Sun Java Enterprise System 5 Installation Guide for Microsoft Windows

Chapter 4 Installing in Silent Mode

Silent installation is a noninteractive installation mode used for installing Sun Java Enterprise System (Java ES) on multiple hosts that share similar configurations. This chapter provides instructions for using the silent mode to install the Sun Java Enterprise System software.

The Windows installation wizard uses dialog boxes to receive the installation information. However, a silent installation receives the installation information from the Install Shield Silent Response file (.iss file).

A Response file contains information that is captured as responses to dialog boxes when recording installation with the Windows installation wizard. During a silent installation, the Setup.bat file reads the necessary input from the response file at runtime.

This chapter includes the following sections:

Silent Installation Events

To run a silent installation, first record an installation session to create a Response file that the silent installation process will use. In the response file, your responses are retained as a list of parameters, each representing a single prompt or field. Using the response file as input, you can then run the installer on many hosts. This process enables you to propagate one configuration across multiple hosts in your enterprise.

To run an installation silently based on the contents of a response file, run the Setup.bat with the /s argument. By default, Setup.bat looks for a response file called Setup.iss in the same directory as Setup.bat. You can use /f1 argument to specify an alternative name and location of the response file.

A silent installation program does not display a dialog box if an error occurs. The status information is recorded in the Setup.log file. By default, the log file is created in the same directory from where the response file is being used. You can specify a different name and location for the log file by using the /f2 argument to the Setup.bat command.

To Perform a Silent Installation

Develop your installation plan.

Survey your system for incompatibilities. For more information, see Verifying General Installation Prerequisites.

Run the installer to generate a response file for you.

For more information, see Creating a Response File.

Make a copy of the response file before editing.

Edit the response file values for the target systems.

For more information, see Editing the Response File.

Run the installer specifying the response file.

For more information, see Running the Installer in Silent Mode.

Creating a Response File

To create a response file, first run the installer for a record installation. A response file generated by the installer takes advantage of the installer’s real-time dependency checking and error reporting.

The format of response files resembles that of an .ini file, but response files have the .iss extension. A response file is a plain text file that consists of sections containing data entries. By default, the response file is called Setup.iss and is created in the Windows System directory.

Caution –

If you are an experienced user of the installer, you might be accustomed to building response files manually. However, this method can cause problems at installation time, configuration time, or server startup time.

To Generate a Response File Using the Installer

At the command prompt, navigate to the directory where the installer is located.

cd JavaES-install-dir

Use the Setup.bat /r command to create the response file, either in the default location or in the system's Windows folder or in a location you specify.

Use the /f1 option to specify where the response file is to be created and to provide a name. To avoid unpredictable results. specify an absolute path for the file that has the .iss extension. For example, type:

Setup.bat /r /f1"C:\Temp\example.iss".

Note –
Run \Setup.bat and not \Windows\setup.exe to start the installation.

Proceed with the installation providing the information that you want the silent installer to provide.

All the data typed and options selected are recorded in the .iss file.

At the end of the installation, the response file is generated.

Editing the Response File

After you have generated a response file, you can edit the response file to modify local parameters. These parameters include Administrator User ID, Administrator Password and Retype Password.

When editing the response file, follow these guidelines:

Do not modify parameters except to edit their values.
Do not remove a parameter even if the parameter does not have a value.
Do not add a parameter.
Do not change the order in which parameters appear.
Notice original types and formats and maintain them as you type new values.
Replace any value that you delete. If the parameter is required, installation or configuration could fail if the parameter has been deleted.
To add a component, change both the SunJavaES-count= (total) and SunJavaES-(count number)=SunJavaES\.... For example,

