Using silent installation on Linux (Intel)

This article describes how to install WebSphere Application Server Advanced Single Server Edition using the non-interactive, or silent, mode. To complete a silent installation, you will use the default response file or create a customized one, and then execute the installation script for WebSphere Application Server, supplying the response file as a command-line parameter.

These instructions assume the following:

  • Your machine has sufficient memory and disk space for your installation. See the WebSphere Application Server Supported Hardware, Software, and APIs Web site at http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/doc/latest/prereq.html for the proper requirements.
  • You do not have a previous version of WebSphere Application Server already installed on this machine. If you do have a previous version of WebSphere Application Server already installed, do not follow these instructions. Instead, see the article Migration overview.
  • If you are using IBM HTTP Server as your Web server, you will install it at the same time and onto the same node as you install WebSphere Application Server. If you are using another supported Web server with WebSphere Application Server, you have already installed it onto the same node as WebSphere Application Server.

    Note: IBM HTTP Server is supplied with WebSphere Application Server. If you plan to use a different Web server, you must purchase it and install it separately. It is recommended that the Web server is installed before WebSphere Application Server.

Using the default response file

A default response file, named install.script, is supplied with WebSphere Application Server. You can use this default response file to install WebSphere Application Server using the default options, or as a template for creating a customized response file.

If you use the default response file to install WebSphere Application Server using the default options, the following software and other resources are installed:

  • IBM Java 2 Software Developer's Kit (SDK) 1.3.0
  • IBM HTTP Server 1.3.19
  • Plug-in for IBM HTTP Server 1.3.19
  • WebSphere Application Server 4.0
  • WebSphere Application Server application samples
  • WebSphere Application Server application assembly and deployment tools
  • Documentation in U.S. English

All products except IBM HTTP Server are installed into the directory /opt/WebSphere/AppServer; IBM HTTP Server is installed into the directory /opt/IBMHTTPServer. In addition, WebSphere Application Server is configured for use with IBM HTTP Server when you use the default response file.

Using a customized response file

You can also use the default response file as a template for creating a customized response file. You can edit the default response file to enable the configuration of WebSphere Application Server with a different supported Web server or to install the products into a different directory. Instructions for editing the default response file are included in the procedure Performing a silent installation.

Performing a silent installation

Perform the following steps to create a customized response file (if desired) to install WebSphere Application Server. These instructions assume that the installation is being performed from the product CD-ROM:

  1. Ensure that you are logged into the machine with superuser (root) privileges.
  2. If a Web server is running on your system, stop the Web server. If you plan to install IBM HTTP Server 1.3.19 as part of the WebSphere Application Server installation and you have a level of IBM HTTP Server prior to 1.3.19 on your system, you must uninstall it for the WebSphere Application Server installation program to install IBM HTTP Server 1.3.19.
  3. Insert the WebSphere Application Server CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
  4. If necessary, use the mkdir command to create a mount point for the CD-ROM. The following command creates a mount point at the directory /cdrom; you can mount the CD-ROM at any location on the machine's local file system.
    # mkdir /cdrom

    The commands in these steps assume the CD-ROM is mounted at /cdrom. If you mount the CD-ROM at a different location, use that location when issuing commands.

  5. Mount the CD-ROM drive by entering the following command:
    # mount -t isso9660 -r /dev/cdrom /cdrom
    Note: Some window managers automatically mount a CD-ROM for you. Consult your operating system documentation for more information.
  6. Ensure that the DISPLAY and TERM environment variables set correctly.
  7. Navigate to the /cdrom directory.
  8. If a supported Web server or database you plan to use with WebSphere is newer than the version currently required by WebSphere Application Server, you must update the prereq.properties file or disable the prerequisite checking functionality before installing WebSphere Application Server.

    To obtain an updated prereq.properties file, download the latest version from the WebSphere Application Server Tools Web site at www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/tools.html. Ensure that the updated prereq.properties file is downloaded or copied into the local /tmp directory.

