How to change the temporary directory used by WebSphere Application Server UpdateInstaller V6.1 and V7.0 on UNIX or Linux

Symptom

The UpdateInstaller V6.1 and V7.0 may require a large amount of space to be free in the system temporary directory in order to process a large maintenance package, such as a Fix Pack. Due to system policies or security restrictions, the system temporary directory may not have enough space as required by the UpdateInstaller V6.1. Freeing space in the system temporary is a good solution, but sometimes that is an unrealistic solution.

When the UpdateInstaller does not have sufficient space in the system temporary directory to allow the installation to take place, it will display an error similar to the following text:


CWUPI0033E: There is insufficient free disk space on the system:

/opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer:
Required: 500 MB     Available: 600 MB

/tmp:
Required: 100 MB     Available: 70 MB

Ensure there is enough free disk space on all required filesystems and retry the operation.  If /tmp and /opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer are on the same partition then the amount of space required is the sum of the space required on /tmp and /opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer.


In the example above, notice that the IBM® WebSphere® Application Server directory does have sufficient space, but the temporary directory does not. The UpdateInstaller will not allow the installation to proceed until enough space is free in the temporary directory.

This can occur either while installing the UpdateInstaller or while applying a maintenance pack using the UpdateInstaller V6.1. Resolving each of those problems needs a different solution, and both of those solutions are described further below.

If this occurs while installing the UpdateInstaller, then the error seen above would be displayed in the "log.txt" file which would be relocated to the "updilogs" subdirectory of the user's home directory. If this occurs while using the UpdateInstaller to apply a maintenance pack, then the error would be displayed in the "updatelog.txt" file which would be relocated to one of the "tmp" log subdirectories under updateInstaller_root /logs.

Note: If the UpdateInstaller claims that "0 MB" disk space is free (i.e., no disk space is free), yet there truly is disk space free, then a different solution is available to address that issue. Please see technote 1259888 for further details.