Original:
```
SunJavaES-count=2
SunJavaES-0=SunJavaES\MessageQueue
SunJavaES-1=SunJavaES\DirectoryServer
```
Modified:
```
SunJavaES-count=3
SunJavaES-0=SunJavaES\MessageQueue
SunJavaES-1=SunJavaES\DirectoryServer
SunJavaES-2=SunJavaES\WebServer
```
For more information on response file, see Appendix C, Example Response File: Silent Installation
To add a subcomponent, change both total count and count number. The subcomponent is added after the main component. For example:
```
SunJavaES-3=SunJavaES\AccessManager\AMAdministrationConsole
```
The response file contains sections corresponding to the SdWelcome dialog box. For example:
```
[{311E6252-893E-4445-B865-94DAFF5C500C}-SdWelcome-0]
Result=1
```
The section header [{311E6252-893E-4445-B865-94DAFF5C500C}-SdWelcome-0] indicates that the data pertains to the SdWelcome dialog box for a component with ProductCode (and PRODUCT_GUID) value {311E6252-893E-4445-B865-94DAFF5C500C }.

The -0 at the end of the header indicates that this is the first call to SdWelcome. If the installation displayed a second SdWelcome dialog box, its header would end with -1.

The Result=1 indicates the return value from the SdWelcome function. The return value 1 indicates that you clicked the Next button.
In the SdSetupType dialog box, the Quick_Configure specifies Configure Automatically During Installation and Configure_Later specifies Configure Manually After Installation.

Running the Installer in Silent Mode

Running an installation silently requires a previously recorded response file. For more information, see Creating a Response File. Run the installer on a host that has the same operating system as the host on which you generated the response file.

To Run the Installer in Silent Mode

At the command prompt, navigate to the directory where the installer is located.

cd JavaES-install-dir

Use the Setup.bat /s command to initiate a silent mode installation process.

Note –
By default the Setup.iss file is created in Windows System folder. You need to copy this file from the Windows System to the folder where the Setup.bat exists before starting silent installation as Setup.bat /s. Otherwise, the command returns -3 error in setup.

Use the /f1 option to specify the .iss file location. To avoid unpredictable results, specify an absolute path. For example, type:

Setup.bat /s /f1"C:\Temp\example.iss".

(Optional) Use the Setup.bat /s with /f2 option to specify an alternative location and file name for the log file. To avoid unpredictable results, specify an absolute path for the file. For example, type:

Setup.bat /s /f1"C:\Temp\UninstallExample.iss /f2"C:\Setup.log".

Silent installation can be lengthy, depending on the number and type of components that you are installing. While the installer is running, you can monitor its progress by examining changes to the installation log.

Understanding the `Setup.log` File

Setup.log is the default name for the silent installation log file generated when you run the Setup.bat command with the /s argument. The Setup.log file contains the following three sections:

Install Shield Silent: This section identifies the file as a log file and provides the version of Install Shield Silent used in the silent setup.
Application: This section identifies the name and version of the installed application, as well as the company name.
Response Result: This section contains the result code indicating whether the silent setup succeeded. An integer value is assigned to the ResultCode key name in the Response Result section.

Install Shield places one of the following return values in the ResultCode key:

ResultCode: ResultCode Description
0: Success
-1: General error
-2: Invalid mode
-3: Required data not found in the Setup.iss file
-4: Not enough memory available
-5: File does not exist
-6: Cannot write to the response file
-7: Unable to write to the log file
-8: Invalid path to the Install Shield Silent response (.iss) file
-9: Not a valid list type (string or number)
-10: Data type is invalid
-11: Unknown error during setup
-12: Dialog boxes are out of order
-51: Cannot create the specified folder
-52: Cannot access the specified file or folder
-53: Invalid option selected

The log file for a successful silent installation appears as follows:

[ResponseResult]
ResultCode=0

Next Steps

After you complete the silent installation, proceed to Chapter 5, Completing Postinstallation Configuration for information about configuring your components. Even if performed extensive configuration during your installation, most components require some additional configuration.

Note –

Review the postinstallation configuration requirements carefully before proceeding to any other tasks.