    To disable prerequisite checking functionality, perform the following steps:

    1. Copy the prereq.properties file from the /cdrom directory to the /tmp directory on the machine on which you plan to install WebSphere Application Server.
    2. Open the prereq.properties file in a text editor and disable prerequisite checking for an individual component by changing the value of the specific key from 1 to 0.
    3. Save the edited prereq.properties file.

  9. Ensure that you are in the /cdrom directory and create a copy of the default response file by using the cp command, as follows:
    # cp install.script new_install.script 
    In this command, new_install.script represents the full path name of the copy of the default response file you are creating (for example, /tmp/my_install.script). The name of your response file must have a .script extension.
  10. If you plan to install WebSphere Application Server by using the default options included in the default response file, proceed to Step 12.
  11. If you plan to use the default response file as a template for creating a customized response file, perform the following steps:
    1. Use a text editor to open your copy of the default response file, new_install.script.
    2. Move to the editable area of the response file beginning with the property destinationDirectory. This area of the response file contains editable properties specific to WebSphere Application Server product installation. Use the detailed comments throughout the file and in the table below to guide you through the installation and configuration options available for performing a customized silent installation. The table describes the properties that can be modified and their default values. All values are case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as they appear in the table. Review especially the InstallOption property. Your choice for this property can eliminate the need to make changes to other properties within the response file.

      Property name Description Possible values Default value
      destinationDirectory Use the destinationDirectory property to specify the directory in which WebSphere Application Server is installed. A fully qualified pathname /opt/WebSphere/AppServer
      InstallOption Use the InstallOption property to specify whether to perform a Quick (Typical) or Custom installation. Set this property to the value QUICK if you want to install WebSphere Application Server by using the Typical (Quick) installation option. Set this property to the value CUSTOM to install WebSphere Application Server by using the Custom installation option.
      • If you set the InstallOption property to the value QUICK, the installer installs WebSphere Application Server by using the default options listed in the section Using the default response file. No other properties within the install.script file have to be edited. At this point, save the edited install.script file. You can now reference this customized response file during installation of WebSphere Application Server.
      • If you set the InstallOption property to the value CUSTOM, you must edit several additional properties within this file. Proceed through the rest of the properties listed below.
      QUICK or CUSTOM QUICK
      Install?WebSphere Use the Install?WebSphere property to specify whether to install WebSphere Application Server. true or false true
      Install?.apserv Use the Install?.apserv property to specify whether to install the application server runtime for hosting applications and an administrative server for managing configurations. true or false true
      Install?.admin Do not edit this option for WebSphere Application Server Advanced Single Server Edition. true or false true
      Install?.sample Use the Install?.sample property to specify whether to install sample servlets and Web site applications demonstrating both simple and advanced techniques. If you install the samples, you must also install the application and administrative servers or have the WebSphere Application Server product already installed on your system. true or false true
      Install?.tools Use the Install?.tools property to specify whether to install the Application Assembly and Deployment tools. true or false true
      Install?.http Use the Install?.http property to specify whether to install IBM HTTP Server 1.3.19. true or false true
      Install?.olt Use the Install?.olt property to specify whether to install the IBM Distributed Debugger. The debugger provides object level trace. true or false false
      Install?.plugins Use the Install?.plugins property to specify whether to install a Web server plug-in. This property must be set to true to install any Web server plug-in. true or false true
      Install?.apserv.apache1312 Use the Install?.apserv.apache1312 property to specify whether to install the plug-in for Apache 1.3.20 HTTP Web Server. Also set the following properties to install the plug-in for this Web server:
      Select4.config.apserv.apache1312
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server configuration file. The default value is blank.
      Select4.error.apserv.apache1312
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server dialog error message file. The default value is blank.
      true or false false
      Install?.apserv.httpserv Use the Install?.apserv.httpserv property to specify whether to install the plug-in for IBM HTTP Server 1.3.19. Also set the following properties to install the plug-in for this Web server:
      Select4.config.apserv.httpserv
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server configuration file. The default value is blank.
      Select4.error.apserv.httpserv
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server dialog error message file. The default value is blank.
      true or false true
      Install?.apserv.ipl41 Use the Install?.apserv.ipl41 property to specify whether to install the plug-in for iPlanet Web Server Enterprise Edition Version 4.1. Also set the following properties to install the plug-in for this Web server:
      Select4.config.apserv.ipl41
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server configuration file. The default value is blank.
      Select4.error.apserv.ipl41
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server dialog error message file. The default value is blank.
      true or false false
      Install?.apserv.domino Use the Install?.apserv.domino property to specify whether to install the plug-in for Lotus Domino Enterprise Server 5.0. Also set the following properties to install the plug-in for this Web server:
      Select4.config.apserv.domino
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the names.nsf file, which is the Domino/Lotus Notes database modified by WebSphere Application Server to include the plug-in information. The default value is blank.
      Select4.error.apserv.domino
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Web server dialog error message file. The default value is blank.
      Select4.jarfile.apserv.domino
      Enter the fully qualified path and file name of the Notes.jar file, which is a library that the configuration code needs to configure Domino with the WebSphere Application plug-in. The default value is blank.
      true or false false

