The Installation Factory combines the installation image for a version or release of a WebSphere software product with applicable maintenance packages, a configuration archive, one or more enterprise archive files, customization scripts, and other files, to create a customized installation package.
For example, the Installation Factory can combine Version 6 of a WebSphere Application Server product with Refresh Pack 2 to create a customized installation package that installs Version 6.0.2.
The Installation Factory simplifies the process by creating a single installation image, the customized installation package (CIP).
After creating the customized installation package, installing and configuring a WebSphere software product is a one-step process: install the customized installation package.