WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Administration and Configuration Guide for the Full Profile

Chapter 29. Managing an environment with the centralized installation manager 1005

29.2.2 WebSphere Application Server V6.1 and V7

For WebSphere Application Server V6.1 and V7, you access the centralized installation

manager functions using only the deployment manager. The centralized installation manager

for Version 6.1 and Version 7 does not support z/OS operating system targets. Using the

centralized installation manager for Version 7, you can perform the following functions:

 Install, update, and uninstall WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment V7 on

remote machines

 Install and uninstall WebSphere Application Server V6.1 and V7 refresh packs, fix packs,

and interim fixes on remote machines

 Install and uninstall customized installation packages (CIPs)

If you plan to use the centralized installation manager for Version 6.1 or Version 7, the disk

space that is required increases significantly and varies depending on how many binaries

there are in the repository.

The centralized installation manager relies on current information regarding the versions of

WebSphere Application Server that are installed on each node. This information is kept

current on the deployment manager configuration by the node agent that is running on each

node. The deployment manager is aware of the correct versions of WebSphere Application

Servers that are installed on each node, if the node agent of each node is started at least

once after an update is applied. To ensure that the deployment manager receives this

information, the centralized installation manager starts the node agent automatically after

each installation or uninstallation of maintenance.

The centralized installation manager relies on the node agent to effectively stop the server

processes on the target node. If the node agent is not running, it is up to the administrator to

ensure that all the server processes are stopped on the target node before initiating any

maintenance update operations on the node.

29.3 Using centralized installation manager with V8 releases

In WebSphere Application Server V8 releases, the centralized installation manager uses the

Installation Manager to manage targets. You can access the centralized installation manager

using several methods, including the job manager console or the command line. This section

provides more information about using aspects of the centralized installation manager with

WebSphere Application Server V8 releases.

29.3.1 Installation Manager

Installation Manager is integrated with the centralized installation manager, deployment

manager, and job manager to provide a single, central place of administration for the following

tasks:

 Installing and uninstalling products

 Updating and rolling back fix packs and interim fixes

Important: WebSphere Application Server V8 releases use Installation Manager. Be sure

to use an up-to-date version of Installation Manager when working with the centralized

installation manager. The minimum required version of the Installation Manager is Version

1.5.2.

1006 WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Administration and Configuration Guide for the Full Profile

 Installing and uninstalling feature packs

Installation Manager provides a common installation technology, which makes it easier and

faster to manage your software. Installation Manager can install a desired level of

maintenance in single pass, based on GUI commands or response files. One instance of

Installation Manager can manage WebSphere and other IBM products, such as Rational.

Installation Manager also allows you to record response files when invoked with the -record

and -skipInstall options. This method makes it easier to prepare a valid response file for

your environment. To learn more about Installation Manager options, refer to 2.1, “IBM

Installation Manager overview” on page 32 and the information center at the following

website:

http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/install/v1r5/topic/com.ibm.silentinstall12.doc/t

opics/t_silent_create_response_files_IM.html

The job manager or deployment manager stores the Installation Manager installation kit in

their local directory. By default, the kit resides at the job manager or deployment manager

profile_home/IMKit directory. To change the location of the kit, in the job manager or

deployment manager console, click Jobs  Installation Manager installation kits.

You can add multiple Installation Manager installation kits for many platforms. Figure 29-1

illustrates an example of Installation Manager installation kits V1.5.2 for different platforms.

Figure 29-1 Installation Manager installation kit V1.5.2 in the job manager

Note: To install software on your targets using the Installation Manager, you must add the

proper version of the Installation Manager installation kit that is valid for your target

operating systems.