On Linux, UNIX, IBM® z/OS® , and the
OS X platforms, users can share packages in a common location and manage the packages with the same
instance of Installation
Manager by using
group mode.
Important: Not all IBM packages
support group mode. Check the documentation for your package for group
mode support.
By using one of your predefined user groups, all users in the group
can run the same instance of Installation
Manager to
manage packages that are enabled for group mode. Group mode is not
available on Windows and IBM i platforms.
The group owns the shared resource directory, the installation
location of the Installation Manager, and all packages.
Important: The shared resources directory in group mode can
be specified only the first time you install a package. Use your largest
drive for this installation. You cannot change the directory location
until you uninstall all packages.
Installing in group mode with the user interface
Use
the
Installation
Manager user
interface in group mode to install software packages:
- Choose a group ID for all users who are running the group Installation
Manager.
- Perform one of the following steps:
- Assign the primary group ID for all users to the chosen group
ID.
- Before you run the group Installation Manager, run the newgrp command
to change to the chosen group ID.
- Use the sg command to run the group Installation
Manager with the chosen group ID.
For information about permissions, see Permissions in group mode.
Table 1. Example| User |
Primary group |
Other groups |
| User_A |
wasadmin |
User_A |
| User_B |
wasadmin |
User_B |
- Set the environment variables for changing shortcuts from
the default application data location.
- Install Installation
Manager in
group mode. See Start with the installation kit to install Installation Manager.
Note: As you install
Installation
Manager in
group mode, perform the following actions:
- Change the application data location from the
default location in the home directory of the current user to a location
that is read/write accessible by all users in the group.
- Change the installation location from the default location in
the home directory of the current user to a location that is read/write
accessible by all users in the group.
- Begin installing packages in group mode by using the Installation
Manager user interface.
- Specify the shared resources directory in a location that is accessible by all users in the
group and has enough disk space. To change the shared resources directory later, you must uninstall
all packages and reinstall the packages in the new location.
- Change the installation location from the default location in the home directory of the current
user to a location that is read/write accessible by all users in the group.