -skipInstall "C:\temp\imRegistry" 
       -secureStorageFile C:\IM\credential.store -masterPasswordFile C:\IM\master_password.txt
       -record C:\temp\install_response_file.xml

   • Administrator:

     ./IBMIM -skipInstall /var/temp/imRegistry 
       -secureStorageFile /var/IM/credential.store -masterPasswordFile /var/IM/master_password.txt
       -record /var/temp/install_response_file.xml

   • Non-administrator:

     ./IBMIM -skipInstall user_home/var/temp/imRegistry 
       -secureStorageFile user_home/var/IM/credential.store -masterPasswordFile user_home/var/IM/master_password.txt
       -record user_home/var/temp/install_response_file.xml

   Tip: Specifying the -skipInstall parameter records the response file without actually installing the product, which speeds up the recording.

   If you use a temporary data location with the -skipInstall parameter, Installation Manager writes the installation registry to the specified data location while recording. When you start Installation Manager again without the -skipInstall parameter, you then can use your response file to install against the real installation registry.

   Do not use the -skipInstall operation on the actual agent data location used by Installation Manager. This is unsupported. Use a clean writable location, and re-use that location for future recording sessions.

4. When a window opens that requests your credentials for the authenticated remote repository, enter the correct credentials, select Save password, and click OK.
5. Follow the instructions described in Installing the product offerings on distributed operating systems by using the GUI.