      Do not edit the following properties when installing WebSphere Application Server Advanced Single Server Edition:

      • DBType
      • DBName
      • DBUser
      • DBPassword
      • DBHome
      • DBurl
      • DBServerName
      • DBPort
      • RemoteDB
    3. When you have finished editing the response file, save it and exit the text editor. You can now use this customized response file to install WebSphere Application Server.
  12. Run the installation script by using one of the following commands, depending on the actions you have taken in Step 8. The install.sh script uses the response file to install the components and options that you have selected. The variable new_install.script represents the full pathname of the copy of the default response file or the customized response file that you have created. (for example, /tmp/new_install.script).
    • If you have not downloaded an updated prereq.properties file or disabled the prerequisite checking functionality, start the WebSphere Application Server installation program by using the install.sh command, as follows:
      # ./install.sh -silent -responseFile new_install.script
    • If you have downloaded an updated prereq.properties file or disabled the prerequisite checking functionality as detailed in Step 8, start the WebSphere Application Server installation program by using the install.sh command, as follows:
      # ./install.sh -prereqfile /tmp/prereq.properties -silent \
      -responseFile new_install.script
    • Note: If you choose to install the plug-in for IBM HTTP Server, the installation process checks if you have the correct version of the Web server on your machine. If you do not have IBM HTTP Server installed on your machine, the installation process performs one of the following actions based on whether you have indicated in your response file to install IBM HTTP Server:

      • If you indicated in your response file that you do want to have IBM HTTP Server installed, the installation process installs the plug-in for it.
      • If you indicated in your response file that you do not want to have IBM HTTP Server installed, the script exits without installing the plug-in.
  13. After installation is complete, refer to the log file named install.log located in the /tmp directory to determine if the silent installation was successful. A copy of this file also exists in the directory /install_directory/logs.
  14. Unmount the CD-ROM before removing it from the CD-ROM drive by using the umount command, as follows:
    # umount /cdrom
  15. If you installed IBM HTTP Server as part of the WebSphere Application Server silent installation, you might need to configure it. Perform the following steps to verify that the IBM HTTP Server is installed correctly:
    1. Ensure that the Web server is running or start it by entering the following command:
      # /opt/IBMHTTPServer/bin/apachectl start
    2. Start a Web browser and type the name of the host machine as the URL (http://host_machine). If you see the Welcome to the IBM HTTP Server Web page, the server has been installed correctly.
      Welcome to the IBM HTTP Server

      Note that you can need to make configuration adjustments to the server in order to run it optimally on your system. See the IBM HTTP Server documentation at www.ibm.com/software/webservers/httpservers/library.html for more information.

      To enable the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for IBM HTTP Server, see the IBM HTTP Server documentation Web site at www.ibm.com/software/webservers/httpservers/doc/v1319/index.html for more information.

  16. Proceed to the article Testing the installation to test your installation.